St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-11-08
A THIEF'S STRUGGLE.
He Plots to Rob His Old
Master by
Night.
The Booty Secured, He by
Chance StumbleS on a
Corpse,
And, Fearing Detection, Hides
Under the Bier Of the
Dead.
His Muscles Become Para
lived and He Suffers Aw-
full Agony.

some belated travellers and pleasure
seekers.
The smaller streets are deserted and
dreary, for there the criminal waits for
his unsuspecting prey. The darkness
is intense, although the densely planted
gas-lights do their best TO disperse it,
Remote from the central part of the
city, and surrounded by a number OF
humble dwellings, stands the magnfi-
cent residence of the Comte de Lauran.
All is quiet within, and only here and
there the eye espieS q window trans
hitting the gloomy rays of night
lamp. Suddenly a:human figure glides
along the wall which guards the front
aspect of the rather large yard. Stealth
lily it moves along until it suddenly
haltS in front of a solid iron gate. A
searching look round about, quick
movement,
THE NOISE OF AN OPENING LOCK,
all is the work Of moment. The per-
son disappears. while the door noise
lessly closes behind him as if by magic.
Were it not for a false beard and the
darkness of night one might recognize
in him the former secretary of the count.
y
in prison as the result of his dis
honesty toward his former employer.
For moment he remains motionless,
Straining his senses to make sure that
nobody has noticed him. The result of
his momentary inquiry seems to please
him, for he walks on, within the yard,
with decision and certainty, although
not without ease. Another door barring
his entrance into the house filings open
as if by charm. Evidently the thief is
well supplied both with local knowledge
and keys. Without any hesitation he
quickly ascends q stairway, which
lands him in another door, the last
one, whose lock separates him from
the treasures he yearns for so eagerly.
1t leads into the sleeping room of the
old count, and is bolted from within.
With the Indifference of carpenter
at work, the young man produces a
drill, and with equal skill he makes it
penetrate the obstructing plane of wood.
A few minutes pass while the cracking
OF the instrument indicates its prog
Tess through the oaken fiberS. Sud-
that its whole thickness is pierced.
Withdrawing the drill and applying his
ear to the hole, the young thief listens
while holding his breath. All has gone
well, and already the fever of being
rich in few minutes makes him dizzy.
A piece of wire bent into proper shape
is to remove the bolt. Carefully intro
ducing it, the eX-secretary OF the count
tries
TO TEST ITS UTILITY.
With feeling of infinite joy he finds
that it catches. He puts on q little
more pressure, but the heavy bolt does
not yield. After moments delibera-
ton he makes another attempt, but
again no result. However, he is de-
termined to conquer. Gradually and
steadily increasing the force, he turns
and turns. Suddenly, with crash loud
enough to be heard outside, the heavy
iron is displaced.
Frightened. JuIes-for that is his name
Leans back against the wall. He
thinks he hears noise inside. Breath
lessly he awaits developments. One
long minute passes. Several others
follow, but there is no.sign of any dis
turbance. He RECEIVERS from his
fright, and with his ear against
the door he listens. The 81
lcnce of the night remains un-
broken, and his feverish imagination
0uiets down. Advancing again, he
slowly turns the knob, and without even
Il sound the door admits the bold crimi-
nal. Throwing himself upon the floor,
he crawls toward the bed of the count
with the stiffness of cat. Suddenly he
stops. He has reached his aim.
A moment later he SaturateS his hand
kerchief with Notwithstanding
liquid, and then again he listens. But,
though he listens for minutes, he is un-
able to detect the sound of breath.
Whistling, distant songs, buZzing and
other mock noises ring in his
ears. He begins to feel uneasy,
but attributes it to his excited
Imagination. He slowly rises, and
then bends his form over the pillow.
Still reigns the silence of death. A
sensation of cold creepS over his back,
for the bed is unoccupied. The volatile
poison makes him feel dizzy. He hears
through his head with lightning rapid
ity.
AN UNDERSTANDABLE FEELING OF SLEEP
Overpowers him. and, while seeing his
dangerous position, he is unable to
break the strange charm. He can not
resist, and despite himself he sinks
upon the bed oblivious of his circum-
stances.
1t is just midnight. The bells in the
Old church towers announce the hour OF
spirit reign, and in the sleeping room
of the count clock repeats the news.
With the last stroke some one in bed
raises his head as if disturbed from
quiet sleep. 1t is Jules. Bewild.
cred he looks about him. He does not
know where he is, for his mind refuses
to act. He tries again and again to
think Oul the mystery of his being just
where he is. At last a faint remem-
brance daWnS upon him. By and by
occurrences take more definite form,
until he finally appreciates his condi-
ton. However, one thing remains i'll
eXplicable TO him. The count is not in
bed, where else could he be?
The adjoining room is his studio. the
place where, in little Italian cabinet,
his treasures are hidden. A cone OF
rays passing through the keyhole be-
trays light. But there is nothing
strange in that, for has it not always
been the habit of the old nobleman to
let gas jet burn during the night?
jules is undecided. He does not
know whether OF not he should venture
any further. Perhaps another step
coward the realization of his plans
would deprive him of sweet liberty fol
many years to come. But would life
be worth living without money? Would
liberty be sweet without means to enjoy
it? His indecision slowly passed away,
the criminal nature within him carried
off the victory.
After taking look through the key
hole he slowly turned the knob. Under
soft pressure
THE DOOR TURNED UPON IT'S HINGES,
And, squeezing himself through the
narrow aperture, Jules gained the
studio. But hardly had he entered when
suppressed cry of fright and surprise
escaped his lips. He hardly knew
whether to trust his eyes. For moment
everything seemed to be dancing about
him. A CHASTITY pallor invaded his
face, while his eyes stared steadily in
one direction. There, in the middle of
the rnnm in q coffin law his fo,:naar