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As they sat on their stools in these "greasy and smoky" haunts they might be compelled, says the satirist, to mix with "sailors, thieves, runaway slaves, and the executioner," but even men of higher standing were often not unwilling to seek low pleasures amid such surroundings, especially when, as was frequently the case, there was provision for secret dicing beyond the observation of the police.
If they were to drag only you out of bed, it would be no matter. SET A TRAP FOR THEM! Yes, it's easy enough to say set a trap for 'em. But how are people to afford mouse-traps, when every day they lose five pounds? "Hark! I'm sure there's a noise downstairs. It wouldn't at all surprise me if there were thieves in the house.
So they entered therein, and went a good quarter of a league, and then began the way to wax strait, and the boughs to hang alow; so he said: "Dame, meseemeth that we go not well." When he had so said, he looked before him, and saw four strong- thieves armed, upon four big horses, and each one held spear in hand.
According to Diodorus, there was a president of the thieves' caste, from whom the stolen goods could be reclaimed on relinquishment of a fourth part of the same. This strange rule possibly owed its rise to the law, which compelled every Egyptian to appear once in each year before the authorities of his district and give an account of his means of subsistence.
These thieves lived in a kind of tower, which had several strong-rooms in it, and under it was a great pit, wherein they threw the corpses of the poor unfortunates who chanced to fall into their power. The two men came forward, and, politely accosting them, begged them to come and stay at their house for the night. "It is late," they said, "and there is not another village within several miles."
Pee-wee asked, hardly knowing what to think of this information. "My mother made him give her the two hundred and fifty dollars so I wouldn't get dead. Do you know what I'm going to be when I grow up?" "No; what?" "A giant." "Well, you'd better hurry up about it." "Do you know where my father got that two hundred and fifty dollars?" "Where?" "It was a prize for catching thieves.
Ah, good; his address is in my memorandum book: 'Inquire for the Pig Pen, No. Ann street, any night after midnight. Ugh! I don't like this venturing among cut-throats and thieves, at such untimely hours; but nothing risk, nothing have; and anything for love!"
"I say so now," returned the colonel, sullenly. "I have a good deal of money with me, but I am willing to take my chances." "Doubtless. Your money would be returned to you, in all probability, if, as we have reason to believe, you have a secret understanding with the thieves who infest this part of the country." "Your words are insulting. Let go my arm, sir, or it will be the worse for you."
One of the men aimed a revolver at our hero and said: "Open your mouth to utter one cry and you are a dead man." "You men dare to threaten me?" "Yes, we dare to threaten. You shall not betray us." "Aha! I see my conclusions are correct. You are thieves and fear betrayal." "We only fear being belied by a rascal like you. We're all gentlemen; we have reputations.
Wentworth, who is one of the guests at the hotel where we are stopping. They left an old rowboat in its place. Mr. Wentworth has put the police on the track of the thieves, but as yet nothing has been heard of them. I am afraid they have made good their escape." "I only hope," declared Bob, "that I may live long enough to get my hands on the throat of one or both of them."
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