University of Virginia Library

2. CHAPTER II.

The burglar looked to one side as if he did not altogether relish the close
remarks of his visiter upon his habitation, and then replied, in a tone of impatience,

`You are very particular about my lodging, Carlton. To be sure I am
not so well fixed as you are, with your mahogany furniture, and pier-glasses,
and satin window-curtains. But the truth is, I don't stay here only in the
day time, when I am fast asleep. Soon as night comes I am like the owl,
and fly off. To be sure,' he added, glancing round upon his rude lodgings,
`to be sure, they might be better. But mice are no choosers when the eats
are about!'

`But then you get so much by your trade, Jack, one would think you
would make yourself comfortable. I don't understand how the pleasure of
robbing can compensate for such lodgings!'

`I shall get a little more and then go somewhere where I ant known, and
settle down,' answered the burglar. `But, to tell you the truth there is a
pleasure in my profession. I like it for its very danger. I laugh when I
think how much the Police think about me, and how I manage to keep them
at fault!'

`Yet you have been three times in prison, Jack.'

`And I have escaped being there a hundred times for that three!'

`As you have but two months ago served your last sentence out, I should
think you would take good care not to be there again.'

`I shall do my best; and if I'm taken, why it's the nat'ral consequence!
We al'ays expects it one day or other!'

`Now I've got my feet a little warm, I will tell you what I am here for,
Jack.'

`Some of the old business, Mr. Ellery?' he said, inquiringly.

`Well,' answered the young man, coloring, yet compressing his lip with a
determined look; `it is something like it.'

`I guessed so when you met me this morning and called me into C—'s
to ask me where I held out since I had got back from Charlestown. Times
has been no better with you then, Mr. Ellery?' he added, with a sort of gratified
look of malice.

`No, Jack. To tell you the truth, I am hard run; and have been this
year, ever since you were in. I am thankful it was not for any of our matters
you were taken up.'

`I shouldn't have blabbed, nor had a hard feeling about it. You have
always acted as a gentleman should do, Mr. Ellery.'

`I am glad you think so. Now let us see if we can come to terms in the
business I want of you.'

`Well, I don't think there 'll be any difficulty if you pay well,' said Brigs.
`I have lost a good deal of my time the year I lay over there at Charlestown,
and the woman I left in charge of my money and things, I found had
stole half when I went after 'em. So I must look out for number one, Mr.
Ellery.'

`You shall have a fair share.'

`Is it at the uncle's again?' asked Jack, winking.

`No; I am afraid to try there again.'

`Has he suspected you?'

`No. But I am fearful he might. Besides, he has got his house so secure
now that it would be next to impossible for you to get in from without;
and if you should get in he would know it would be by connivance of some
one inside. As there is only myself besides the three old servants, whom
he would no sooner suspect than me, it would present difficulties you see,
Jack.'

`The old gentleman has lost his plate so many times that he has resolved
not to be robbed again! Yet, Ellery, I will try it if you say. I know I
could get in!'

`Brigs, I do not allow you to call me Ellery!' said the young man, haughtily.
`You must Mister me, if you wish me to be of service to you!'

`Very well, just as you fancy,' answered Brigs, with a dogged look and
a sinister smile. `But I don't think we are so very far removed from each
other! But don't let us quarrel about trifles. Misters are as cheap as
blackguards! What do you want of me, now? You talk about serving me,
and so you do when you pay me money; but I think you are serving yourself
most in this matter!'

`You are impudent, Brigs!'

`I say, man, don't quarrel. There's my hand, and I take back my
words! Let us to business!' he said, coarsely.

Carlton Ellery drew himself back with an air of pride, and folding his
arms together, without regarding his heavily knuckled hand that he offered
him, he said,

`Jack, you know me well enough not to offend me. Treat me with that
respect I demand, and I am your friend. Insult me by your vulgar independence,
and I will knock you down!'

