True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-10-21

to stay breakfast And wouldn't ] eat
heartily out Of the spoons had stolen
Blu, what name is that? Who calls me
housebreaker Who gives me in charge
and lugs ME off by the necka will not
stand il. | am innocent, except ofbreak.
ing into baronet's house. I am gen.
tleman with another genlleman's spoons
in my pocket. claim the protection of
the law. Police ! Police !!
My brain was wandering. l pressed
my hand on my wet forehead, TO keep
down the thick coming fancies, and de-
termined, for the first time in my life, TO
hold deliberate consultation with my.
self. l was in an awkward predicament
1T was impossible to deny the fact; but
was there anything really serious in the
case I? | had unquestioaable descended
into the wrong area, the right Aand one
instead Of the left hand one but was l
not the relation-the distant relation-the
very distant relation-of the next door
neighbor l had been four years absent
from his house, and was there anything
more natural than that 1 should desire to
pay my next visit through subterranean
window ! l had appropriated, it is true,
quantity of silver plate I had found
bat with what other intention could |
have done this than to present it to nv
very distant relations daughter, and re-
proach her with her carelessness in ieav-
ing it mex, door : Finally, was shared,
Gagged, trapped-door and window had
been bolted upon me withou. any remon-
STRANGE on my pa,t-and | was now some
considerable time in the house unsuspect-
ed, yet prisoner. The position was
serious; but come, suppose the worst,
that was actually laid hold of as a male.
factor, and commanded to give an account
of myself. Well: was, as aforesaid, a
distant relation of the individual next door.
l belonged to nobody in the world, if not
10 him bore but an Indifferent reputa
ton with regard 10 steadiness and after
an absence Of four years in a foreign
country, Ihad returned idle, pennyless,
and objectless-just in time to find an
area window open in the dusk of the eve.
ming, and heap of plate lying behind it,
just in view of the street,
This self examination was not encour-
aging the case was decidedly queer !;
as sat thus pondering in the dark, with
the spoon in my hand, | am quite sure
that no .malefactor in dungeon could
have envied my reflections. In fact The
evidence was so dead against me, that |
began to doubt my own innocence
What was here for if my intentions had
really been honest! Why should de-
sire to come into any indivdual's area
window instead of the door! And how
came it that all this silver plate had found
its way INTO my pockets :! was angry
as well as terrified ; I was judge and cri-
minal in one but the instincts Of nature
got the belt of my sense OF justice, and
rose suddenly up, to ascertain whether
it was not possible to get from the win.
dow into the street.
As l moved, however, the horrible boo.
ty in my pocket moved likewise, appear
ing to me to shrek, like ascore of liends,
" Police Police p and the next instant
heard a quick footstep ascending the
stair. Now was the fatefnl moment
come was on my feet {; my eyes gla-
red upon the door; my hands were Glen
ched the perspiration had dried sudden.
ly upon my skin; and my tongue clave
to the roof of my mouth. But the foot
step accompanied by gleam of light pas
sed-passed and from very weakness l
sat down again, with dreadful indiffer.
ence TO the screams Of the plate in my
pockets. Presently there were more
footsteps along the hall then voices |;
then drawing of bolts and creaking Of
locks then utter darkness, then silence
lasting, terrible, profound. The house
had gone to bed the house would quick
ly be asleep it was time to be up and
doing. But first and foremost must get
rid Of the plate. Without that hidious
corpus deicti, should have some chance
II must at all hazards creep down into
the hall. and find my way to the lower
regions, and replace the accursed thing
where I found it. It required nerve to
attempt this; but'I was thoroughly wound
up; and after allowing a reasonable time
to elapse, to give my enemies fair op-
portunity Of falling asleep, ! set out upon
the adventure. The door creaked as l
went out; the plate grated against my
very soul as | descended the stair; but
slowly, stealthily, l crept along the wall
and at length found myreR on the level
floor. There was but one door on that
side of the ball, the door that led to the
rea.room--I recollect the faut distinctly (;
and it was with inexpressible relief that
/ reached it in safety, and grasped the
knob in my hand, The knob turned
but the door did not open il was locked
lit was nv fate 10 be thief and after
a moment Of new dismay, | turned again
doggedly, reached the stair, and re- enter
ed the apartment had left. 4a
1t was like getting home. Itwas snug
and private. had acbair there waiting
for me. though, to myself. that many
a man would take d deal Of trouble to
LbTeak into such q house. ] had only