A GIRL BURGLAR.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 17, 3 May 1895, Page 2

A GIRL BURGLAR.

-♦ • THE STORY OP A ZEALOUS APPRENTICE. [By W.S., in the 'Pall Mall Gazette.'] I offered my 'Illustrated' to htm, and he refused it definitely without any hesitation. He aaid he didn't hold with newspapers, and didn't want to have no truck with them. They'd done him enough harm, he said, to last a whole lifetime. When I asked how thai was, he only grunted and wiped the window of the compartment with his coatsleeve. « Why don't you tell the gent, Wat* son ?' his companion demanded. There were only three of us, and the train would not stop until it reached King's Cross. ' He ain't got the manners of a pig/ Mr Watson'a companion explained to me. 'That's what he ain't. Why don't you up and tell him, fathead V Mr Watson rubbed hia chin and stared steadily into the night. He moved his lips, and I think he waa swearing silently. • Shall I tell him, then ?' Mr Watson said, with emphasis, that the other could blankly well please his self. So the other told this tale. ***** Mr Watson turned into his elnb in Bethnal Green road. It was not an expensive club— the subscription waa but sixpence a month ; and it had a generous custom of selling beer at all hours, which endeared it to the heart of members. • What I want ia Borne one who's not afride/ explained confidentially a girl at tbe counter. • It'a a roughiah job, and I don't want ' ' You don't want no ank/ suggested the atoub lady in charge. The girl seemed a little puzzled at the expression, but she nodded her head affirmatively. 'Well, Ws the very man. Watson, come 'ore/ Mr Watson went there. • Good afternoon, mißs/ he said, with much geniality. ' Bum sort of weather for the time of the year, isn't it?' ' This young woman wantß someone to 'elp her move some furniture/ explained the stout lady at the bar. The atout lady winked slowly at Mr Watson. ' I'm on/ said Mr Watson, readily. 'I was looking for a job like this. What nime, may I ask ?' • My name ia Smith/ ' And a good name too/ said Watson, with much politeness. ' You might be a lump worse off than you are,' « I mean to be better off/ Baid Miss Smith. * Come over 'ere to this table/ Miss Smith and Mr Wataon held a conference across the wooden table that , lasted for half an hour. Mr Wataon, ' flushed almost to spottiness by excitement, leaned hia elbow on the table and listened, and made now and then a suggestion. ' How far from, London, my girl ?' ' Not more than fifteen mile/ said Miss Smith. ' And me 'avin relativea at the mansion — — ' • In service ?' «Why, I've naturally got to know just where the plate and everything's kept/ ' And I don't blame you for it/ said Mr Watson, encouragingly. ' We've all got to live, haven't we? We weren't Bent into this world not to do nothing/ ' And you are sure you'ie a man of experience V •Well/ said Mr Watson bashfully, ' don't ast me that question. ABt anyone as knows me. The times I've been up at one police court and another — ab, I wish I 'ad aa many sovereigns. Wss they sisters of yourn at the mansion V •You've hit it/ said Misß Smith agreeably. 'They're sisters of mine, and they know the thing's going to 'appen/ 'And they're good honest — I mean to say striteforwaid girls that can be trusted ?' ' Look 'ere, miater/ Miss Smith drew her trim little figure up with something of pride about her. •If you can trust me, you can trust them.' ( AU right, all right/ aaid Mr WatBon, soothingly, ' don't fly all to piecea directly your family'a apoken of. You're like my missus for that. Now 'ark to me. This ia what I suggest/ Two houra later Mr Watson met the young adventurous Miss Smith at Liverpool street station. Mr Wataon, with a bag and a silk hat, was on the platform first. He rubbed hia nose with a scarlet handercbief and stepped into a smoking compartment. The girl followed. ' You oughtn't to have got in 'ere/ growled Mr Wataon. 'You ought to have got in another carriage/ ' I don't mind smoke/ aaid Miaa Smith. ' I can take on a cigarette as well as anyone/ • Don't you go and make yourself too jolly conepicuous, my girl. There's such a thing aB overdoing it. And whatever you do, do for 'Eaven's Bake 'old your jor/ • Bight you are/ 'Yes, I know J'm right/ said Mr Wataon, gloomily. * It's you I'm worrying about. Now keep quiet. Here's people coming in, and you never know who's who in this world/ The young woman obeyed. They got out at their destination, and Mr Watson, hia demure bag containing the n«c'33sary tools ixx his hand, the wearied look of the average book canvasser on his face, caught up with her along the country road at the moment he deemed opportune. ■ • Now you can talk, my dear. 1 • ' Thanks.' <Is thin the 'ouse '{ This one laying back from tbe road V • • That's the one. Come round this way and I'll chow you the window. Let me see all your doin' of, mind.' ' It'a all right so long aa you don't get in my way. I don't mind you ookieg on so long as you don't inter*