`Very well. Two, however, can play at that game,' answered Jack,
laughing. `Have your own way. I had as lief be called Jack as Mr. Brigs.
But you young gentlemen have different notions. There is one man I will
never Mister, however, so long as my name is Jack Brigs!'

`And that man?' asked Ellery.

`Is James Daily,' answered the burglar, with a ferocious expression of
countenance, and clenching his fist, he let it fall heavily upon the table, as if
to enforce his determination by the most emphatic gesture he could command.

`Do you know Daily?' eagerly demanded Ellery, his countenance assuming
a singular expression.

`Know him?' repeated the burglar, in a deep tone of vengence. `Know
him? Yes! and hate him like hell!'

`Then give me your hand, Jack,' cried the young man, rising and grasping
that of the burglar, and shaking it warmly, as if in his heart making a
compact of guilt with that man of crime. Brigs stared upon him with surprise,
and said,

`Are you an enemy of Daily's too?'

`Deadly!' answered the young man, speaking in the strong accents of
bitter hostility.

`Then we are friends on that point,' responded Brigs, with emphasis.

Carlton remained seated a few minutes in deep thought. The discovery
of the burglar's hostility to the young man in question, had evidently suggested
to his mind some new idea — some new plan of action.

`So you are Daily's foe!' he at length said, as if Brigs' remark was unheard
by him; `I am not a little pleased to know this, Jack. But we will
talk about this afterwards, for I have something to do in that quarter that
will please you if you don't love him!'

`You may be sure of me if I can do any thing to injure Jem Daily,' answered
Brigs, with a dark countenance.

`I think I can please you in your wishes that way, Jack,' answered the
young man, with a look of triumphant satisfaction. `You are the very man
I want. Between us, Daily is a dead man!'

`I don't mean to say I'd give him the knife, sir,' answered Brigs, hesitatingly.

`I don't mean either to kill the fellow,' responded Ellery, with a cold
laugh; `something nicer than that, Jack. But first let me talk with you
touching the main afair that brought me here, for time presses.'

`Vell, I'm ready to listen, if as how you are not long, as I have a little
job on hand for to-night I'd like to look after.'

`You can't do any thing to-night except for me, Jack. I have a pretty
affair for you of my own.'

`I though as how you had given up the old 'un!'

`Yes, my uncle! It isn't there; for, as I told you, he is too sharp, and
might suspect me. It is another house!'

`Whose!'

`Be secret, Jack!'

`I never togs a linker in the vay o' my prowesion!'

`No, I know you are as true as steel, Jack. The house is in Summer street.'

`Ah, that is a street for good pickin's in my line!'

`Yes, there is a good deal of wealth there.'

`Whose box is it?'

`Mr. Weldon's.'

`What, the rich merchant on Central Wharf?'

`The same, Jack.'

`I'm there!' answered the burglar, striking his hand upon his knee, and
looking into the young gentleman's face with earnest attention. `Have you
sounded the shores?'

`Every part!'

`Do you visit there, Mr. Ellery?' asked Jack, inquisitively.

`Yes,' replied Carlton, with a slight blush. `The truth is, Jack for you
must know all, as you are going to help me in Daily's business — the truth is.
I am confoundedly in love with Mr. Weldon's beautiful daughter, Grace!

`The same I've seen walking to church with Jem Daily!' remarked
Brigs, with savage hate gleaming from his evil eyes.

`Yes,' answered Ellery, his brows meeting with dark feelings of revenge
at the ideas the burglar's words called up. `It is the same person you have
seen Daily walking with!'

`Is n't it in her father's store he's a clerk?' asked Brigs.

`Yes, and this gives him advantages over me! But his triumph won't be
long, Jack, if you are true to me!'

`I'll go the full length of the devil's bridle to stop his career,' said Jack,
in a fierce tone of implacable hatred.

`Miss Weldon is not only very handsome, but she will be a fortune,' continued
Ellery. `I am not only in love with her money, but her person; and
it would make me mad to see her in the possession of any one but myself;
and how then must it affect me to see her married to Daily! a fellow picked
out of the gutter!'

