True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-08-01
y the back way, Of course cried Thieves

by the back way, of course cried Thieves
Thieves! and made rush after me.
was too quick for him though, opened the
door, sprang out, broke for the door thai
opened into the room below mine, and had
Just reached it, when crash within foot
of my head went a brick, and another voice
that knew belonged to next door neigh
Dor Tompkins, joined the governor in the
cry of Thieves Thieves Murderl wa:
safe though, Rushing up the stairs,
shelled myself quicker than I ever did be-
fore or since, and was in bed and sound
asleep in less than half a minute. Wasn't
there row though? never heard SC
many dogs before, the mocking bird, Of
course, was out doing all previous efforts,
the chickens even began to crow, Tomp-
kips next door was hallowing "thieves,,
and calling the governor. l could hear
screams and all sorts of talking and noises
among the neighbors, until at length the
old gentlemanS voice was heard in the yard
calling tom Tom!
Tom was sound asleep-snOring,'
tom = cried the old man in voice
that would have reused a man from an ep-
ileptic fit.
4 judged it prudent to wake then, and
jumping from my bed raised the window,
and rubbing one eye, and looking particu-
larly frightene d, (Which was, asked:
'Why, father, what in the worlds the
matter?'
There's thieves in the house, was the
reply; get your gun and come down, and
be quick
'He's in the room below you, Tom, hal
loed Tompkins, I'm certain of it. l saw
him as he ran down, and threw fire brick
at him. know he didn't pass that door,
Mr.. Jones'
4 was directed to 'look out for myself
the governor stood sentinel at the door be-
low, armed with club, while Tompkins
had five minutes to collect aid from the
neighbors, and less than half that time, SO
thoroughly was every house alarmed, there
were dozen Or more men in the yard, arm
ed with guns, pistols and sticks.
THE governor led the attack. Opening
the door, he called, Come out here, you
house breaking scouDdrcl. If you attempt
to run Or resist, I'll blow your brains out.
Nobody came, however.
watch the door, was the order, while
l go in and was told to 'look sharp and
shooL the rascal if he came up stairs A
momentary search was sufficient to satisfy
everybody that the thief was not in that
room.
'He's up stairs, then, cried Tompkins,
for I'll take my Bible oath he didn't pass
that door,
so up stairs they trooped but l had lit
candle by that time, and there was no
bug-bear there. The strictest search, even
in looking under a bootjack, didn't show
the faintest trace of him. The yard was
next examined, then the house, and every.
body being tolcrably we'll satisfied that he
had escaped, the neighbors dispersed tc
their several homes, but l was appointed
as sentinel for the rest of the night, and
ordered not to go to sleep on my post un.
der penalty of fogging
The articles missing, on thorough in
vestigation next day, were two pies, and
the old lady's silver thimble. The thin.
bic turned up in week Or two, being dis.
covered under the corner of the carpet, but
the pies have never been accounted for tc
this day. On oath, could have given
very material testimony as to the disp posi
tion of the stolen property, but as the case
did not come before any court, l remained
silent.
Didn't the local editors loom though
One of them cnlongated himself through {
quarter of a column, and headed the item
"A Diabolical and Atrocious Attempt a
Burglary and Murdcr!' describing, will
graphic particulars, the iiendish attempt tt
throttle Miss----and her servant, com
plimentcd the 'c9olness and resolution o
R. Tompkins, Esq and perforated with ;
whitening anthema on the want of vigilanc,
displayed by the police.
lit was fun for me to sec with what wild,
awake sagocity the watch used to stop a
the from. door listen during their night
lyrouuds, for month after, and you could'n
have bribcd youngster to go under tn
porch on any account after dark. The ex
citcment died away, though, after while
but I'll never forget the night tried t.
get in without making a noise