Bill Truber, the Burglar.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 265, 26 February 1889, Page 4

Bill Truber, the Burglar.

Smith, the porter, was at work in the alley behind the establishment of Hoskins, I Son. and Co. He was a big buur'y fellow, with a bullet head set strongly on his shoulders. He whirled the heavy pakages end over end and flung them on the dray as if they were a hundredweight each, He sakmed just the man for the job. In the office back of the store sat Mr Hoskins. His back was towards the window that looked out on the alley. A man was standing talking to him, when suddenly the man seemed to notcie Smith. Then he stopped talking and stared. ‘What’s the matter ? * asked Hoskin. •Who’s that loading the boxes on the dray!’ Hoskins wheeled round on his revolving chairand looked ont. ‘That! Oh, that’s Smith- one of the porters. Why !' Smith, the porter, was at work in the alley behind the establishment of Hoskins, Son, and Go, He was a big, burley fellow, with a bullet head set strongly on his shoulders. Ha whirled the heavy pakages end over end and flung them on the dray as if they were a hundredweigt each. He seemed just the man for the job. In the office back of the store sat Mr Hos kins. His bacfi was towards the window that looked out on the alley. A man was standing talking to him, when suddenly the man seemed to notice Smith. Thin he stopped talking and stared. ‘ What’s the matter ? * asked Hoskins. • Who s that loading the boxes on the dray’’. Hoskins wheeled round on his revolving chair and looked out. That? Oh, that’s Smith, one of the porters. Why ? ’ ‘ Smith is it ? That man’s Bill Truber, the burglar. How long have you had him ?’ ‘ Impossible. H«’s been here six months or more. Gives perfect satisfaction, I believe. ’ • All the same, he’s Truber. Was let out of state prison lest than a year ago. Served throe years, I believe. I’d investigate if I were you.’ When the man left, Hoskins sat for a few momenta looking out the alley window. Then he called to one of the store boys and said •Ask Smith to come here, will you.’ Smith came in looking embarassed at the unusual call. ‘Just close the door,’ said Hoskins. Smith closed the door. • Bee, here, my man, is Smith your aamet’ The man looked up quickly at Hoskins, then replied, sullenly: • Ain’t Smith as good as any other name ?’ • Yes, if it is your own. Is it ?' •No, it ain't.' • What f« your name, then ?’ ‘lt’s nobody's business as long as I’do my work.' • It's my business, I’ll make it my businoss. I don't want any of your insolence, What's your name. Smith did not answer. ‘ See here, my man, you’ve got to bo care* ful or I'll give you up to the police.’ ‘What for !’ ‘ •You know verywell what for ?’ • No, I don’t. What for !’ .'Because you’re a burglar. Do you deny ‘Of course I deny it. I was a burglar. I’ve served my time. I’ve done no harm since, I’ve worked hard enough for what you give me? ■ Well, you can’t work any longer for me. Call at the window and get your pay, ’ Smith did not move, „' You heard what I said. Get out of here. Y ou may thank your stars, I don’t hand you over Jto the police, ’ ‘ You've nothiug to band me over for and you know it, or you’d do it quick enough. I've got to eat like other men. Who gave me away ?' ‘ That don’t matter. The clerk will give you what’s coming to you. ’ ‘See here, if I get another job you won’t give me away, will you ?’ ‘I don't wish to have any further conversation with you. Next place you get, don’t get it under false pretences; you’ll find honesty the best policy. ’ The burglar drew his pay and started hunting for another job. He tried honestly for a while, but found that a good record iu the state's prison was not necessarily a good business recommendation. He doubted the policy and dropped it. At last he got a place in the hardware house of Irons and Co. All went well for a week, until one day he came on Irons and Hoskins. together. He was not kept a moment in suspense. ‘That man in your employ ?’ asked Hoskins. ‘ I suppose he told you ho was a gaol bird ?’

‘ Good gracious, no !’ exclaimed Irons, ‘ Is that true, Jones !’

‘Oh, he’s Jones now, is he ?’ Hoskins went on. ‘He was Smith at my place. His real name is Bill, something, burglar, late of state's prison? One night a week Mr Ezra Hoskins was in the habit of staying late at his office. Hoskins will never again be so near death’s door until be finally enters therein as he was the next night he stayed in his office. The burglar was concealed within ten feet of him, but murder and not robbery was his object that night. His only regret was that he would have to kill Hoskins so quickly and silently that the merchant would.never know what struck him, and into his bullet head there came the thought after all the revenge would be incomplete if the victim did not know of it.

The merchant took out of the safe a little leather hand satchel whose contents should have been in the bank that night, but which had been just too late to get theie. Hoskins always after bemoaned this fact, but then he never seemed to realise that the contents of that little satchel was the price he paid for his life.

Seeing that the door was locked and the blinds secure, Hoskins opened the little satchel with a key from the safe, and the next moment the iron hand of the burglarwas around his throat.

One yell would have brought him help, for a passing policeman tried the front door while the burglar closed the grip, but the yell could not be uttered. The burglar gagged him with an old handkerchief thrust beetween his teeth and a villainously hard not behind his heed. Then he leisurely tied up the respectable merchant like a bale of goods.

He picked out the bundles of bills frojn the satchel and for a moment seemed puzzled where to put them. His clothes ha* J not as many pockets as were necessary a’,d he evidently did not wish to take the satchel with him. He retired softly to the interior of the store and the merchant groaned to think that if he could only get that cash in the safe and kek it, or if he could hut reach the telephone just above him, everything would have been right. Perhaps it would ao/1 perhaps it wouldn’t. Hoskins was not accustomed to the ways of disappointed burglars. When his enemy returned Hoskins' heart gave a momentary glance of delight. He thought help had oume, but it was Only Bill rigged out in a new suit with a fine overcoat on. He stowed away the money, put the loose silver and gold in his trousers pocket and then turned to bls old master.

• I meant to have killed you, he said, 1 and perhaps I ought to yet, bnt I guess you’ll be about as sorry to lose ail this money as most any other man would be to lose his life. You’ll bo here all safe enough till half-past eight to morrow morning. You'll try your best to find m», but I’ll have a good start of and wish you luck. Next time a poor devil trios to earn an honest livin’ don’t shove him back into the gutter. Ta, ta, old man. You’ve a comfortable night ahead of you?