The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-02-16

knob again, whispered to me to blind
the light and in ten seconds he had
swung the door back.
As it went back, l heard the deep
breathing of persons in sleep. Sam
took the lantern; pinched my arm, and
we entered the room, Sinking down to
the floor, he opened the lantern, passed
its light around, and I made out that
we were in the bedroom of the proprie-
| tor. A dress and other articles of
female wear were lying on a lounge,
and a coat and pair of pants were on a
chair. We moved up to the chair,
crawling like cats.
Sam handed me the light and he
carefully inspected the clothing. From
the coat he took large wallet, and from
the vest a gold watch. He placed both
articles in his bosom, and refused to
NEEDLE with the Pantaloons. Silver
change or bunch of keys might have
ratified enough to give an alarm.
/ was in hopes that our adventure
was ended, and that we should now
| leave the house. But Sam had other
views. He had just motioned for me
to move toward a dressing-case in the
other corner of the room, when the
sleeping man drew a long breath and
turned over. The springs of the bed
| grOaned in a fearful way, and l fully
| believed that the man was waking up.
| My heart was almost in my mouth, and
L prayed that he might not, as / knew
that Sam would not hesitate to murder
| him. Neither one of us hardly breathed
for five minutes, and then the regular
breathing of the sleeper notified us that
he was fast asleep again. Sam placed
the lantern on a chair, opened it so that
its light fell directly on the dressing
case, and on that alone, and then he put
his mouth to my ear and whispered:
GO over there and get the jewelry!
Remember, if you wake him up, I'll kill
you both"
As l crawled away, he stood up, knife
in hand, and stopped over the sleeping
man. If he had not been nearer the
door than me, / should have attempted
to escape out of the room. But l real
lied that any alarm would arouse the
sleepers and that murder would be COM
mitted. I had double interest, now.
If | was not careful, | should be the
cause of terrible crime. and so 1 crept
across the room as softly as possible,
and was presently at the case. / had
nv mind made up not to take ANYTHING
from it, but | knew that Sam was watch
ing me, and that must make a show of
searching.
Right on the top of the case was a set
of diamonds and lady's gold watch
These [ covered with a handkerchief
and then pulled out the drawers. Sam
gared at me through the semi-darkness
in warning way, and raised his knife
over the sleeper. He told me by his
look and action that if / made any noise
he would murder the man. Ipulled the
drawers out, made a show of searching,
and then crept back to Sam and report
ed that had found nothing. He passed
me the light, crept across the room, and
in second had discovered the watch
and diamonds and slowed them away
Coming back, he beckOned to me that
we were ready to go down. For some
reason he did not care to enter the other
rooms, perhaps thinking that he had Sc
cured all the most valuable 50 swag' in
the one room. We observed the same
caution going down stairs as in coming
up. On the way down it suddenly
flashed over me that the men would
murder me as soon as getting clear of
the house. They would not dare to let
me escape to be witness against them.
They had wanted tool to act the part
which | had acted, and when through
with mo they would n,move all chance
of my ever appearing against them.
l trembled so that l came near falling.
/ must escape them, but how? I had
almost determined to slam a door
against Sam as we passed through the
house and then scream out, when, as
we passed down the hall, we encoun-
tered Dave. He cOnversed with Sam for
a moment, and then we all passed along
into the dining-rOom. They were after
the silver plate. Dave walked right UP
to the door of the closet, which was al
the head of the stairs leading down to
the rooms of the servants. The kew
had been forgotten and was in the lock.
AS he carefully swung back the door we
saw the plate glisten, and Dave passed
me the lantern.
Sam crept to the table, removed the
cloth, and then spread it on the floor.
Dave passed into the closet, which was
not over three feet square, and he
passed out one thing after another until
only an ice-pitcher remained. He
seemed to have doubts of it's purity
and begun cutting at it with his knife.
Sam watched him for a moment. anC
then passed in to satisfy his curiosity.
was beside the door, and Sans hand
rested on the casing. Now was my
chance. Like a dart of lightning
grasped the door, swung it shut or
! Dam > Hn0CTS, anu DIS IC NlIGW IllCul Ou
, / turned the key, braced my shoulder
against the door, and sung out: % Rob
, bers! thieves! policer' as loud as
could.
1t seemed an hour to me before any
one moved, though it was not three sec
F Onds before a man-Servant leaped out
of bed. Sam and Dave had no show
With both in the closet, there was NJ
room for rush at the door. They
A kicked until splitting a panel, and fireC
through, hoping to kill me. Within
, sixty seconds two men-servants and the
master of the house were in the din
: ing-room, one of the men having a shot
e gun.
I am, of the Daily --p'
e hurriedly explained to them. 81 hav,
got two burglars in here! Come quickr
D Fortunately the men understood M
: Alright, and offered me no violence
a While the master informed the prison
4 ers that he would give them a dose o
buckshOt through the door if they mad,
n any further demonstration, one of tn
: men alarmed the neighbOrs and after
ward the police, and in about half al
I hour my friends were invited to wall
) out and accept the handouts. A NOR
o savage pair | never saw. Dave shot a
: one of the officers and was in turn badl
4 wounded, and Sam had his nose broker
I by a blow from baton. They swOr
= the most fearful vengeance on me
K promising to roast me alive. But
r went on the witness stand, saw then
e leave for the penitentiary for twent
o years each, and then l made a resolu
4 ton to let the interviewing bushes
: alone in the future. ON. QUAD" in De
o troll Free Press.
There is no difference among tn
II l.. 1. /.