Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-11-22
DAILY SHORT STORY
THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA.

|
| He had always had a fellow feeling
| for his fellow men and had always
| wished them to walk in straight paths,
| but he had arrived at middle age be-
| fore this feeling began TO lie heavily
on his mind. When he started out in
| the reforming business there were peo-
| pie who called 1t a fad and referred TO
him as daffy. but no matter how good
the cause there are people who will al
ways speak i'll of it.
Nickelby's family went TO the coun-
| try. and he occupied the house o
nights. One night at midnight he was
| awakened from his sound sleep by
| hand being laid on his shoulder. He
| opened his eyes to see a stranger how
ering over him.
MIR. Nickelby," said the man. Il am
a burglar | have called TO talk with
you. l have taken the liberty of pre-
pairing a little lunch downstairs, and
| should like TO have you join me-
This seems to be gigantic piece OF
cheek replied the reformst as he got
slowly out of bed. IF I'd had one min
ute's notice I'd have been ready TO
| SEM DuiIet INTO you
| That's human Inconsistency. For
years you have been wanting TO have
free frank chat with burglar and
convince him of the error of his ways
and bring about a reformation. |
come at last. and you are sorry that
you did not meet me with a bullet"
But you have broken into my
! house"
But that is part of my business.
| Having broken into your house as |
have you cannot doubt that L am what
| claim to be. Let us now go down 10
| the lunch
| Mr.. Nickelby didn't like il at all. He
wanted all burglars TO reform. but he
wanted II done by programme. The
| lunch didn't amount TO much. Aside
| from four ham sandwiches brought in
| 10y the burglar himself there We're IA
| bottle of Wine taken from the cellar
and Il supply of cigars. The burglar
motioned his host to seat at the head
of the table, passed him a sandwich
and a glass of wine and then courtc-
ously said:
| Now go ahead and ask me any
questions you will 1t will be the first
time | have ever submitted to an in
terview"
This house is defended by a burglar
alarm. and l don't see how you en-
tered it, replied the reformist. who
! couldn't get over his feelings in the
matter.
Easy as pie, my dear sir. 1 had
only TO cut the wire outside the house.
Do you wish to know why | became
BURGLAR
You can state the case if you wish.
| police for not spotting you off before
you got in here"
Don't do it. Statistics will show
that there are just as many burglaries
now as before policeman was invent
ed. You would only be throwing your
time away. At thirty years old / was
a minister of Il congregation in Il cOun-
try town. My salary was 5000 year
and was behind half the time. l made
the change in order to make a living.
have made an average of $1,000 Il
year as against you. Have you any
criticisms to make? Have you any
thing as good to offer me If ! will re-
form:'
You'd get at least five years if ar
rested for breaking in here" sulkily
replied the reformist.
Not a doubt of it, but 1 shan't be
arrested. If L promise to mend my
ways can you get me job of driving
an ice wagon at 50 per weekr'
You ought TO reform because it Is
wrong to be criminal"
"Oh, had /? / ought to walk the
streets looking for job because /
| want to be an honest man. How about
every alderman In town? How about
every merchant? How about the tens
of thousands of men who are cheating
and swindling and robbing every day?
/ Go 10 a man who sells coffee. 1t is 80
per cent adulteration. VIII he stop be-
cause you say it IS wrong?'
| But you are a burglar
1t Is a distinction without u differ
ence. Instead OF robbing the city / rob
one residence. Instead OF mixing half
cotton with my wool / use false keys
to enter a dwelling. You are In the
cloth business. There are more tricks
in your trade than in mine. Are you
willing To reform!'
If you had come to me and said you
wanted 10 reform l should have stood
ready toto
Yes: go on. You would have stood
ready to give me dollar and your best
advice, and within a week / would
have been a starving man. It'won't do,
old fellow. Its all sawdust We are
all out for the dough, including your
self, and none OF us is going 10 give up
a good thing for the sake OF free soup
and bed under a stairway Cut it
out and save your wind Now, then, /
have packed up bundle in the hall. 1t
contains few pieces OF silver, two
suits Of your clothes and a few other
things. They are my perquisites, and
IL you object It will be the worse for
you
Il may come again at the end of