The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-04-18


arrived.
Joe Maggs thanked his dear Polk
for the plan of the house and the
parsiculars of the swag, and he and
his pal would be waiting outside the
house at o'clock In the morning or
Thursday. She was to undo the bolts
of the front door, so that they could
slip in. and they would then GO
straight to "Old Spooney's" room
gag and bind him If necessary, and
walk off with the plate. Finally, she
was to give some of "she knew
what to the dog.
"Ah! that bit about the dog re-
minds me-" said Ben; you'd better
get the noble animal away some-
where, John, for the night"
We settled all our plans When
everybody had gone to bed | was to
let the inspector and two of his men
into the house, and secrete them on
the drawing room landing. My next
move was to undo the bolt, so that
any one could walk in. Finally, !
was to go to bed and await results
When | kissed Blue Eyes" be-
hind the pantry door that evening, l
felt more like Judas than ever. The
only consolation | had was that she
was as false as was. On Thursday
wants off, | went softly to the hall
door and let Inspector Bagshaw and
his two men in the house.
Now, though | was not jealous of
my friend, the inspector, yet did
not see why | should not contribute
my mite toward the capture. There
fore, before | went to bed (Which I
did with my clothes on, underneath
my nightshirt) was careless
enough to leave a decanter three
parts full of port wine doctored, do
you think, expressly for the bur-
glarious party? Well, l shouldn't
wonder If It was.
At 1.30 o'clock / went to bed.
Shortly after | heard a noise, and
set up the most awful snoring you
ever heard. I kept my ears open,
though, all the time. / heard them
at the plate chest; l had foolishly
left 1t open. l heard 'em shift its
contents into bag or bags, and then
and then (and | give you my word I
almost burst out laughing) | heard
'em pegging away at the wine
"Blimy! the cove might ha' been
genteel enough to ha' left us out a
wineglass--what do you think,
,I l.
filled one of the tumblers which l
had purposely left on the table so as
to be handy.
l had not long to wait for what l
had expected
Joe" / heard the other man say,
"I feel precious queer-quite drow-
sy like"
"Oh. you'll be all right directly
you gets into the fresh air." growled
Joe. in reply. Come, fill up once
more, and then well mizzle."
A loud snore was the response.
Again I listened and then eau
tiously took peep at the burglars.
They were both fast asleep.
Out Of the bed | jumped like a
harlequin, fshed out some strong
cord I had purchased expressly for
the occasion, and bound the legs and
arms of the insensible Joe Maggs
and his friend until they looked for
all the world just like a pair Of
trussed fowls. Next | lit my lamp
and every candle | could lay my
hands upon, and finally l blew my
whistle for help.
In rushed Inspector Bagshaw and
his two men. and stopped paralyzed
with wonder at the sight before him
the plate all packed, the two bur-
glars neatly secured. Ben, for once.
was fairly puzzled.
why, how the-what the-whats'
the meaning of It all?" he STAN
mered, looking from me to the two
men and then at me again.
l struck an attitude, and, pointing
to Joe Maggs and his friend, OBJ
served quietly, after the manner OF
q conjurer at the conclusion OF q
difficult feat of sleight-of-hand-
"That's how TIA donein