The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-08-04


thrust il into his coat pocket. Ther
going over 70 the coal box he scooped
up generous shoyelful Of coal and
threw il upon the fire, which had near
ly gone out. After which he calmly
almost lUXuriously-drcw my chair uJ
10 the fire, laid his pistol on the tabI,
within easy reach, and proceeded K
read my manuscript. He was clearly
a most extraordinary burglar.
At first the uBexpectedness of his
singular actions dazed me: then the
bo!dness Of them fairly took me of
my feet. ! watched my felonious
friend narrowly. noting with pardon.
able pride that he semeed interested in
my story. Then sudden wild idea
seized me. Why not enlist the aid OF
my degenerate guest in the noble cause
OF literatnrei Indeed, could anything
be more appropriate? Surely, ] reas-
oned, IL does not necessarily follow
that no good can come from burglar.
| And this one seemed unusually intelli-
gent. The more ] thought OF the idea
the more il pleased ne. the more II
took hold Of me. Still ! hesitated.
The thing was undeniably dangerous.
To be sure, had obtained my knowI-
edge OF guns on cattle ranch. and
felt that ! could shoot about as fast
and as straight as nine burglars out OF
ten. But what IL this burglar hap
pened to be the tenth? ] had just
about come 10 the conclusion that /
had better lie low until my knight OF
the dark lantern had departed, when
something occurred that suddenly
changed my plans. AS the burglar
finished the manuscript. be yawned
and laid il back on the table with the
muttered remark, Nobody but n
blamed idiot would act like that
burGlar"
Those were unfortunate words for
! him. For no sooner had he delivered
himself of this caustc and unmeritcd
aspersion on my powers Of character
i2ation than ! sailed forth with blood
In my usually tranquil eye. He
reached as If for his pistol. 'Cut it ont
quick" ] snapped, with as much in
| cisiveness and determination as mild
and peaceable author could reasonably
| be expected 10 muster. Then / picke
up his gun and placed il in my pocket
after which | addressed myself again
to my burglar. Now, my good friend"
! said, pleasantly. seeing that you
have expressed dissatisfaction at my
conception Of your calling. shall be
indeed grateful TO you il you will give
me some idea Of what true burglar Is
Ike You will find my fountain pen an
| exceptionally smooth writer"
The burglar regarded me for q mo
ment with puzzled face. I'm not n
burglar any more than you are" he
'hen said. with a short. snappy laugh
His statement almost made me drop
my pistol. But | never took my eyes
of him. Then a sudden idea occurred
10 me. Take of your maskw ]
commanded.
on came the black cloth. one ,ook
al that thin, SCARED face. with It's
crooked mouth and restless. shifty blue
eyes. convinced me that il ever a
burglar lived, here was a choice speci.
men. But ! determined 10 humor him.
That may be- said. AT any rate.
will you have the kindness 10 place on
papor-and perhaps hand down 10 n
grateful generation Of authors-a true
description OF the most exciting bur.
glary you have ever committedf'
He looked at me in apparent aston.
ishmtnt. Why" he replied. smiling
broadly, I'm n writer myself. / Just
| fixed up in these togs for n bluff. I'm
ont for the same thing you are. !
thought this old place was deserted
| That's why came here. I'm an Am.
herst man. he said. with tinge OF
/ pride that was either real or else ex.
cecdugly well done. Glass Of ninety.
/ four
But the farce had proceeded far
enough.
will you kindly explain 10 me in
what way you expect your literary
experience 10 he enriched by purloln.
inc my watch;" asked. politely. wish
ing 20 bring matters 10 a head.
For reply the burglar sprang NJ me
But ! had seen his sharp eyes meas
uring the distance between himself and
my pistol-hand. and ] was prepared
Springing back Quickly, avoided
his grasp. and dealt hirh n choprinl
blow on the head with my heavy pistol
He wen; down ike log.
was sincerely sorry that the neces
sity for violence should have arisen
ant ~ 20 certain point in our inter
view | had even hoped that wa
/ about TO secure some bits of realism
! that would be teal contributions {,
the common literary fund. But as mat
iers now stood. there seemed but on
thing 10 do. So | bound the hurela
? hand and foot with some rather feeble
J looking rope that | found in the close
, where had been hiding. Then goin
4 10 the window. ! blew shrilly upon th
| police whistle with which. i'm nv siren
5 nous endeavor 10 attain the realisti
{ atmosphere. had previously equippe
9 myself Before many minutes coupl
!. OF blue-coats were on the scene-and
g little later the patrol wagon was ella,
n ttring over the pavement with M
y burglar inside. AT that moment b
i probably did not know just what wa