Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-04-20
COOL SCOUNDREL.
The Peculiar Manner in which Burgls
Cracked n Rink


myself think it's much worse than many
others. However, that's nothing to do with
my story. Some years ago, me and the
gentleman who was at that time connected
with me in business--he's met with rsverses
since then, and at present isn't able to
out-was looking around for job, being at
that time rather hard up, as you might say.
We struck a small country town. amt
agoin' to give it away by telling where il
was, or what the name of it was. There
was one bank there; the president was a
rich old duffer; owned the mills, owned the
bank, owned most of the town. There
wasn't no other officer but the cashier, and
they had a boy, VINO used to sweep OUT and
run of errands.
The bank was on the main street, pretty
we'll up one end of it-nice, snug place. on
the corner Of cross street, nothing very
near it. We took our observations, and
found there wasn't no trouble at all about
it. There was an old Waterman, that
walked up and down the street nights, when
be didn't fall asleep and forget it. The
vault had two doors; the outside one was
chilled iron, and had q three. wheel combi-
nation lock; the inner doc, wasn't no door al
all; you could kick it open. 1t didn't pre-
tend to be nothing but fire. proof, and it
wasn't even that The first thing we don't,
Of course. was to fit key to the outside
door. As the look on the outside door was
an old fashioned Bacon lock, any GENTLE
man in my profession who chances to read
this article will know just
how easy that Job was, and
how We done it. may say here that
the gentlemen in my line of business, hav-
ing at times good deal Of leisure
on their hands, do considerable reading,
ard ara particularly fond Of a neat bit of
writing. In fact, in the way of literature
have found among 'em-however, this be-
ing DEPRESSION, drop it, and 60 on wit h
the main job again.
This was our plan: after the key was fit
ted was to 60 into the bank, and Jim
that wasn't his name, of course, but let il
paSs-was to keep watch on the outside.
. When any one passed he was to tip me a
whistle, and then ! doused the glim and
lay low; after they got by poes on again.
Simple and easy, you see. Well, the night
as We selected, the president happened to
be out of town; gone down to the city rs he
often did. got inside all right, with a
slide lantern, breast drill, small stee
Jimmy, bunch of skeleton keys, and q
green baize bag, to stow the swag. I fixed
my light and rugged my breast drill, and
got to work on the door right over the l)ck
Probably great many of your readers is
not so we'll posted as ME about bank-lockS,
and may say for them that three.wheel
combination lock has three wheels in it,
and slot in each wheel. In order to I'M
lock the door, You have to get the three
slots opposite to each other, at the top of
the lock. OF course, if you know the num-
Der the lock is set on you can do this; but
II you don't, you have to depend on your
ingenuity. There is in each of these
wheels small hole, through which you
put wire through the back of the lock
when you change tue combination. Now,
if you can bore hole through the door,
and pick up those wheels by runnin G
wire through those holes, why you can
open the door. hope make myself clear
I was boring that hole. The door was
chilled iron; about the neatest stuff
ever worked on. I went on steady
enough; only stopped when Jim
name-whistled ourside, and the Waterman
toddled by. By-aud-by, when I'd 60!
pretty near through, heard Jim-so tt
speak-whisue again. stopped, and pref.
" soon heard footsteps outside, and I'm
bowed If they didn't come right up TIE
bank steps, and heard a key in the lock
was so dumofoundered when heard that
that you could have slipped the bracelets
right on me. 1 picked up my lantern, ani
III be hanged if didn't let the slide slir
down and throw the light right onto th,
door, and there was the president. Instead
OF cAlling for help, as I supposed he would
he took step inside the door, and shaded
his eyes with his hand and looked at ne.
knowed ought to knock him down and Gu
out, but I'm blest if I could, was tina
surprised.
Who are your" says he.
Who are your" says l thinking that
vas an innocent remark as he commenced
1t, and a-trying ali the time to collec
myself.
I'm the president of the bank" says he
kinder short; something the matter with
the lock?"
By George! the idea come to me then.
Yes, SIR" says 1, touching my cap
Mr.. Jennings, he telegraphed this morn
Ing as the lock was out of order and b
couldn't get in, and Ina come to open
for him."
Il told Jennings week ago." says he
that he ought to get that lock fixed
Where is her"
hes been s-writing letters, and he
gone up to his house to get another lette
he wanted for to answer"
Well, Why don't you 60 right onf
says he.
i've got almost through, says I; and
didn't want to finish up and open the vault
tll there was somebody here"
That's very creditable to you. says he
very proper sentiment, my man. Yo
can't he goes on, coming round by tn
door, "be too particular about avoiding tn
very suspicion of evil"
No, SIR" says l, kinder modest like.
what do you suppose is the matte
With the lockP" says he.
81 don't know yet, says j.; "but rathe
think its q little wore on account OF nc
being oiled enough. These ere lock
ought to be oiled about once year."
well, said hei you might as well g
right on, now I'm here: will stay till Jen
nings comes. Can't ] help you?-holt
your lantern, or something of that sort2"
The thought came to me like fash, an
I turned around and says:
How DO l know you're the PRESIDENT
ART ever seen you afore, and you may b
a-trying to crack this bank, for all I know.
That's very proper inquiry, my man,
says he, land shows aremarkable degree {
discretion. confess that should NJ
have thought of the position in which wa
placing you. However, / can easily con
vince you that it's all right. Do you kne'
what the presidents name ISL"
No, DON'T" says sorter surly.
Well, you II find it ON that bill, said he
taking bill out Of his pocket; and 20
see the same name on these letters" and b
took some letters from his coat.
] suppose ought to have gone right OF
then, Int was beginning to feel interest
ed in making him prove who he was. SO
SAYS:
you might have got them letters to pu
up job on me-"
You're very honest man." says b.
"one among q thousand. Don't think I'm
ali offended at your persistence. No. m
good fellow, like it, like it" end he la
his hand on nay shoulder. Now here, say
ne, taking bundle out of his pocket
sis package Of ten thou
sand dollars in bonds. A burglar wouldn
be apt to carry those around with hin
would hep bought them in the city yes
terday, and stopped here tonight on m
way home to place them in the vault, and
may add. that your simple and manly hor
eatv has an tnuchad ma that r yunnld will