Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1923-02-14
What Every Man
Wants

By AUSTIN FLINT


ing tips on horse races and selling
gold bricks to unsophisticated coun-
| trymen.
| However, the advent of Baby Mi
chael changed all that. Times were
hard and the bank roll dwindled and
dwindled. The spread of education
| In the rural districts, furthermore,
sadly cut into Larrys business.
| Larry fought hard against tempta-
| ton, but at length as he saw Minnie
growing thinner and thinner and Baby
| Michael looking with haggard eyes
at the last drops in the milk bottle,
temptation proved Irresistible.
| Besides, he had heard that the Reu-
bens, a rich old eccentric couple who
owned the fine house at the corner of
| N street and jackson avenue had
closed it up and gone to the seaside
for the summer.
| That was how it happened that Lar
ry, having effected entrance through
window in the rear of the Reubens
house found himself Shivering with
| fear and delight inside dark room.
Ii was two years since Larry had
tried out his old profession. He had
had to buy new tools. He felt almost
| like novice as he stood there, with
his Jimmy, pincers, skeleton keys and
| tiny electric ad-lamp.
He was not equipped for opening
safe. and. as matter of fact, he
meant this visit to be an exploratory
one. He wanted to discover what
| there was in the Reubens house, prior
to a second and more successful visit.
| AT the same time Larry was per
fectly prepared to take away anything
| that fortune threw in his way.
And, switching on his lamp, he saw
| that fortune was with him. He was
| in the diningroom, and there, on the
| sideboard was set of massive sill
yer plate--real silver, not plated, as
his experienced eye told him in a
minute.
He stood looking at it, wondering
| how he might transfer the least bulky
| parts of 1t to his clothing, when sud
| denly a step in the hall-a very soft
step, arrested his attention.
Instantly Larry had switched Off his
| light and stood listening. Larry was
no pistol expert. He never toted a
gat. He was fox rather than lion.
To dart for the window would mean
discovery. On the other hand he con
sidered 1t unlikely that the owner of
the step had heard him. SO Larry
| just stood still.
But of sudden light flashed in his
eyes, and he saw old Reubens in front
| of him, his gray beard sweeping down
over his nightgOwn, and revolver in
his hand.
"Wellg' demanded Reubens grufly.
| What have you got to say"
Larry said nothing, because he had
| nothing to say. He was caught with
| the goods.
Burglar hey?" shifted Reubens
Larry found tongue. Honest, mis-
| ter, it's the foist time in me life. Me
| wifes Ill and the kids dying. and none
of us has eat for tree weeks. and |
lost me job last month, and we're 60
in to be put out into de street, and
an me old mudder's got to have a
| operation fer-fer asthma, an"
"Hum!" said old Reubens
And If you'll only femme so. mis-
ter. | swear I'll run straight as long
as live"
| Burglary. heyY commented old
Reubens. "See here, young Teller,
can you open cupboard?"
Pride of profession rose uppermost
In Larry. "Sure | KIM" he answered.
There amt muffin in the shape OF
cupboards or safes | can't open"
| "Mebbe l can give you a job, then, "
said old Reubens. "Come upstairs"
Wondering, Larry preceded the old
man up the stairs and into spacious
bedroom. Old Reubens followed him
| This Is my wife's room" he said
shes away just now This is hel
cupboard. There's something in it
want. See If you can open 1t. I've
tried all the keys in the house"
This here'l do the trick" answered
Larry, producing his skeleton.
He deftly fitted 1t, worked it lit
tie; there was a click the lock few
| back.
With cry of delight old Reubens
pounced upon an ancient, shabby sui,
hanging up within.
Good boy" he gurgled And, pull
ing out roll of money from his coat
which lay on a chair. he peeled off s
five.
"Say-what in thunder--Y Larry
began.
My old fishing suit, boy" chuckleC
the old man. "The wife took II away
from me to sell to the old clothes man
I've got better place to hide it now
though"
Wanted Damages.
OF those wOuld-be litigants who
like Hotspur, "in the way of a bar