Middletown transcript., 1868-03-21

for he recognized me. But the little fell
low started the mocking bird, and all the
dogs in the ncighborhood, having learned
to take the cue, of course, Joined the cho-
rus for q third time.
ran along the passage reached the
door and unlocked it just as the governor
aroused for the second time opened his
door and seeing man coming from the
house by the back way of course cried
4" Thieves thieves and made rush after
me. ! was too quick for him though; l
opened the door, sprang out, and made for
the door that oponed into a room below
mine, and had just reached it, when crash
within foot of my head went brick, and
ce that l knew belonged to the next
door neighbor, Tompkins, joined with the
governor in the cry of " thieves! thieves! !!
murderw was safe though.
Running up stairs, H. shelled' myself
uicker than / ever did before or since,
and was in bed sound asleep in half a
minute.
Wasn't there row, though? | never
heard so many dogs bcfore-the mocking
bird of course, was outdoing all previous
efforts--thc chickens began to crow-Tom-
kins, next door, was hallooing Thieves! !"
and calling the governor. could hear
screams and all sorts of noises, and talk
ing among the neighbors, until, at length
the old gentlemans voice was heard in the
yard calling Tom Tom J"
Tom fortunately was sound asleep,
snorning.
Jumpiny from my bed I raised the win
dow, rubbed my eyes and looked partially
frightened (Which 1 wasn't) and asked:
Why father, what in the world is the
matter 7"
There's thieves in the house, @was the
reply; get your gun and come down-be
quick"
4" He's in the room below you" halloocd
Tompkins; I'm certain of it; saw
him as he ran down, and threw friedrich
at him. know he didn't pass the door
Mr.. Jones'"
was directed to look out for myself !;
the governor stood sentinel at the door be-
low armed with club, while Tomkins had
five minutes to collect aid from the neigh
bors, and in less than half that time, 50
thoroughly was every house alarmed, there
were dozen or more men in the yard
armed with guns pistols and sticks.
The governor led the attack opening
the door he called:
D." Come ont here, you house, breaking
scoundrcl. If you attempt to resist, I'll
blow your brains out"
Nobody came, however.
"Watch the door while go in;' and |
was told to look sharp and shoot the rascal
if he came up stairs. A momentary search
was sufficient to satisfy everybody that the
thief was not in the room.
Hes up stairs thcnl cried Tomkins,
for I'll take my bible oath that he didn't
pass the door,"
So up stairs they trooped, but had lit
a candle by that time, and there was no
burglar there. The strictest search, even
looking under a boot, Didn't show the
taintest trace of him. .r
The yard was examined, then the house
and every body was tolerably well satisfied
that he had escaped; bpt l was appointed
sentinel for the rest of the night, and or
dered not to go to sleep on my post (but
did, under the penalty of fogging.
The articles missing on a thorough in
vestigation the next day. were two pies and
the old lady's silver thimble. The thimble
turned up in day or two, being discover
cd under the carpet, but the pies have moi
been accounted for even to this day. On
oath could have given very material ties.
timony as to the deposit ofthe stolen pro-
perty, but the case didn't como before any
court, and it remained quiet.
Didn't the local editors loom though
One of them elongated himself through q
half column, and headed the article, g A
Diabolical and Attrocious attempt at Bur.
glary and Murder !" describing with graph
ic particulars the iendish attempt to throt'
tie Miss land her servant, c)mpli.
mented the GOODNESS of r. Tomkins, Esq
perorating with whitening anathema of
the want of vigilance displayed by the po.
liecemen.
1t was fun for me to see with what wide
awake sagacity the watchman used to stoI
at our front door and listen during hii
rounds for month after The excitcmen
died away though after while. But II
never forget the night l tried to get il
without making noise.