The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-03-07

Running up stairs, "shelled" mysell
quicker than ever did before or since
and was in bed, sound asleep, in half
minute.
Wasn't there a row, thought. neveI
heard so many dogs before-the mock
ing bird, of course, was outdoing al
previous efforts-the chickens began Il
crow-TOmkins, next door, was halloo
ing Thieves and calling the Governor
! l could hear screams and all sorts o
noises, and talking among the neigh
bors, until, at length the old gentleman
voice was heard in the yard calling
"Tom "TOmw
Tom, fortunately, was sound asleep
snoring. ~ .f.
Jumping from my bed l raised the
window, rubbed my eyes and looked
partially frightened (Which i wasn't
and asked:
"Why, father, what in the world il
the matterW
"There's thieves in the house." wa:
the reply; "get your gun and come dowI
be quick"
"He's in the room below you," hal
loed Tomkius; "Pm certain of it; saw
him as he ran down, and threw a fire
brick at him. l know he didn't pas:
the door, Mr.. Jones"
| was directed to look out for MYSELF
the Governor stood sentinel at the doc!
below, armed with club, while Tom
kins had five minutes to collect aid
from the neighbOrs, and IN less than
half that time, so thoroughly was every
house alarmed, there were a dozen OF
more men in the yard armed with guns
pistols and sticks.
The Governor led the attack; opening
the doer he called:
"Cume out here, you house. breaking
scsundrel. If you attempt to resist, III
blow your brains out ,....
Nobody came, however.
"Watch the door whilo 60 in;" and
was told to look sharp and shoot the
rascal if he came up stairs. A momen
tary search was sufficient to satisfy
Everybody that the thief was not in the
| room.
"He's up stairs there cried Tompkins
"for I'll take my bible oath that he
didn't pass the door," .,....g.
So up stairs they troOped, but had
lit candle there by that time, and
there was no burglar there. The strict
est search, even looking under a boot
didn't show the faintest trace of him.
The yard was examined, then the
hoase, and every body was tolerably well
satisfied that he had escaped; but / was
appointed sentinel for the rest of the
night, and was ordered not to go to
sleep on my post (but l did, under the
penalty of aogging.
The articles missing, on thorough
investigation the next day, were two
pies aud the old lady's silver thimble
The thimble turned up in day or two,
being discovered under the carpet, but
the pies have not been accounted fol-
even to this day. On oath ! could have
given very material testimony as to the
deposit of the stolen property, but the
case didn't come before any court, and
remained quiet.
Didn't the local editors loom, thought
One of them elongated himself through
a half column, aud headed the article,
"A Diabolical and Atrocious Attempt al
Burglary and Murder" describing with
graphic particulars the fiendish attempt
to throttle Miss l. and her SER
want, complimented the GOODNESS of K,
Tomkins, Esq, perorating with a with
ering anathema on the want of vigi-
lance displayed by the policemen.
1t was fun for.me to SEQ with what
wideawake sagacity the watchman used
to stop at our front door and listen dur
ing his rounds for month after. The
excitement died away, though, after q
while. But I'll never forget the night
| tried to get in without making noise