The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1865-05-10
MISCELLANY.
Hcw we = apped 'he Burglar

We lived IN Il Terrace at the time il
which my tale is laid, in what we ma,
tcrlh sub-dis!rict OF the city, for ",
were within five miles Of Charm! Cro>,
and The dark month of December wa,
upon US. Robbcrics had been froqucn
i'll our neighhorhood, and no less than
three HOUSES out OF the ten in the Tcrrac,
bad been entered by burglars and robbed
and yet no discovery OF the thieves hao
taken place. So ably. also, had the work
Of entry been accomplished, that III NJ
case had the inmates been alarmed; and
it was not until the servants descended H.
the morning that the discovery ola rob
berry was made.
In two out of the three cases, an en-
trance had been effected through pan.
try-window, by removing II pane of glass
and cutting small hole III the shutter
This window was on the eround.f floor
and could easily be reached, therefore.
from outside. In the third robbery, an
upper window was entered by means OF
knife which forced back the fastcn
ing, and of course allowed the sash to be
raised.
So rapidly had these robbcrics occurred
that the whole neighborhood was alarmed
The police shook their heads, and looked
knowing, but did nothing; ana what
was much to be lamentcd, failed to find
any clue to the robbers, who, they at the
samc time asserted, were evidently NOT
regular cracksmen.
Affairs had reached such a stage. that
We used 10 sleep with revolver close to
our bedside, when we happened to have
Il friend who came TO stay with us few
days. This friend was an old jungle-hun-
ter, and was an fat ut every arllice by
which the animal creation might be cap
tured. He was delighted at the idea OF
having an adventure with burglars, and
scorned the belief that they were more
than match in cunning for even the av-
orage bush hunter. 1t was in vain that
we assured hin. it was an axiom that an
accomplished robhcr could effect an en-.
trance into any house; and that insiru-
ments were used of such nature as &c
cut holes in doors without mise, and, in
fact, that through roofs and sky-lights,
down chmneys, and up water-spouts, an
accomplished burglar could easily cntei
the best defended house in the kingdom.
Our friends argument was, that bur.
| glar was a man on watch, who took al
vantage Of the residents being asleep and
unsuspectng; 'bui," said he, ''let my
suspicious be raised, and will defy any
burglar to enter my house without my
having due warning because, although
may be asleep, still, / shall hear his ap,
proach, and cln then make my arrange
ments to welcome him"
Although we were not desiIous of hav,
ing our house robbed, yet we wished mucl
that our friends confidence should be taker
out of hu;.
a few days after this conversation, the
police informed US that several suspicion.
characters had been seen about, and re-
commended us 20 be on the alert. Here
then, was good opportunity to tes; my
friends skill and wakefulness; so, having
informed him of the policeman's warning,
| asked him if he felt conf lent to under
take the defence Of the house.
Certainly. lac crpIicd Il only de-
mand II dark lantern, an slipuldc thai
You have It pair of go,o,hes bcsile yum
bed. | also must 90 TO bed last, and II,
servant is to 90 down stairs before me in
the morning nor is any one to walk
about during the nighi-then | will defy
the burglars"
Thus it was agreed that my friend was
to act the part OF guardian, and was to
commen 'e his charge on the ensuing night.
Three nights had passed, and no alarm,
had occurred, and no robberies taken
place we began to think our alarms had
been groundless hut our friend said that
now was the very time to he most guard
ed, for that no wise burglar would rot
when he was expected besides, he said
we have not had windy night yet; it i,
when doors and windows rattle, and the
chimney rumbles, that robberies are best
effected, not when every strange noise i,
audible-thus, he said, he did not give
up hopes of yet having something to LAY
to the robbers before his visit terminated
usually sleep very lightly, and there,
fore awoke readily upon hearing .aE
at my bedroom door during the fourth