The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-12-08
Californian Aob Office.

restless. the thorght passed through n, mind
that he might have heard some eusprious
NOISE IN M direction anl was seisning sleep,
while on the watch for i,s repetition. iftLi.
we're the case. the discovery ofa surernuuc
rary on the premises, might lead TO . hass.
assault on the supposed midnight prowler.
and also more rapid transfer Of the ,.op,,.,..
OF the pistol 10 me than would be either q.
creeahlc or wholesome. ,n COR. 7 could oiE,,
any reasonable explanation for nv rr.s,nce
behind the door At such an n,,se ason able hos,
I After while. huw.ve-. renewal of III.
snoring. which VAS rrr:.siona,lv echoed ~
the occupant of the a,:ioinin: room. asss.s..
NE oi the at'.rence OF b-llis iserru, :nten.sans.
and the buzzins Of the flies before mcn,i.,..
cd. with the ticking Of clock in the otfi,r
wt'e the only additional SOUNDS that L-,ke
upon the silence.
About two o'clo'-k. slight ac, iien. ocru,.
red 10 me. which. however, did no harm. II
reaching for pitcher 'f wafer that stool On
the table near bv. knock.- Il III book which
must have been poised oil ;hs rorner Of IN.
, fable immediately initiated. nv scra,.h;n.
the gnawinc offs rat in The wall, So tha, if m.
falling Of the book had aroused tine xieep~r.
he would have attributed 10th the ,,.i,es 20
The imaginary animal!
R,.t y.
heard. save the occasional drunken shout q.
some vo'ary %: BacchnS. r-.iins home 10 dis.
grace his family with his rr-s-n,-c: and the
measured strokes of he cii, c!orks, a. they
told of thr long. long hours.
But the most lu,iicrou- circumstance. han.
P"neG Just about DAYLIGHT. that is .iavl;p,,,
Outside. for within the ohce it was still dark.
as all the blinds were closed. twv startled
by sudden rap on the door Of thc pos, mas.
'er's room which oTenrd into the main hall.
soon followed nv another even more cn..rsc,.
'c. The clerk in the bedroom Jumped fran
hrs bed and passed. :y me- to open the door.
Fearing that should lie discovered, I .larsea
into the bedroom wishon, h. knowl..i.c a nj
h-fore he had returned The truth is. he
was not more than half awake. and had tcy
go''rn me entirely. lie had admitted COL
ored man TO get fhe boots which required his
polishing touch, and then returned to he'd a.
gain.
This gentleman Of color. who bv the va,
proved to be frn>fy porter employed in .e,-
rral OF the Offices in the building. proce-i-d
first 10 the side Of tie 70, 70 y.t the boots
there. and then made for the bed room. inn.
which | had rtfreastl. In feeling about
the floor to find the remaining 'leathprn con.
veniences, he seized one of mine. "rvc
cot my foot in ii now" though, l.; Lu, iv
gentle and dexterous movement I succeeded
IN Withdrawing ilr' rsp..ed covering from
hrs partial grasp. 10 rre-ent his discovering
'he existence @. leg within. Whether il
was fright at the tou,-h Of the tenanted b,c..
Or something else. that made him leave the
premises 50 sulGeul,. have never been f,,.
ly satisfied. went ont mrsef soon after.
leaving both clerks fas. asleep.
What occurred on 'hs, nigh, tsyonti that
which nave already described. or how the
terminated. ! am confident the
reader will not insis; upon knowing. when I
assure him that there are special reasons, A.
'ec''ns I'uti'c as well as private interests.
why should make no further disclosures.
lhonsh tins WAS not the last M mt which
have spent in post oii es io- similar purposes.
vet have never repeated the experiment
under c'rcumstance requiring quite 80 severe
restraints, and such atri'!sement of pr.sons
liberty.