Holbrook argus., 1909-11-23
rom maBurglar's s
 Note Book

mOOr1ngS, and I was once more on the road making 9 little professional tour and meeting with the usual nocturnal adventures and varying degrees of success, when, one gloomy night, I inadvertently committed tho fatal mistake which brought to sudden termination
 But I will not anticipate.
 It will be better to relate the hap penings of that ill-starred night in their proper sequence.
 Standing well back from the high way, on a slightly eminence, in the outskirts of thriving village, I had noticed a large mansion, with well kept lawns, extensive grounds, and other external evidences Gas viewed from distance), of being the abode of wealth and luxury
 naturally supposed it to be the country residence of some million aire, and although the owner doubt. less was not expecting a call from me, l resolved to extend to myseli the freedom of his luxurious abode at the earliest opportunity and carry of. if luck permitted, few specimens ot plate and other souvenirs of the oc- casion.
 So the first dark night, armed with :. the necessary tools and my trusty re volver, 1 strolled out to the neighbor- hood of the imposing mansion along about midnight, and greatly to my sur prise found DO trouble whatever in making my way into the grounds I'll entrance, but it was not locked nor was there any watch dog on guard. When I reached the house I saw what I had not before noticed, that i there were heavy bars to all the win l dows. This struck me as strange. but some wealthy householders have peculiar notions, and l chuckled to myself at the idea which the owner of this place evidently entertained that the window bars furnished an added security to his valuables. Just as though genuine housebreaker i minded such trifie as a half-incn wrought iron bar!
 Selecting convenient window 1 produced chilled steel saw from my kit of tools and made short work oI the bars. Then prying open the win dow catch with a thin knife blade, de- signed for that purpose, 1 cautiously raised the sash and crawled inside.
 found myself in a long and con- paratively narrow hallway, at the fur ther end Of which door stood ajar, and 1 confess that 1t gave me some thing of a start to notice that lamp was still burning in the room into which this door opened Could it be that the inmates of the house had not yet re- tired? I listened intently, but could hear no one talking or stirring All was silent as the tomb.
 The only sound that could hear as I stood there was the beatins, of my own heart. Evidently no one was awake. The light doubtless was from solitary gas jet or night lamp which had been left burning. and instead of hindrance would be help to me in my self-appointed mission.
 I determined to explore the apart ment containing the light first. Noise lessly tiptoeing my way along the hall, I reached the door. gently pushed it open. and stepped inside. The moment I had crossed the thresh- old I saw that had been entirely too precipitate and unguarded in my ac- tions.
 But it was too late to retrieve my error or retreat. A thick-set, dark complexioned man, who had been seated at 8 desk in the corner of the room (which appeared to be some sort of an ofice) sprang to his feet and came quickly forward. before I had a chance to draw my weapon or make my escape from the room, and, seiz ing both my hands in his powerful grasp, cordially remarked:
 "Ah! glad to meet you! I've been expecting you for some time.'
 "W-why," I stammered, vainly ep' deavoring to wrench my hands loose whom do you take me for?''
 Why, you are the noted author and housebreaker who has been writing the "Reminiscences of a Busy Life by a Retired Burglar for the Daily Com ct and other periodicals, of course. AS l say. I have noticed your work aad I have been on the lookout for you for some time
 "And-snd who are you, prsy?" q? Why, I am Dr. Straitjacket, th' head of this restraining institution In to which you have so thoughtful! made your way, thereby saving you friends the trouble of bringing yoI here, and"
 Suddenly l realized the terrible mis take that I had made and struggled no longer. My long and busy, as wei as variegated, career as housebreab CT and author was ended. I had hro ken into the Home for Incurables. a last.