American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-08-21

neighbors from the window, went
back to his own room again.

back to his own room again.
so far so good" | now had to
90 down stairs, reach the back door,
unbar it, get into tho yard. make for
my room, which was in the second
story of the brick building thar stood
unconnected with, and about dozen
yards from the main one. After Civ
ing everybody another half hour to
settle down again | started.
Boys, did you ever try to get up or
down d pair of stairs at midnight
without making a noise? You may
try itsaii sorts of ways, but every
step is sure to creak, each with pc
culiar noise of its own, and loud
enough, you are sure, to awake eve
rybody. l had got nearly to the bot
tom, when little dog came trotting
up the entry toward me, yelling flu
riously. A suppressed "come here,
Zip!' silenced him, for he recognized
me; but the little fellow started the
mOcking bird, and all the dogs in the
neighborhOod, having learned tOtake
the cue, of course, joined the chorus
for a third time.
| ran along the passage, reached
the door, and unlocked it just as the
governor, aroused for the second
time, opened the door, and seeing q
man coming from the house by the
back way, of eourSed cried g Thieves
thieves y and made a rush after ME.
l was too quick for him though;
opened the door, sprang out, made
for the door that opened into a room
below mine, and had just reached it,
when crash within a foot of my bed
went a brick, and a voice that
knew belonged to the next dool
neighbor, Tomkins, joined with the
governor in the cry of ''Thieves
thieves! murder! murderm | was
safe though.
Running up stairs, " shelled
myself quicker than | ever did be
fore or since, and was in bed, sount
asleep in half a minute.
Wasn't there a row thought
t never heard so many dogs before
l the mocking bird, of course, was out
doing all previous etforts-the chick
ems began to crOw-Tomkins, mex
t door, was hallooing "thieves - an,
/ calling the governor. | could hea
l screams and all sorts OF noises, ant
: talking among the neighbors, until
, at length the old gentIeman's vote
1 was heard i'll the yard calling "Tom
t 'sTom y
; Tom, fortunately, wassound ASLEEP
: snoring.
e Jumping from my bed raised tn
I window, rubbed my eyes and looket
e partially frightened (Which | wasn't
e and asked
t Why, father, what in the worl
: is the matter =
d "Thero's thieves in the house,
|, was the reply; get your gun an
/ come dOwn--be quick"
: He's in the room below YOU
a hallowed Tompkins "I'm certai
l. of it | saw him as he ran dowl
II and threw a fire brick at him.
lt know he didn't pass the door, NJ
" Jones'"
= was directed to look out for m,
l. self; the GOVERNOR stood sentinel /
e the door below, armed with a clul
1t while Tomkins had five minutes
h collect aid from the neighbors, and
1t less than half that time, so thorough
S, ly was every house alarmed, thel
st were a dozen or more men in the yal
e armed with guns, pistols and stick
o. The governor led the attack ope
K ing the door he called:
W "Come out here, you house-breal
"a ing scoundrel. If you attempt to I
IN sist, I'll blow your brains out"
le Nobody came, however.
L "Watch the door while L so in
n and [ was told to look sharp al
H. shoot the rascal if he came up stall
to A momentary search was sutficie
e, to satisfy everybody that the thi
lg was not in the rOom
tie Hes up stairs, then!" cried To
If kins, " for I'll take my bible oath
up didn't pass the door,"
all So up stairs they trooped, but
og had lit a candle by that time, a
ce there was no burglar there. I
he strictest search, even under boz
ut didn't show the faintest trace of hi
nd The yard was examined, then t
ed house and everybody was toleral
m, well satisfied that he escaped bu
tn was appointed sentinel for the +
L of the night, and ordered not to
zen to sleep on my post (but | did), un'
nd the penalty of tiogging.
nsC The articles missing, on thorou
he- investigation the next day, were t
vas dIS pies and the old lady's silver tn
el, BILE. The thimble turned up il
alu m day or two, being discovered un
.5 ,.l, the carpet, but the pies have
'e. been accounted for even to this d
=, olI On oath | could have given V,
material testimony as to the dep'
"l of the stolen property, but the C
oe didn't come before any court, an
- -" remained quiet.
M. Didn't the local editors lC
r., though? One of them elonga
soI himself through half column,
ms headed the article, "a Diabol
Of and AtrociouS Attempt at Burgl
l,ot and Murder y describing with
obt phic particulars the fiendish after
e',J to throttle Miss L and her
han want, complimented the coolneS'
fled Il. Tomkins, Esq, perorating wit
and withering anathema on the "
ond of vigilance displayed by the po
men.
and 1t was fun for me to see with v
and wide awake sagacity the watch
see used to stop at our trot door and
oor, ten during his rounds for mC
ONE after. The excitement died a'
was though, after while. But LII n
and forget the night | tried to ge
the without making d noise.
1ned --~---