Bisbee daily review., 1909-09-12
From aBrglar's s
 Note Book


 had retired-aS thought. perman
 ently-but the old yearning for gair
 and adventure had swept me from my
 moorfngs. and was once more on the road making little professional tour
 aItd meeting with the usual nocturnal ads. .entures and varying degrees Q.
 sueeA, ss. wzfen, one gloomy night. i fnadsA tantiy committed the fatal
 mfszA<k which brought to e sudden | termSnatioA,--
 ! But I will not anticipate. It will be batter to relate the hap. l penings of tkak, ill-starred night ia their proper seq1ence. Standing well back from the high way. on a slightly eminence, in the outskirts of thriving village, I had | noticed a large mansion, with we'll | kept lawns, extensive grounds, and | other external evidences Gas viewed
 from distance), of being the abode 1 of wealth and luxury.
 I naturally supposed it to be the ! country residence of some million aire, and although the owner doubt. less was not expecting call from
 me, I resolved to extend to myself the freedom of his luxurious abode at 1 the earliest opportunity and carry off l If luck permitted, few specimens oi plate and other souvenirs of the oc casion.
 So the first dark night, armed with the necessary tools and my trusty re- volver, strolled out to the neighbor- hood f1f fha frnpocfuU raapsSor aIoro about midnight, and greatly to my sur prise found no trouble whatever in making my way into the grounds. There was 8 large iron gate at the entrance, but 1t 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 there were heavy bars to all the win dows. This struck me as strange, but some wealthy househoiders. have peculiar notions, and I 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 ns though a genuine housebreaker minded such a trifle as a halfinch wrought iron bar!
 Selecting a convenient window I produced chilled steel saw from my kit of tools and made short work of the bars. Then prying open the win dow catch with a,thin knife blade, de- signed for that purpose, cautiously raised the sash and crawled inside. I found myself in a long and com t., AL ther end of which a door stood ajar; and I confess that 1t gave me some thing of start to notice that lamp was still burning in the room into which | this door opened. Could it be that the 1 inmates of the house had not yet re- tired? listened intently, but could hear no one talking or 6rrfng. All was silent as the tombe
 The only sound that I could hear as I stood there was the beating of my own h art Evidently no one was awake. The light doubtless was from a solitary gas jet or night lanp which had been left burning, ard instead of hindrance would be uelp to me in my self-appointed missi,n. I determined to explore the apart ment containing the light first Noise lessly tiptoeing my way along the aall, l 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 1t was too late to retrieve my error or retreat thick-set, dark complexioned man, who had been seated at a 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 en- deayoring to wrench my hands loose. "wbom do you take me for2"
 "Why, you are the noted author and housebreaker who has been writing the "Reminiscences of Busy Life by Retired Burglar for the Daily Com ct and other periodicals, of course. As I say, I have noticed your work and I have been on the lookout for you for some time"
 "And-and who are you, pray?"
 T? Why, am Dr. Straitjacket, the head of this restraining institution in- to which you have so thoughtfully made your way, thereby saving your friends the trouble of bringing you here, and"
 Suddenly realized the terrible mis- take that I had made, and struggled no longer My long and busy, as well as yariegated, career as a housebreak- CT and author was ended. had bro ken into the Home for Incurahles. at last!