The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-02-11
A LESSON
IN BURGLARY

Il
ihish Aas = aaIk unr "a.
H. nan a6n aallrl had ia bed mlldl'
as. anl aas sii0il And siaA maaasiati1i
lie raai collar a - iufnri aisl his s'ls IA
Ipuli,si i!uah- ahd b. 49, liaiiins "a va
,iuh rnd II a ussf
falluains ms hr asAoi
gArs tbs uihsi mah fsiairi
Ihr ulhrf mah Nas 4uuhs and siAhhil'
,lt~sssal ani bic ialu NAs l,air ahd hassAlh
snd his elrs hl0sishui
Mat ior the alieF man asked ~
ItahI H. : hold ,upt
No. lyi.liri she Younger man That
Ihp Older man puliei little harder oH
II. ivmnahl u 4 tlsaF
May ! a.k the nature II Your l''e'
rhs oIisr man look~i the young man
aver,
I "NuyirrN'
"Mrll. y~. ...-
m. Older man tossed auay h. cigar
Lets walk, hr aid,
/ ihrA tel lnio step,
You MAY b. walking me- 10 a l'alior ia
ton aid the souns man. The tact o.
| don uaIr.
"I'm ,un,ti...i," AID the older man,
'slluN ran Auu expect q" NEE m your ch"'
20 lei yau the Truth. replied the
sauns man. 4 don't cate much Tot u
The older man looked around Al him.
Than Why adopt u
IL atrsal, 10 me. aid the young man.
/ III demand. nerve and Uauiiuu and vn,
eng luok nI0n the buislat a. bold
Imam. : man Who would not stoop - tviii
plirfing. q man Who take, great chance.
sni FACE. seven. I'cnaliir.. To my mlni
the burglar ]. the only Law breaker OF
1 heroic .igc,
liz .pokc ia a light and pykIes. way
that consottrd well with hp dissoluie ap'
Z pultanCr,
And Why do you .ay ,hi. TO .'raos
cfs"
Il have followed YOU ior some time
the Young man replied. You appeared
! rstl,.. aud irrcsolutc-a homeless yaga'
bond like myself | ianosd You were plan
ming mischief. aud only waiting FOR the IA
vafahlc hour. Once ! came close To you
aud your appearance confirmed my snspic
i0ns. \ moment ago a passing policeman
turned and looked after yon. u seemed
Ia me tina, he thought he recognized YOU
| need human cumpinlOnsmp. ! even Tan
eird you might take me on ~ an appren
iice. perhaps a partner You viii md me
faithful and willing, aud ju.t a. rockies.
A. you desire
The older man looked around again.
There /. one quality YOU greatly lack,
he said. "and that is prudence II you
had been really clever YOU would have
sounded me before laying down your
hand
Il am not clever" laid the young man.
Luckily. | am neither an alarmed clti'
zen nor a plain clothes policeman. In
fact, | am man who lives altogether b.
his wits, and makes il point to consider
all propositions that are submitted TO him.
am impressed by your irankness and by
Your offer. ! am man who has knocked
about good deal and seen many sorts
and conditions OF men. Naturally, I've
hardened. | cannot trust you implicitly
until ! know more about you.
They were walking slowly along lonely
boulevard in the eastern part of the city.
The older man had lighted another cigar
and was slowly putting II. He had offered
cigar to his companion, but the latter
declined.
1--WE given up all that sort OF thing,
he said 1T never brought me any good.
Il do not urge YOU" said the older man,
"a fact explained by two reasons. Smok-
ing i bad habit for the ambitious young
burglar. and ! may want to smoke the
cigar myself. But you were about TO I'M
iold your story.
No"
"Yon will find me a sympathetic listen.
err
no"
The older man nut his hand on the
Young mans arm.
why mott
His sharp voice had suddenly softened
His touch thrilled the Young man.
1T is a story ! would not repeat-a
story of folly, Of waste, of vain regret. II
has brought me TO this pass.
You are Young
"Twenty.seven.'
"Friendless|
Absolutely.
with no taste for lawful work.
With no chance OF obtaining it. am !
in appearance. dissipated in |
look. There are no Jobs open to me as /
ong a. reputable men desire them. Oh,
I've tried to get work-anything that
would bar off starvation II was no use"
They walked on in silence.
And so you took up burglary"
There were three channels of endeavor
open to me-begging, crime. suicide.
"A bad outlook at twenty-seven
Are we to be friends the Young man
sked.
DO YOU think my friendship worth Sc,
uring?"
'I'il tell you frankly what think" the
Dung man answered,
Go on"
II think you are a man who can be
rusted. man who would be true to his
ais. man who has weathered stormy
lines and not been embttered by them
on are poor and a wanderer and You
an sympathize with other poor wander
RS. That's the way size you up 4.
Il am fattered, said the older man. !
even If | doubt your perceptive abilities.
Int come, your confidence in me is too l
reat to be abused I didn't expect to do :
nything in our line tonight but | want !
, show my friendly feeling for a begin !
err"
''Iou are kind.
Listen. know the very house for you /.
, attack" !
Yes"
Il have been watching it for some time ;,
he people are away from home. IT looks
Ike very good plumber r
Then you will Join me?' :,
.On a share and share alike basis.
ONE
They quickened the pace. 1t was lone >
part of the boulevard. and seemed dou-
y lonely tonight 4
Are you armeds" the older man asked !, :.
No. My entire kit consists of heavy },
lisel'' 0
The older man slackened his speed
Here is the house." he said Gone mo-
ent We cannot tell what may happen Il
would like to know your name" :
The young man hesitated moment.
Paul Wilbur" he answered.
m, -