Mexico weekly ledger., 1882-02-09

every moment to hear sounds TO snow
that the people had been alarmed,
We had entered a sewing room. A
machine stood in one corner, and
several haIf-fnished garments were
lying on chairs. l saw this only
after Sam had opened his dark Ian
tern. We moved softly to the door
leading out, and 1 watched him as he
opened it. Although was close be-
side the door, 1 heard no sound as
he turned the knob. When he knew
the bolt was free from its catch, he
lifted up on the door, so that it would
not squeak, and in a moment we were
in sitting room.
Sam held up the light, until he
saw that the room was not occupied,
and then We passed to q door lead
ing to a hall. This was opened
without noise, and Sam led the way
to the foot of the stairs. He seemed
to know that all but the servants
slept above.
''Now, do just as you see me do
mind how!'' he whispered, as we got
ready to ascend.
He went ahead, holding his Ian
tern so the light shone S5wn 6e,i.n"'
him. With his left hand on the rail-
ing, he mounted two steps at time,
stepping on the extreme edge of each
stair SO that there would be no
squeaking. 1 followed on, not dar-
ing to disobey him, and directly we
were at the head of the stairs.
Here we found another hall, with
doors leading into a parlor and into
bedrooms. What guided him l do
not know. but Sam passed by two Or
three doors and stopped at another
and softly touched the knob. Pass
ing the lantern over to me, with a
warning shake Of the hand. he
grasped the knob and turned it until
he found the door was locked. Out
came the nippers and they were in
serted in the key-hole without any
noise. They grasped the key, and
Sam twisted his arm over to unlock
the door. l expected to hear a
click when the bolt was withdrawn,
but there was no sound. l was
amazed at his wonderful skill. He
then grasped the knob again, whis-
pered to me to blind the light, and
in ten seconds he had swung the door
back.
As 1T 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 Ian
tern, passed its light around, and
made out that We were in the bed
} room of the proprietor. A dress anC
other articles of female wear were
lying on a louse, and coat and pail
of pants were on chair. We moves
up to the chair, crawling like cats.
Sam handed me the light and h'
carefully inspected the clothing
From the coat he took large walle
! and from the vest gold watch. HI
placed both articles IN the bosom
of his coat and refused to meddl'
with the pantaloons' Silver change
, or bunch of keys might have rat
; tied enough to give an alarm.
l was in hopes that our adventure
was ended, and that we should no,
leave the house. But Sam had othe
views. He had just motioned fs
me to move toward dressiug-case il
the other corner of the room, whe
the sleeping man drew long breat
and turned over. The SPRINGS of th
bed groaned in fearful way, and
fully believed that the man was wax
. ing up. My heart was almost in IN
= mouth, and prayed that he Nigh
not, as I knew that Sam would nc
hesitate to murder him. Neither on
of us hardly breathed for five minute
and then the regular breathing of tn
sleeper notified us that he was fas
i asleep again. Sam placed the lar
,. tern on a chair, opened it so that ii
~ light fell directly on the dressing
" case and on that alone, and then h
- Il put his mouth to my ear and whis
pered:
- $50 over there and get the jewe
~ ry! Remember, If you wake him VI
~ I'll kill you both"
% AS | crawled away, he stood vi
20 knife in hand, and stopped over IL
~ sleeping man. If he had not bee
nearer the door than me, I shoul
~ have attempted to escape out of II
room. But l realized that any alar
~ would arouse the sleepers and th
murder would be committed. l ha
- double interest, now. II l ws
=" not careful, / should be the cause
" terrible crime, and so crept aero
= the room as softly as possible ar
was presently at the case. l had n
mind made up not to take anythir
- from it, but l knew that Sam vi
~ watching for me, and that mu
~ make show of searching.
Nh Right on the top of the case was
or set of diamonds and lady's fl
or gold watch. These I covered with
ha handkerchief and then pulled out Il
e drawers. Sam glared at me throu,