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

4HtN IbCOgltE6u ulG moment ana
insisted that L should descend into
basement saloon and take a glass or
cigar. They anxiously inquired if i
intended to keep the appointments, and
appeared disappointed when | informed
them that other engagements prevent
ed.
1T was only a step-only two or
three blocks" remarked Dave 1--WE
are both hard fellows, but we wouldn't
never think of harming you. We were
just doing it to obIige."
The two talked so much that forgot
the words of the city editor, and at
length resolved to accompa them.
proposed to use only an hours time,
but they said this was enough not only
to hear Cracks story, hut to exam
inc his ''kit' of burglar and safe-blow-
ing tools, Blessed fool that I was, to
| think that two burglars were to take me
to the hiding place of another, and give
me all their secrets, knowing that I
might elbow" on them in half an hour
| after! But l thought only of the item.
Already 1 could see a long column
headed: Burglars and safe blowers.
How they work-startling revelations, "
etc, and 1 cared only for the item.
We went to the saloon where / had
met them in the afternoon, and Dave
went out and left me talking with his
| companion. 1t was almost eleven
o'clock before he came back, and then,
after making many excuses, he stated
that everything was all right and that
we should proceed at once.
| 1 was inclined to hang back now, as
the hour was so late, but 1 had not the
moral courage to back square out, and
passed up the street with them. l do
not know how far we walked. We
| passed up one street, down another,
| turned here and there, and l finally got
lost We got into a quarter of the city
where | had never been more than to
ride through in a carriage. / thought
/ it odd that we should look for ''cracks-
man" in the aristocratic quarter of the
city, but the men kept plying me with
| questions in regard to my profession,
and had no opportunity to express my
4 doubts or surprise.
you've got your revolver, of
course?" inquired Dave, as we passed
\ along.
mo. l left it at the Office, - replied,
| but was next moment sorry that l had
! admitted the fact, as / saw Dave give
his companion a sly nudge with his ell
/ bow. New Orleans was not well policed
]
coat off the business streets either day or
/ night. Had we encountered one now, |
| should surely have left the burglars to
| continue on alone, as l had become
nervous and afraid. But we did not
even meet any pedestrians. The night
| was cold and chilly, and at that late
] hour most of the citizens were in bed.
! Here we arei Now walk softly, and
keep your mouth shutr' whispered
| Dave, as we entered an ally.
! 1t was quite dark, but l could see that
we were passing down between the
large residences, the abodes of wealthy
men. Dave led the way, and he pres
emily halted at a gate, unlocked it with
a key, and in moment we were on the
lawn in the rear of one of the houses.
"Why, how's this? This isn't
''See here, mister reporterr' whis-
pered Sam, whipping out long knife
and catching me by the collar " There
no use fooling you any longer; you've
got to go in with us!'
Il won't do it! I'll shout if you don't
let me gor' l replied.
You will, will your Kissed Dave,
also displaying a knife, and fastening
his fingers on my arm. IF you want
to die right away Just raise one squeal!''
/ was so weak that l sat down on 8
stone dog used as lawn ornament, anC
while Dave held me there Sam pulled
off my boots. He then removed his
own, took off both our hats, and ther
Dave continued:
Sam and you are going into the
house after sw3g, and I'm going tC
watch. if you make one cry, or hang
back, I'll put this knife into you. L
you go to raise an alarm in the house
Sam win kill you, even if he has t.
swing for itr'
It-was nearly midnight now. coulC
hear no sound from either quarter, anC
l knew that shout, or half a dozen o.
them, would not bring help before the
fellows had killed me. / had got to gC
in with Sam or be murdered outside
and replied that l would go in. / haC
strong hopes that we could not get in
or that our operations would raise ar
alarm and scare the burglars away
Sam signified that he was ready, anC
we all proceeded to the back steps.
A veranda ran clear across the real
end of the house, which had a basement
and while Dave stood at the foot of tn,
stairs, Sam and / mounted them. H,
first tried the door. 1t was locked, anC
he inserted pair of nippers into tn,
key-hole. A low oath escaped his lips
: for the key had been removed, and h,
had no false ones.
Softly rs a cat, he next tried one O
! the windows, but that was fast, an,
l another was tried with the same result
Then his Jimmy" came into play
2 Pulling the iron bar, which had :
, " claw at one end, from under his coat
he inserted the "claw'' under the sasl
7 and gently bore down on the lever end
1 The sash went up little, making scarce
e ly any noise, and in two minutes tn
0 nail which held it down had given way
. Had there been n spring in the sash, h
4 could not have raised it without alarm
= With his hands he raised the sash t
its full height, slipped something be
l tween it and the casing, to prevent
fall, and he then turned to me an
whispered:
| We are going in now. If you try t
Z. play dirt on me, I'll murder you, if it
the last thing l ever dor
: There was no escape, and follOwe
g him in over the sill, hoping every me
ment to hear sounds to show that tn
@ people had been alarmed. We had Ell
t tered sewing-room. A machine stoo
v in one corner, and several half-finishe
G garments were living on chairs. / sa,
1 this only after Sam had opened his dar
/ lantern. We moved softly to the doc
= leading out, and l watched him as h
y opened it. Although was close besid
. the door, heard no sound as he turne
1 the knob. When he knew the bolt wa
1 free from its catch, he lifted up on tn
door, so that it should not squeak, an
n in a moment we were in sitting-roon
e Sam held up the light, until he sa'
a that the room was not occupied, an
n then we passed on to a door leadin
u into the hall. This was opened will
out noise, and Sam led the way to tn
y foot of the stairs. He seemed to kno'