The Burglars' Club: A Romance in Twelve Chronicles

"The Burglars' Club: A Romance in Twelve Chronicles" by Henry Augustus Hering is an early 20th-century novel that presents the Burglars' Club, a curious group of men, mostly former soldiers and athletes, who pursue thrills through carefully planned burglaries in the city. The story begins with Sir John Carder, a wealthy businessman facing bankruptcy, who unexpectedly meets a burglar and finds himself drawn into a world of unusual friendship and surprising turns. As Sir John contemplates ending his life in his office one night, a burglar appears, shocking him, and introduces him to the Burglars' Club and their odd requirement for membership: committing a burglary. The burglar, who is both intelligent and charming, offers Sir John a way out of his money problems by using his contacts with the wealthy. This first meeting is a mix of comedy, suspense, and mystery, creating a ridiculous situation in which both characters must work together to get through their problems.