American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-05-30

matter 10 the aroused nelghDors from the
window, went down to his room again.
$50 far, so good. had now to go
down stairs, reach the back door, unbar
it, get into the yard, make for my room,
which was in the second story of brick
building that stood unconnected with and
about dozen yards from the main one
After giving everybody another half
hour to settle down again, I started.
"Boys, did you ever try to go up or
down a pair of stairs at midnight without
making noise? You may try it all sorts
of ways, but every step is sure to creak,
each with peculiar noise of its own, and
loud enough, you are sure, to wake every
body. | had got nearly to the bottom,
when little dog came trotting up the
entry toward me, barking furiously. A
suppressed Come here, Zip silenced
him, for he recognized me; but the little
fellow started the mocking bird, and all
the neighborhood, having learned to take
the cue, of course joined the chorus for
the third time.
81 ran along the passage, reached the
door, unlocked it, just as the governor,
reused the second time, opened his door,
and seeing man escaping from the house
by the backway, of course cried 'Thievesl
thieves ? and made rush for me. But
| was too quick for him. opened the
door, sprang out, made for the door that
opened into the room below mine, and
had just reached it, when crash-within
foot of my head-went brick, and a
voice that l knew belonged to our next
door neighbor, Tompkins, Joined the gov
ernor in the cry of Thieves thieves |
murder! murder was safe though.
"Runniug up stairs, 'shelled, myself
much quicker than l ever did before OF
since, and was in bed, sound asleep, in
half minute
wasn't there row, though ? I never
heard so many dogs before. The mock
ing bird, of course, was outdoing all his
previous efforts. The roosters began to
crow. Tompkins was still yelling
'Thievesp and calling the governor. L
could hear screams and all sorts of noises,
and talking among the neighbors, until
at length the old gentleman's voice was
heard in the yard calling
Tom Tom 7
atom, fortunately, was sound asleep.
"'Tom = cried the old man, in voice
that would have reused man from an ep-
ileptic fit.
al judged it prudent to awaken then,
and jumping from my bed, raised the win
dow, rubbing my eyes, and looking par
ticularly frightened, asked
"'Why, father, what in the world is
the matter?'
"'Theres thieves in the house. was
the reply. Get your gun and come
dcwn-be quick
"'He's in the room below you,' halloed
Tompkins I'm certain of it; ! saw him
as he ran down, and threw e-brck at
him. / know he didn't pass the door,
Mr.. Jones
81 was directed to look out for myself;
the governor stood sentinel at the door
below; armed with club, while Tomp-
kins had five minutes to collect aid from
the neishbors, and in less than half that
time so thoroughly was every house al
armed, there was a dozen or more men
in the yard, armed with guns, pistols,
aud sticks.
"The governor led the attack, Open
ing the door, he called
"'Gome out here, you house-breaking
scoundrel! If you attempt to resist, I'll
blow your brains out 7
"Nobody came, however.
"Watch the door, while l go in, and
l was told to look sharp and shoot the
rascal if he came up stairs. A moment
airy search was sufficient to satisfy every
body that the thief was not in that room.
"'He's up stairs, then ? said Tomp-
kin's, 'for I'll take my Bible oath that he
didn't pass that door,
"Up they trooped, and 1 bad lit can
die by that time, but there was no burg
lar there. The strictest search, even
looking into and old boot, didn't show
the faintest trace of him. The yard was
examined, then the house, and everybody
was tolerably satisfied that he had es
capped; but l was appointed sentinel fol
the night, ond ordered not to 60 to sleeT
on my post under the penalty of fog.
| ging.
"The articles missing, on thorough
examination the next day, were two pie
AMI an old lady's silver thimble. Th'
thimble turned up in a week or two, be
ing discovered under the carpet; but tn
| = L H.,