The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-03-22

placed my garments nearer my hand, in
stead of spreading them on chairs in the
room, in order to get them dry. These
thoughts, however, were but momentary,
and in a very brief space ] had forgotten
everything in quiet slumbrr.
| suppose may have slept about two
hours, and the dawn was Just breaking,
when was awoke by slight noise like
something falling on the tiled h0or of the
apartment. Luckily did not start or
make the least movement, but half open
ing my eyes, in the full consciousness Of
the situation, ] saw that my companion
was in the act of getting out Of bed. His
movements were so slow and cautious, and
noiSclcs>ly made, that they reused my
suspicion, and watched him narrowly
through my seemingly closed lids. With
the stcalthiness of a prowling cat he got
upon his feet, and with his eyes fixed on
me, advanced slowly to the foot Of my
bed. His object plainly was to be sure
that | slept and took care to betray no
sign of wakc(ulnrSs that might undeceive
him. After statue-like watch of few
moments, he seemed to have assured him
self Of my slumberS, and, turning softly
round, thrust his hand into one of the
pockets Of my pantaloons, and, withdraw
ing the contents, retreate'l to his bed,
carrying eHe plunder with him. Here he
lay motinnlcSS for some minutes, watching
me attcntively the while. At length he
raised himself and drawing a canvas bag
from beneath his pillow, deposited within
+ II the booty he haiiscizcd, replaced il; rth1
lay down as if to compose himself to
sleep.
/" Ny 'p,v,ou WIS ,o6ilhing M, ny .$4,iz,s y
the fellows impudent robbery, and felt
nan lnciincd TO rise and pummel him as
he lay, and recover my property. There
was no occasion, however, for any hurry !;
and rejecting that second thoughts are
sometimes best, lay stitl, endeavoring
to form some plan for doing myself JUS
ticc, if it might be, without scene of vi
olence, which might be attended with
unpleasant consequences, but fully deter
mined to do battle for nv own ifno other
alternative presented itself The contents
of the pocket which the fellow had riied
amounted to about three pounds English,
all in five franc pieces, which | had re-
ccived Of my friend of the night before
in final discharge of an accommodation
account between US. This was no great
sum, to be sure, but it was more than
could then afford to lose ; and indeed the
idea of reSigning it without struggle
was the last | should have thought Of
entertaining.
While puzzling my brains for some
practicable expcdicnt, which, however,
did not present itself, could not help
admiring the calm placidity of the coun-
tenancc Of the villain who had robbed Inc,
who, from his satisfied expression, seemed
to be enjoying the consciousness of some
good action; but in this was much de
crivcd. The rascal was no more asleep
than was. If my anxiety and indigna-
ton were perpeXing me, his apprehen-
, sions were at the same moment troubling
him; and just as | was abandoning all
hope Of connecting plan for the recovery
of my money without fighting for it, a
movement on his part put me in posses
sion of one which had at least the prom
ise of success | saw him open his eyes
suddenly, and fix them full on me; then
rising, he withdrew the canvas bag once
more from beneath his pillow, and step
ped ont OF bed with it in his hand. There
stood upon the wndowsill withcrcd
gcrauium in glazed carthcnware pot
the plant was a mere stick, which had
dried up and died from want nf water.
/ To my amazement the thief lifted the
plant out of the pot by the stem, raising
the earth in which it had grown, and
which was all matted together by the
roots, along with it he then deposited
the bag in the bottom of the pot, and,
replacing the plant, got quietly irto bed
once more.
saw at once that this move placed
the result of the game very much in my
own power, and | soon made up my mind
how to act. do not suppose that either
of us went to sleep again; and have
often thought since what Il curious study
We might have presented to any concealed
Spectator who should have been in the
secret of our relative prcdicamcnts du-
ring the following two hours or so.
knew, Of course, that my light-lingercd
friend would not think of rising till was
up and gone; having placed his booty
where he might reasonably deem it be-
yond the possibility of discovery, he was
doubtless prepared to OUTAGE any accuSa
tion that might be made against him, and
therefore he would lie there until he had
the field to hilnSrlf accordingly, about
seven o'clock got up, deliberately wash
cd and dressed, and, having finished my
toilet, was almost ready to start, being
we'll aware all the while that the fellow,
who was feigniug sleep, had his eyes upon
! me, and was watching for the moment
when should discover n,y ,loss. 0i
course did not discover it but when
had drawn on my boots, and was ready
to 90, became suddenly aware that the
atmosphere Of the room was insufyrabiy
! close, and began to puff and blow, and
| calculate intcrjectional complaints of the
want of air; /; at the next moment | ran
to the window, threw it wide open with
one hand, and leaning forward, as if to
catch the morning breeze, awkwardly
swept off the flower pot down into the
little court seventy feet below.
In an instant the seeming slecpc" was
standing in his shirt in the middle of the
floor, and demanding with an angry oath
what ] had done.
Nothing, said |, beyond breaking a
tiower-pOt-the plant was withcred and
good for nothing. Excuse my awkward
ness; | will indemnify the landlady.--
Good morning.
My nonchaance deceived the scoundrel
and he stood aside to let me pass, looking
rather black, however, as | walked out
There seemed to be no one astir in tn,
house save the garcon, who was roasting
coffee at the open front door, and | wa
only made aware Of him by the agreeabl,
perfumes which aSsailed my nostrils, as
sped like greyhound down the stairs
In half Il minute | was in the Ettlc bacl
court, where lay the smashed remains o
the pot and the withcred flower. Feeiiu,
morally certain that the shock head an,
scowing visage of the thief were protru
. 4: al I Al