fere. Suppose you've never been mixec up in a job like this before ?' 1 Never.' ' Well/ said Mr Watson, with more show of cheerfulness than he had hitherto experienced, ' you're never toe young to learn/ ♦ That's my idea.' ' It was a piece of rare good luck for you to 'appen on me jußt when you did. You might 'aye walked all over London, »nd not found another man like me. Best of you is, you look like a strite sort of girl, too. That's where you get the pull over some of 'em,' ' It is an advantage/ conceded Miss Smith, modestly. 'I always think it becomes ua all to look as well aa we can. 1 ' Engiged, may I ask V 1 Well, yus. In a sense.' * Anybody I know V I Don't fancy you know him," said the young person, thoughtfully. ' He's a cousin of mine, and I don't think he 'angs about 'Oxton to any considerable extent. I reokon you'd call him a energetic sorb of a chap if you was to meet him/ I 1 may run acrost him some day/ ' It's as likejy as not/ 'Now, what should you reckon/ asked Mr Watson, with relish, ' was the inside value of the property in this 'ouse you're apeakln' of? I don't want you to put a fancy figure on it. Jest give a rough guess/ She whispered her reply. c Not bo dusty,' he said, impartially, * but it's nothing to 'aye a fie over, is it?' J Truth of it is, the family ain't been getting in its rents quite reg'rly the last few year?, and all that tells, you ace. Why, aa a matter of fact (confidently), I did hear that one of tbe young lidies was going to try and work for her living. « 'Ard luck,' said Mr Watson. 1 Ah 1 tiroe'a ian't what they was/ aaid Mies Smith, thoughtfully j • you have to 'uatle nowadays if you want to get on/ 1 It'a the sime in every profession/ agreed Mr Watson. * There's too many of us. That's what Ilput it down to. Over-population. Tike 'old of my *and and lead me» It'e dark 'ere/ It was dark. So dark that the girl, in her anxiety to see all that the ingenious Mr Watson was doing, had trouble to satisfy herself. 'What's this 'ere arringment ?' she whispered. 'You wite, my girl.- You'll see what it's for very quick. Gimme some of them wires out of my kise/ ' That's artful/ she said, approvingly. • Artful ain't the word for it/ muttered Mr Watson. * Did you say your sister&'d be on the look-oat V * You may bet your boot's on that/ she said, confidently. ' There ain't no flies on them. Shall I foller you V 1 You stop 'ere and watch, my girl. That's what you've got to do/ •This ain't very funny/ she complained. ( I want to see how much you take/ • Can't we truat one another V protested Mr Watson, with an injured air. • Bust me if I'd a come out on this trip if I'd knowd you was such a one to arpue. Now for the rope/ In the third try Mr ~W atson managed to fit the rope ladder. He put his hand up as a warning to observe silence, and, having tugged hard at the ladder to test its competence, ascended carefully. ' What the — — are you up to nah ? Why can't you behive like an ordinary girl r 'I'm going to see you do it/ she said, decidedly. 'That's why I've come up the ladder after you/ ' Well, you are a nuisance/ grumbled Mr Watson. ' That's the worst of women. They're too what I call inquisitive/ Into the dark room the two safely clambered. Miss Smith took the burglar's hand, and led him into a corner. Mr Watson struck a safety match. ' Here it is/ she whispered ; ' here's the safe in the corner/ Mr Watson sat down, and examined the lock of the huge safe with much care. Then he produced bis tools, and knelt down on the floor. Suddenly he started up. 'Why/ he exclaimed in a hoarse whisper, ' the blessed thing's open all the time. If this don't beat !— why, an it's empty, too 1 Where the ' He stopped. ' What are you up to now, may I kindly ask, miss V he demanded, with forced composure. ' What are you tiking your jacket off for V ' I am going to stay here to night/ She touched an ivory knob near the mantelpiece. ' Ob, reely ! I suppose, me lady, then, you live here?' Mr Watson was trying to keep calm, and put the question under hia breath, with forced politeness. 1 Yes/ she said, quietly ; • I do. I'm tbe youngest daughter, and we're not too well off, and I am trying to get on in journalism. When my stories, "The Experiences of a Lady Burglar," come out, I'll send you a copy/ 'Well, of all the ' ' And here's something for your trouble ; and please hurry off at once. •I think that is my cousin Arthur coming/ ***** I ventured to point out that in these matters there was always a certain amount of risk. Mr Watson made a contemptuous click with his tongue, but did not speak. A newspaper slipped down on the floor, and he kicked it with some show of annoyance. 'Ah/ said Mr Watson's colleague, morosely, 'you're right! You're jußt about rio;ht, guvnor. It ain't all lavender/

Princo Bismarck, in the course of a conversation with a guest and in response to a remark, said, " Seldom ia ray life brave I been a happy man. IE I count up the few minutes of real happiness which I have enjoyed, perhaps they would amount to twenty-four hours." Poor beggar!