The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-02-20
the key had been removed and he had

10 false ones.
Softly as cat he nexs tried one of the
windows, but that was fast, and another
vas tried with the same result Then
lis "jimmy'' came into play. Pulling
he iron bar, which had "claw' at one
end. from under his coat, he inserted the
'claw" under the sash and gently bore
down on the lever end. Tue sash went
up little, making scarcely any noise,
and in two minutes the nail which held
it down had given way. Had there been
a spring in the sash he could not have
raised 1t without alarm.
With his hands he raised the sash to
its full ht,slipped something between
it and the casing to prevent fall, and
he then turned tome and whispered:
= eWe are going IN now. If you try
to play dirt on me I'll murder you II it's
the last thing l ever do!''
There was no escape and followed
him in over the sill, hoping every mo-
ment to hear sounds to show that the
people had been alarmed. We had en-
tered sewing room machine stood
in one corner, and several half-fnished
garments were lying on chairs. l saw
this only after Sam had opened his dark
lantern, We moved softly to the door
leading out, and I watched him as he
opened it. Although I was close beside
the door l heard no sound as he turned
the knob; when he knew the bolt was
free from it's catch he lifted up on the
door, 80 that it should not squeak and in
a moment we we're in a sitting-room.
Sam held up the light until he saw that
the room was not occupied, and then we
passed on to a door leading into the
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.
snow, do just as you see me do
mind howl he whispered as we go'
ready to ascend.
He went ahead holding the lantern SO
that the light shone down behind him
With his left hand on the railing be
mounted two steps a. a time. stepping
on the extreme edge of cash stair thai
he touched, 80 that there should be nc
squeaking. l folio we'd on, not daring to
disobey him, and directly we were at the
bead OF the stairs.
Here we found another hall, with
doors leading into parlor and into bed
rooms What guided him l do not
know, but Sam passed by two or three
doors and stopped at another and softly
touched the knob. Passing the lantern
over to me, with warning shake of the
hand, he grasped the knob and turned it
until he tou1i that the door was locked.
Out came the nippers, and were inserted
into the key-hole without the le1st noise.
They grasped the kew, and Sam twisted
his arm over to unlock the door. ex-
pectea to hear click when the bolt was
withdrawn, but there was no sound He
then grasped the knob again, whispered
10 me to blind the light, and in ten Sec
onds he had swung the door back.
As 1T went back. l heard the deep
breathing OF persons in sleep. Sam
took the lantern, pinchei my arm, and
we entered the room. Sinking down to
the fror, he opened the lantern, passed
its light around, aud mate out that we
were in tia bedroom Of the proprietor.
A dress and other articles Of female
wear were lying on lounge, and a coat
and pair Of pants we're on chair. We
moved up to the chair, crawlin. like
cats.
Sam hanied M thu light and he care
fully inspected the clothing. From the
coat he took large wallet, aud from
the vest gold watch He placed both
articles in his b,som, and refused to
meddle with the psntaloons. Silver
change or bunch OF keys might have
ratified enough to give an alarm.
| was in hopes that our adventure was
endel, and that we should now leave
the house. But Sam hal other views.
He hal jrst m,'ion"d for me to movs
toward a d essing case In tn Other c'r
ner of he r. on when the sIeepiny man
drew a lony br a'h and turned over
The spr'ng, of he bel groanei in a
fearful way, and fully b lieved that the
man wa waking up. My heart was al
most in nv mouth, and pave, that
he might not, as knew that Sam would
not hesitate to murder him. Neither
one of us hardly breathed for five min
utes, and then the regular breathing OF
the sleeper notified US that he was fast
asleep again. Sam placed the lantern
on chair, opened it 81 that its light fell
directly on the dressng-case, AMI on
that alone, aud then he put his mouth TO
my ear and whispered:
$50 over there and get the jewelry !!
Remember, il you wake him up, I'll kill
you both."
As craw!el away, he stood up, knife
in hand. and stopped over the sleeping
man. II he had not been. nearer the
door than me, should have attempted
to escape ont of the room. BIT real
izei that ans alarm would arouse the
sleepers and that murder would be COM
mitted had a double interest, now.
Ii was not careful, I should be the
cause of terrible crime, an so ,crep'
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 mo, and that must make a show OF
searching.
Right ON the top Of the case was set
of diamonds and lsdy's gold watch -
These covered with handkerchief and
then pulled out the drawers Sam glar
ed at me through the seml-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. pulled the
drawers out, made 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
aud diamonds aud slowed them away
Coming hack, he heckoned to me thai
we were ready 10 go down, For sons
reason he did not care to enter the OtheI
rooms, perhaps thinking that he had Sc
cured oil the most valuable "swag" il
the one room We observed the SAM
caution going down, stairs as in comm!
up. On the way down it suddenly flash
ed over me that the men would murde
ma as soon as getting clear OF the house