The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1865-10-19

aleSulFeiy tue Hhlie- Al length he ralS-
ed himself, and drawing canvas bag
from beneath his pillow, deposited within
it the booty he had seized, replaced it, and
lay down, as if to compose himself to
sleep.
My blood was boiling in my veins at
the follows impudent robbery, and Felt
half inclined TO rise and pummel him as
he lay, and recover my property. There
was no occasion for hurry, however; and,
rejecting that second thoughts are some
times best, lay still, endeavoring to form
some plan for doing myself justice, if it
might be without a scene o. violence.
which might oe attended with unpleasant
consequences, but fully determined to do
battle fer my own if no other alternative
presented itself The contents of the
pocket which the fellow had rifled amoun-
ted 20 about three pounds English, all in
fye-tranc pieces, which [ had received
from my friend of the night before in f.
nal discharge of an accommodation ac-
count between US. This was no great
sum, to be sure, but it was more than I
could then afford to lose; and indeed the
| idea OF resigning it without struggle was
the last should have thought of enter
tanning.
While puzzling my brains for some
practicable expedient, which. however.
did not present itself, / could not helm
admiring the calm placidity of the coun-
tenanee Of the villain who had robbed me.
who, from his satisfied expression, seemed
| to be enjoying the consciousness of come
good action performed: /: but in this I was
much deceived The rascal was no more
asleep than 1 was If my anxiety and in-
dignation were perplexing me, his ap-
| prehenslous were at the same moment
troubling him; and just as was abandoning
all hope of connecting plan for the re-
| coyery OF nay money without fighting for
| 1t, movement on his part put me in
! possession of one which had at least the
| promise of success.
saw him open his eyes suddenly, and
fix them full on me then rising, he with
drew the canvas bag once more from be-
meath his pillow, and stepped out of bed
| with it In his hand. There stood upon
the window-sill withered geranium in a
glazed earthenware pot-the plant was a
mere stick, which had dried up and died
for want of water. To my amazement the
THE. lifted the plant out of the pot by the
stem, raising the earth in which ii had
grown, and which was all matted together
! by the roots, along with it he then de-
posted the bag IN the bottom of the pot.
and replacing the plant, got quietly into
bed once more.
saw at once that this move placed the
result of the game very much in my own
hands, aad l soon made up my mind how
TO act. l do not suppose that either of
Us went to sleep again; aud [ have often
thought since, what curious study we
must have presented to any concealed
spectator who might have been in the Sc
cret of our relative predicaments during
the following two hours or SO. | knew,
of course, that my ight-fngered friend
would not think of rising till l was up and
gone having placed his booty where he
might reasonably deem il beyond the pos
sibility of recovery, he was doubtless pre-
pared to OUTAGE any suspicion or accusa-
ton that might be made against him, and
therefore he would lie there TIL he had
the field to himself
| Accordingly, about seven o'clock. got
up, deliberately washed and dressed, and,
having finished my toilet, was almost
ready to start, being well aware all the
time that the fellow, who was feigning
sleep, had his eyes upon me, and was
watching for the moment when | should
discover my loss. OF course [ did not
discover it; but when I had drawn on my
boots and was ready to so, l became sud
denly aware that the atmosphere of the
room was insufferably close, and began to
puff and blow, and to calculate interjec-
tioual complaints of the want of air At
| the next moment / ran To the windou IN
throw it wide with one hand, and leaning
forward as if to catch the morning breeze,
awk1ardly swept off the flower pot down
into the lit.le court seventy feet below.
In an instant the seeming sleeper was
standing in his shirt in the middle in the
floor, and demanding with an angry oath
what had done.
Nothing" said l, 'fbeyond breaking
fower-pot-the plant was witkered and
good for nothing. Excuse my awkward
ness; will indemnify the landlady.-
Good morning"
My nonchalance deceived the scoun-
drel, and he stood aside to let me pass,
looking rather black, however, as l walked
out. There seemed to be no one astir In
the house save the 9arcon, who was roast
ing coffee at the open front door, and I was
only made aware of his presence By the
agreeable fumes which assailed my nos
trils as / sped like a greyhound down the
stairs. In half minute | was In the lit
tie back court, where lay the smashed re-
mains Of the pot and the withered flower
Feeling morally certain tha: the shock
head and scowling visage of the thief were
protruding from the window above, drew
IL