The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-19

And no dynamite used either. It's
matter OF touch. An expert can feel,
with his finger on the knob, and can tell
accurately, after a little practice, when
the tumblers come into position. In that
way the combination works itself out I'M
der his fingers, you See.
'Then the common door-lock is little
protection against burglars if we only
knew it, SUPPOSE" said the Voice man.
Little? Well, should say so, none at
all. There isn't a lock under patent that
right good craftsman don't know all
about and can't open if he wants to.
Locks and bolts won't keep out any but
sneak-thieves that don't understand the
business. Why | know but the
little man stopped himself short and fell
suddenly to hammer on bit of iron
that lay on his workable. There was a
pause, then the reporter said:
eyes, so do know"
"Know what?"
"Know what lay back of what you
didn't say just then"
"You know what?'
Il say" said the reporter, very calmly,
81 know why you stopped so short in
what YOU started out to say a moment
since-"say now" and he shifted TO the
most wheedling tone at his command;
Il know your story; it's safe with me. L
only want little information, and |
promise to keep within the proper
bounds. Now let me talk to you a little
while" The old man looked down and
was silent Finally, after some hesitation,
he was induced TO answer the questions
of the reporter
Eyes, that is all past now" he said;
'more than thirty years ago. 1t seems
to me now like another life. / was
daring fellow, they said. I've carried off
lots OF other mems property in my life,
but never lifted my hand against a
woman or child"
Were you ever where you had to de-
fend yourself against capture by putting
man out of the way?" asked the Voice
man.
Yes, once" briefly answered the little
lock-smith in tone that forbade any
further inquiry on that point Several
other questions were asked that met
either a like dry answer or none at all.
Nothing could be learned as to his asso-
ciates, their methods or definitely their
places of work.
Il suppose a-a man in that er-er pro-
fession comes to observe very closely,
and learns to think quickly, does he
not?"
After little: eyes, indeed" was the
answer. "I've just saved myself many a
time by hairs breadth. Often, you
know, the presence of another person in
room will waken light sleeper. I've
been in places where I've had to keep
my eyes open, fore and aft, very closely.
As rule man, after he's had little
practice, can tell by sleeper's breathing
whether he is sleeping lightly and liable
to wake, or whether he can be depended
upon for a good, steady, sound sleep. /
could always tell. Ii a sleeper was lying
still as death at first, and by and by be-
gan TO tumble and toss, | always conclud-
ed / was safe In another room"
(Which sleep heaviest, men or women?"
asked the Voice man.
"Men," was the answer. Il didn't like
to get into a room where there was a
woman. She was almost sure to begin to
stir and waken and rout me out Bat
could be tolerably sure of man, especial
ly ii he is big heavy fellow and good
liver. III tell you a queer thing that
happened to me once. | was busy in a
mans room, when | heard a sudden stir
in the bed and voice called out in a
md I hod
noticed in the dim light sword and
musket and soldier cap hanging on the
wall, and took my cue accordingly.
Friend, / answered promptly. 'Ad-
vance, friend, and give the countersign.'
Roanoke, | answered Correct he
turned over and slept soundly. If / had
not noticed instantly as he spoke that
his tone was not sharp and clear as it
would have been if he had been awake,
but was drawing and lazy like that of
sleepy person, should not have thought
of it being dream probably caused by
my presence in the room,) and / should
not have answered him as | did. In
that case the probability is, he would
have wakened and mischief might have
been DONE"
"Has your experience taught you that
the mass of men are brave in the face of
danger or cowardly?"
"Well, they vary. I've found lots of
men though that were terrible towards,
often not half as brave as the women of
the house. Why, I've known the wom-
an of a house to attack burglar while
her husband kept himself carefully hid.
I'll tell you two things a cracksman don't
like, dark house and dog. These
people who leave the gas burning low
in their rooms under the impression that
they're safer so, are in reality the best
friends of the craftsman. In the dark
he is likely to stumble over articles OF
furniture miss his way unless he car
ries lantern, and he don't like to do
that unless he has to-
"Why not?" asked the Voice man.