The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-03-16

4
and Sam led the way to the foot of the
stairs. He seemed to know that all but
the servents slept above.
"Now, do just as you see me do
mind howl" he whispered, as we got
ready to ascend.
He went ahead. holding his lantern so
that the light shown down behind him.
With his left hand on the railing, he
mounted two steps at time, stepping
on the extreme edge of each stair that ne
touched, so that there should be no
squeaking. / followed on, not daring to
disobey him, and directly We were at
tbs head of the stairs.
Here we found another hall, with
doors leading into a parlor and bed
rooms. What guided him I do not know,
but Sam passed by two or three doors
and stopped at another and softly touch
ed the knob. Passing the lantern over
to me, with warning shake of the hand,
he grasped the knob and turned it until
he found that the door was locked. Out
came the nippers, and were inserted into
the key-hole. without the least noise.
They grasped the key, and San twisted
bis arm over to unlock the door. I Iex-
pected to hear click when the bolt was
withdrawn, but there was no sound. He
then grasped the knob again, whispered
to me TO blind the light, in ten seconds
he had swung the door back.
as it went back, I 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 proprietor.
A dress and other articles Of female wear
were lying on Tongue, and coat and
pair of pants were on chair. We moved
up to the chair, crawling like cats.
Sam handed me the light and he care
fully inspected the clothing. From the
coat he took large wallet, and from the
vest gold watch. He placed both
articles in his bosom, and refused to
meddle with the pantaloons. Silver
change or bounch 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
dressing case in the other corner of the
room, when the sleeping man drew
long breath and turned over. The
springs of the bed groaned in a fearful
way, and fully believed that the man
was waking up. My heart was almost
in my mouth, and prayed that he might
not, as knew that Sam would not hesi-
tatU to murder hiuu. rSe1tner oI 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 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 jewelryl
Remember, if you wake him up, LII kill
you BOTH
AS 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 I real
lied that any alarm would arouse the
sleepers and that murder would be COM
mitted. / had double interest, now.
If I was not careful, I should be the
cause of terrible crime, and SO I crept
across the room as softly as possibly,
and was presently at the case. Thad my
mind made up not to take anything from
it, but knew that Sam was watching
me, and that 7 must make a show of
searching.
Right on the top of the case was set
Of diamonds and lady's gold watch.
These I covered with handkerchief and
| then pulled out the drawers. Sam glared
at me through the semi darkness in a
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. I pulled the
drawers out, made show of searching,
and then crept back to Sam and reported
that I had found nothing. He passed
me the light, crept across the room, and
in a 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 he'd
secured all the most valuable "swag'' in
the one room. We observed the same
| caution going down stairs as in coming
up. On the way down it suddenly flash
ed 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 I had
| acted, and wher through with me they
| would remove all chance of my ever
appearing against them.
| I trembled so that l came near falling.
l must escape them, but how? I had
almost determined to slam door against
Sam as we passed through the house
and then scream out, when, as we passed
| down the hall, we encountered Dave.
He conversed with Sam for moment,
and then We all passed along into the
dining room. They were after the sill.
yer plate. Dave walked right up to the
/ door of the closot which vr,c OF fha bao5