"  Merely  to  keep  the  burglar  busy  while
he  is  in  my  house,  and  to  make  him  expert
in  honest  work.  An  ordinary  mechanic,
intelligent  enough  to  get  that  safe  open  by
night  or  by  day,  would  be  entitled  to  at
least  two  dollars  for  his  services.  The  in
dividual  involved  got  it  open ;  and  when  he
opened  it — "

"  Found  nothing !"  cried  Mr.  Pedagog.
295


THE    IDIOT    AT    HOME

"  Exactly/'  said  the  Idiot,  pulling  away
on  his  cigar.  "  I  suppose  I  should  have
left  a  check  inside  payable  to  bearer  for  a
dollar  and  a  half  to  compensate  him  for
his  trouble,  but  I  am  so  neglectful  that  I
really  didn't."

"  And  you  bought  a  safe —

"  Merely  to  provide  employment  for  the
unemployed  burglar/'  said  the  Idiot.
