Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1910-10-21
My Last Break"
BY An Author-6urgIar.

adventure had swept me IrOH Ivy
moorings, and l was once more on the
road making little professional tour
through Westchester County, and
meeting with the usual nocturnal adj
ventures and varying degrees of sue
cess, when, one gloomy night, l mad
vertedly committed the fatal mistake
which brought to a sudden termina-
ton
But I will not anticipate.
1t will be better to relate the hap
penings of that ill-starred night in
their proper sequence.
Standing we'll back from the high
way, on a slightly eminence, in the
outskirts of a thriving village, / had
noticed a large mansion with we'll
kept lawns, extensive grounds, and
other external evidences Gas viewed
from a distance) of being the abode
OF wealth and luxury.
I naturally supposed it to be the
country residence of one of New
York's many millionaires, and
although the owner doubtless was not
expecting a call from me. I resolved
to extend to myself the freedom of his
luxurious abode at the earliest oppOr-
tunity and carry off, If luck permit
ted, a few specimens Of plate and
other souvenirs of the occasion.
So the first dark night, armed with
the necessary tools and my trusty re-
volver, I strolled out to the neighbor-
hood of the imposing mansion along
about midnight, and greatly to my
surprise found no trouble whatever In
making my way into the grounds.
There was a large iron gate at the en-
trance, but it was not locked, nor was
there any watchdog on guard.
When l reached the house / saw
what l had not before noticed, that
there were heavy bars to all the win
dows This struck me as strange, but
some wealthy householders have pecu-
liar notions, and | chuckled to myself
at the idea which the owner of this
place evidently entertained that the
window bars furnished an added Sc
curity to his valuables. Just as
though a genuine housebreaker mind
ed such a triae as half-inch wrought
iron bar!
Selecting a convenient window, l
produced chilled-steel saw from my
kit of tools and made short work OF
the bars. Then, prying open the Win
dow catch with thin knife-blade, de-
signed for that purpose, | cautiously
raised the sash and crawled inside.
nd
paratively narrow hallway, at the fur
Their end of which a door stood atar;
and l confess that it gave me some
thing of start to notice that lamp
was still burning in the room into
which this door opened. Could 1t be
| that the inmates of the house had
| not yet retired? | listened intently,
but could hear no one talking or stir
ring All was silent as the tomb. The
only sound that l could hear as
stood there was the beating 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.
l determined to explore the apart.
ment containing the light first. Noise.
lessly tiptoeing my way along the
hall, reached the door, gently pushed
it open, and stepped inside. The mo
ment had crossed the threshold | saw
that | had been entirely too precipi
tate and unguarded in my actions.
But it was too late to retrieve my
error or retreat. A thick-set, dark
compleXioned man, who had been seat
ed at a desk in the corner OF the
room, (Which appeared to be some
sort of an office,) sprang to his feet
and came quickly forward, before
had a chance to draw my weapon OF
make my escape from the room, and
Selling both my hands in his powerful
grasp, cordially remarked:
"Ah! glad to meet you! I've beer
expecting you for some time"
"W-why," l stammered, vainly en-
deavoring to wrench my hands loose
whom do you take me for?'
"Why, you are the noted autho
! and housebreaker who has been writ
ing the "reminiscences OF Busy 'L1f'
by Retired Burglar for the Dali.
Comet and other periodicals, o
course. AS 1 say, have noticed you
work and l have been on the lookou
for you for some time"
"And-and who are you, pray?"
II? Why, l am DR.. Straitjacke'
the head of this restraining 1nst1tr
ton into which you have SO thought
fully made your way, thereby savin
your friends the trouble of bringin
you here and
II Suddenly l realized the terrible mis-
take that | had made, and struggle
no longer. My long and busy, as we
as variegated, career as housebreake
and author was ended. l had broke
into the Home for Incurables, at last
Job for a Surgeon.