Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-05-18
Two Burglars
and a Baby
MFRS GEORGE B. KINNEY has left
wi the city for six weeks visit in

Elm1rd.
These words caught the eye of a man
in cheap eating house of large city
one morning. They were printed on
torn bit of newspaper with date left on
the top line.
He folded the paper carefully, placed
it in his coat pocket, and in a driZZling
rain took his way leisurely through the
streets to Elmwood avenue, until he
reached the house.
With ready excuse for the call pre-
pared, If occasion demanded, he knocked
at the door, tried the BELL and finally,
unable to gain admission, went away.
But at half-past ten that night he and
his mate went over a back fence, climbed
the trellis to the second story and looked
in
1t was still raining and the place was
intensely dark, save for dimly burn
ing gas jet. AS the foremost man raised
himself over the windowsill and glanced
into the room he uttered a cry of aston
ishment which made the man below
pull viciously at his coat and caution him
to keep still
ITS asleep, Jack; only a child asleep
In cradle he said.
"That thing don't count" returned
the other savagely, as he felt his mate
backing down upon him.
"But there's sure to be some one else
in the house, you idiot!' returned the
first man with an oath, as he chung to the
vines. Get off the trellis under me,
Pete, or I'll kick you down." he added,
angrily.
f.
"You.are fool, Jack, to give it UP in
this way!'' growled the disappointed
nighthawk, as they reached the ground.
I'VE could have taken care of the child
easily enough! There's no dog on the
place and I'll be hanged if I'd allow a
maid and a baby to scare me out of a
good nights work.
BY way of answer the other grasped
his wrist.
Look up there, Pete, on the edge OF
the roof" he said.
A luminous streak ran across the
caves like faint fash of lightning. A
storm was coming on surely enough, but
it was not lightning which brought out
the ridge in a red silhouette against the
darkness of the sky.
Suddenly tiny spiral of flame twisted
around the base Of the chimney, throw
ing off little sparks as 1t mounted higher
and higher
Great God, Jack, the house is on fret"
cried Pete There's light in the gar
ret! The-the-maid has gone to sleep
reading novel and left the child alone
curse herr"
And with one consent they again
turned their faces to the window and in
less than half a minute were in the room.
Everything was quiet, and the solitary
occupant of the chamber, suddenly walk
ing from sleep, stretched out its tiny
hands with gesture of welcome to the
man bending over it!
esTake it away, Jack, cried Pete, "for
the love of Heaven take it away. Get
out Of the window and see it is not hurt!
And, mind you, don't handle it roughly
on the way! If you do I'll settle with
you when I come back!"
There was already smoke in thegnall
as the one left in the house opened door
and looked up the stairway. With a
bound he was at the head of the flight
yelling "Fire!" Come out! come out!"
he cried to the horror-struck domestic
peering at him from a half-open door.
She only went back into the room
screaming. He was quite used to hav-
ing women afraid OF him, and this was
not the first who had turned and run
at his appearing; but now he swore
softly under his breath as he went
to the door.
Don't be afraid of me, lady, he be-
gan, through the keyhole.
Jack had once been half breed gem
tleman, and well up in his variety Of
social life, and now his training rose
to the needs of the hour, as he went
on. 81 am only Woodworking man,
lady, and passing the house / saw the
flames from the street, and tried to
raise the family. For Gods sake hurry
up and let me take you down to the
street,"
"Oh, If you are an honest man. be-
gan the voice inside, in strange mix
ture of suspicion and terror, If you
are really good man, I'll trust you!"
With that spinster voice and affec-
tation she had certainly nothing to
fear, for Jack had carried far hand
somer but much younger women in
MS arms D0IOTe. One TuSQeO luCO the
hall while this thought was passing
through his mind, only half-dressed,
| and still looking him over doubtfully.
3fTt is not me you should fear. my
lady" went on the gallant burglar.
MY clothes are rough, but I have to
work at night for living"
Thank heaven she did not know how
precisely true this was, else she might
have gone back into the room and
waited cheerfully for the flames.
Noting that he actually seemed more
than half afraid of her, her spirits rose
to the occasion.
'You can come with me, then, and
| help me save the valuables in the
| house, my good man she said. BE
| sharp, for we'll have to work spry"
yes ma am, I'm used to spry work, %
| he replied, as he followed her meekly
/ from room to room, like a camel load
ed for desert journey.
"Here, take this and this and that!"