The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-05-14

swell go for them the minute they APP
pear. It'll be fine chance to try my
new revolver"
Better leave it at home," said the
doctor, quietly tive shall want no
weapons for this job"
"Why, are you going to mesmerize
the fellows ?" asked Everett, completely
mystifed.
"Wait and see," chuckled the doctor.
I've needn't be there till II, for my
honest domestic will make sure, before
giving the signal, that I'm not coming
back I; and beside an experienced burglar
seldom begins work till after midnight.
The only thing to be sure of is that no.
body sees us getting in"
But in this fortune favored them; and,
rs the doctor had foretold, the lock of
the stable door, rusty as it looked,
moved without difficulty, and the two
conspirators glided in, unseen and un-
| heard.
Weary, weary work, crouching there
in the darkness, with ear and eye
strained to the utmost for the first sign
of the coming danger DR.. Bistoury's
practiced nerves bore even this pro-
longed trial easily enough but to the
impulsive, excitable Everett it was alb
solute torture. Like all young soldiers,
he found the suspense before the action
infinitely more trying than the fray it
self. The stable opened on the street
! close to the garden-doOr, and It's farther
window, mt which the two watchers had
posted themselves, commanded the
whole side of the house, the blackness
of which was relieved only by solitary
light in one of the upper windows.
Suddenly the light vanished, and re-
appeared moment later-a perform
ance repeated three times i'll quick sue
cession.
"That must be the signal, whispered
the doctor. "Keep your ears open,
Harry"
Courageous us Everett was, he felt his
pulse quicken, and his hand went in
stinctively to the revolver which, despite
the doctors verdict, he had persisted in
bringing with him.
" Hark! Was that stealthy footstep
outsider"
The next moment came low whistle,
instantly answered from the house and
then a shadowy figure, issuing from the
building, glided noiselessly to the gar
den-door, and opened it to admit two
others.
They've got the ladder" whispered
DR.. Bistoury, as the three phantoms
crossed the garden. "Be on the look
out, my boy you're going to see some
thing worth seeing
The ladder was soon placed against
the mysterious window, and Badger Bill
after whispering to his comrade to keep
an eye" on their worthy confederate, as
cended, and, cutting out pane SO deX-
terously that the sound was barely audi
BILE, put his hand through and shot back
the hasp. His two assistants mounted
after him; and Bill, stepping cautiously
into the room, turned the bull's-eye"
of his lantern upon its interior.
Instantly the treacherous servant re-
coiled with a stifed cry.
a" Amt that IA coffin over yonder?"
whispered he, TREMENDOUSLY. "Good
gracious suppose there should be
dead man in it, and"
"S'pose you should be "a thunderin'
big fool !" growled Bill, savagely.
"Shut your mouth, will yer, or thar'll
be another dead man somewhat round
! Sooil III d-SoLl IlSut Ill all
And he stepped resolutely forward.
Crash the coflin-lid burst open, and
skeleton, thrown out in CHASTITY relief by
the red light that famed i'll its eyeless
sockets, started up with hideous rattle,
thrlsting forward its bony arms and
grinning jaws as if about to spring on
them. The ".Sauuequip em" of Napoleon
was not more decisive. The honest
servant gave one yell sufficient to wake
the whole neighborhood, and rolled on
the floor in commissions. The second
burglar, leaping backward, dashed his
head with such force against the corner
of II bureau that he dropped as if felled
with an AK, while Badger Bill, making
frantic rush for the window, overturned
the ladder, and fell crashing along with
it, breaking his leg in the fall.
You see now, Harry" said the doc
tor, as they went upstairs after seeing
them unbidden guests marched off by
the police, ''that my night-watchman
did know his duty, although there's
nothing more mearthly about him than
few concealed springs, which are re-
leased upon the approach of any one,
and little phosphorus. As for this
wonderful room, you see it's only
laboratory, after all. But the stories
that people told about it amused me SO
much that l must plead guilty to having
given them good deal of encourage
ment. Now, let Us he off to bed and
think you may sleep in peace after this,
for it strikes me it'll he some time be-
fore anybody robs my house again.
And, indeed, no one has ever attempt
ed it since.