The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1870-07-28


Revolutionary relic, "what in the world
are you going to do with this ?"
d" intend to defend the safe and my.
scIfagainst robbers" Iauswered, blu h.
ing.
4" believe you're crazy, john" he
said. u you'd like to sec you WELD
that clumsy old thing Take it home,
or sell it as trash Day aud will have
hearty laugh at your expense"
Il" do not care for your laugh, Mr..
Devices" | answered, "and as for the
sabcr, it shall remain here"
+" Do as youplcase, John; and ifyou
say so, shall purchase dozen ccme,
terry lots in which you can inter your
dead. But, boy, look at the doors;
suppose a robber should pick the locks;
the strong bolts would remain, and ten
men could never remove them"
True" | replied; "but breaking
bolts is not The work of an experienced
robher He would cut hole through
the door, insert his hand and push back
the bolts"
No use to talk to you, john" he
said, turning to rearraugc some boxes
on the shelves, "but if robber should
attempt to enter, I'll increase your
wages"
The old weapon was replaced, and
when Day entered, the firm had hear,
ty laugh at my fears.
When night came, built up 4 rous,
ing fire, and sought my couch beneath
the counter. Outside it was very cold
and the snow was falling in binding
flakes. assure you felt comfortable
under the additional coyerlets Mrs.
Day had sent me that morning Be.
fore retired | had unsheathed the sa.
hre, so that in case Of emergency it
mike no unnecessary noise.
1t must have been near midnight
when | awoke. The storm was still
raging, and the room retained but n
small degree of heat from the stove |
was about to rcplcnish the fire, for we
did not want our large stock Of ink to
freeze, when ! heard noise as though
a rat gnawing for dear life. listened
aud soon discovered that the noise was
at the front and double door.
arose aud cautiously struck light
aud douued my pants aud stockings
The lamp turned low, and grasping
the old saber, approached the door.
Sure enough, the noise was on the
outside, aud | knew a man was cutting
hole below the strong, large iron bar.
The work accomplished, he could insert
his hand noiselessly, remove the bar
aud push the door open. With heated
breath aud wildly beating heart, / lis.
tened to the saving; the saber was poised
above nay head and alongside the door.
Palmer and palmer grew the noise, and
at last circular piece of the door was
pushed little inside then saw two
fingers grasp aud pull it out.
| waited for the insertion ofth hand,
for ! had determincd to sever it with
the saber. ] had heard no noise out
side, and had supposed the robber was
alone. Not long did wait, however,
for the temperance of the hand. 1t
was thrust ia, aud the fingers moved
toward the bar. | struck with all the
strength of my right arm. The rob-
ber's hand fell at my feet, and the bleed,
ing stump was quickly withdrawn.
Then above the war of the storm,
which seemed to Increase every mo.
ment, heard words, and noise, as if
a person was forcing his way through
heavy drifts.
can never use my right hand
again." heard man groan. ooh,
God l might have Known that that
STRIPPING was armed. Curse my folly -
l picked up the severed member, and
examined it at the light. it looked as
if it belonged to man in tho meridian
of life, aud the little finger was encir-
cled by heavy gold ring, with a soil.
taire diamond setting. 1t was u right
hand, and the tip of the thumb was
missing. l wrapped the handin cotton,
laid it in the desk, and replenishiug the
fire, watched the door until, through the
fatal opening, | saw limbs bending un-
der their load ofsnow
l opened the door, but saw no tracks;
it had showed all night, aud covered up
all traces of the robber. When Devices
came-he always reached the store half
an hour before Day did, showed him
the hole and tho hand. OF course he
was astonished.
BY George, boyl" he exclaimed
"your fears were not groundless. You
may keep that old sabre till il rusts--
and from this hour your wages stand