`And into the gutter he shall go again, if I can send him there!' responded
Brigs, clenching his huge, freckled fist, and striking it with a strong
blow upon the table. `But now about this fancy job.'

`It is, as I told you, at Mr. Weldon's. You know where his house is.'

`Yes, I one night followed Daily home there from a concert, with this
very young girl on his arm, and waited outside full an hour to give him a
blinker under his left ear when he come out! But a Charley, discovering
me lurking about, made himself too inquisitive, and so I cleared out.'

`Here is a plan of the house and premises,' said Ellery, taking from his
pocket a paper and unfolding it. `Here, you see, is Summer street; here
Winthrop place and Arch street. This is the square of the house, with the
out-buildings and yard.'

The burglar drew his chair nearer the young man, and fixed his small
gray eyes keenly upon the plan he had drawn up for his guidance. `I see
it plain, Mr. Ellery.'

`Well, those are the two front rooms, and this one, half the size, in the
rear, is the room you must get into. It can be entered by this window, where
I have placed a cross. I have left the window blinds and sashes unfastened,
and all you have to do is to climb over an iron fence on — street, and
clamber through some vines up to the half-circular balcony on which this
window opens.'

`Have you been there this evening?'

`I just came from the house, having taken tea there. After tea I desired
Grace to go to the library for a certain book, and during her brief absence
I threw up the window, undid the fastenings of the blinds, and loosened the
catch that confined the sashes!'

`By the keys of St. Peter, but you are a bold one, Mr. Ellery,' said Brigs,
with a quiet laugh. `You were cut out for —'

`That will do, Brigs! you have said quite far enough.'

`But you are a rum 'un! Who 'd think a young gentleman wisitin' a
young ooman, a courtin'-like, would have his eyes about him in this fashion,
planning work for the first burglar in Boston!'

Ellery looked grave. He did not relish the commendation of his accomplice;
for though his coadjutor in guilt, he still was a young man of fashion,
held a respectable position in society, and was the favored inmate of the
habitation of a rich uncle in the `west end,' who promised one day to make
him his heir. He did not, however, make any reply to his remark, but continued,
placing his finger on the paper,

Here, in the room which you are to enter, is a side-board. Upon it are
several pieces of rich plate.'

`How many?'

`I did not count them.'

`You should have counted 'em, so as I might know I did n't leave none
behind, as I did do when I robbed your uncle's side-board! You should always
count!'

`There are about seven, I think; and inside you will find a large
number of silver spoons and forks. The whole booty will be worth full three
hundred and fifty dollars!'

`A-fair haul, but not so much as such a grand house ought to give!'

`There is, doubtless, more in some other part of the house. But I am
only sure of this. It is very rich, and some of it, being used at the tea-service
this evening, I noticed that it was heavy and costly, particularly the
cream-pot and sugar-bowl.'

`You are a cool'un, and no mistake,' said Jack; `it makes me laugh — the
idea o' your examinin' the cream-pot and sugar-bowl when you was quietly
takin' sugar and cream out on 'em for your cup o' tea! I dare say you
praised 'em to Mrs. Weldon, and told her how handsome you thought they
vos!'

`I may have done so, Jack,' answered Ellery, smiling. `Now I want you
to go to this house to-night about ten o'clock.'

`It is early!'

`They never occupy that room in the evening. I only detained myself
in it to converse with Grace after tea, for the object I had in view. You
will find it dark. Besides, I must meet you with your booty at Clow's by
eleven; for my part of the money on it I want at once! I am hard run,
and must have it to-night; at least, a portion of it.'

`Well, as you say,' answered Brigs, rising and putting on a box coat, the
collar of which hid his ears, and placing a small sack of tools under his arm.
`What am I to have?'

`One third, as usual,' answered Ellery.

`And all the risk,' he growled. `Well, I'm content.'

Thus speaking, he preceded his visiter towards the outer door of his retreat.