The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-04-13
Alislell
A LUCKY ADVENTURE.
An Ola Architects story, as Told by
MiuIaeIf

An Old Architects story, as Told by
himself.
Long ago, when Nav York was only half
as big as 1t is Row, had an adventure.
was only fifteen year old, and, like all boys,
| had great deal OF curiosity. My parents
lived in the suburbs Of the city, and not far
away, not more than five good blocks, II new
building had just been erected. 1t was on
the summit OF Il low hill, over which the
street now runs, but then it stood alone.
The builder was very stern and dictator
ial sort Of man, and did not like boys, and
though once or twice tried to enter the
building for the innocent purpose of admir-
ing it, was never permitted to do SO.
used to look at the building with envious
eyes after it was locked and boarded up, and
one day, when saw workmen enter with
kettle OF roof paint, | followed them, and,
to my delight, was unnotced. They went
up stairs, and out upon the roof, of course,
and | examined all the rooms.
AT lust reached the upper floor, and en-
tered some little rooms with skylights. In
one OF these was an old chair, and on that
char was an old book. / picked it up
and sat down. 1t was n story of adven-
ture. l became absorbed In it, aud forgot
all else. AS finished the last sentence
was conscious Of doing so only by straining
my eyes. l saw that il was evening" and as
listened heard no sound. The workmen
had ceased their operations on the roof
Not yet anxious, felt the necessity of
leaving the house at once; but this, to my
alarm, found much easier said than done.
The door ut the head OF the stairs was lock-
ed or bOlted on the outside. The door at the
foot OF the stairs that led to the roof was in
the passage without The six rooms COM
municating with the one had entered were
lighted only by skyighls.
Here was dilemma. AT first | tried to
laugh over ii, but as it grew dark felt much
more like crying l beat upon the door and
shouted, quite uselessy.
III could have broken n skylight and climb
bed out upon the roof, would have done
so, but even on the chair was not half way
to the ceiling.
All that could do was to sit down and
wait, or to vary this pastime by walking
about and waiting until some one came to
open the door.
AS it grew darker grew more dismal. |
grew hungry, too, being healthy youth,
with good appetite. knew my parents,
though not ten minutes walk from the
building, had no idea of my whereabouts
that they would be terrified at my absence
And then it came to me that perhaps might
even starve 10 death in that elegant building
l admired so much, and that my delivery
from such fate was quite in the hands of
chance
This thought, coming as 1t did in the dark
ness and silence of the night, made me know
for the first time in my life an emotion of
real terror. However, after some little time
grew sleepy, and rolling my jacket under
my head for pillow, | fell into an uneasy
sleep, from which | was aroused bya strange
haI, pln ;,., l,,l
they were ascending the stairs. Searching
for me, was my first joyful idea. But in
moment that curious comprehension of
things not yet made obvious to the senses,
which we all share, caused me to understand
that something mysterious was afoot, and
that had better wait before | manifested
my presence.
Happily there was hiding place at hand
In each of these rooms was an ornamental
corner cupboard, with glass upper half to
the door. This, doubtless, was intended to
display bric-a-brac, or china, but below the
half was a space sufficient to conceal my
person, and guided by the light of the moon
which had risen while slept, and which
now made the ground glass skylighls yellow,
took my place there.
The next moment chain fell, II key turn
ed, the toor in the little passage opened,
then another door opened, and two men en-
tered the room, bearing with them another,
who seemed senseless.
The slip Of glass through which | could
peep did not allow me to see this third mans
face MS they laid him on the floor but saw
those Ofhis bearers. They were those of the
roofers had seen enter the house.
Both were out of breath, and they looked
very durk and evil in the moonlight
"He seems SAFE" said one.
"He is safe" said the other; $50 are we. If
they find him here in his own building
they'll think he came of his own accord and
hurt himself, or had aDoplexy or something
But let's get away. The pocket book is in
his overcoat."
Here it is" said the other "We'll take the
money and leave the book"
And then came the counting of what SEEM
ed to me at that age an immense sum of
large for n man to carry in his pockels-and
an even division of ii between the thieves.
l trembled in my hiding place, for knew
that if was discovered | also should be
murdered. But listened intently. One of
the men called the other Jim, and lie in turn
was addressed as Sam. They resolved to
leave the watch on their victims person,
lest its possession might betray them and to
take care to be sent at work next morning rs
If nothing had happened. There was not one
touch ofremorse in their manner, and the
last words heard the one called Jim utter
were these:
"Id kill every man that had u lot of mon
ey if | could. I'd kill him like dog"
He spoke with lis back to me- STOPPING
over the body of the insensible man, whom
] by this time knew to be the builder of the
house, the crusty and suspicious person who
had fnrhl1pn mn a n ifxr tn aIn