Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1889-05-03
Saved by a ll-Button.

Some years ago. said A. Howard.
my life aud 500. 900 belonging to my
partner. jim Bigney, and myself, were
saved, and gang of robbers broken up,
by means of an electric bell Jim and
had been telegraph operators. but had
abandoned the business for mining We
had luck in prospecting, and after few
years had sold our claims for 1927 300,
of which we took 81, 300 in promissory
notes and started east with the balance,
chiefly in bank notes. 1t appears that
three outlaws learned the real value of
our old trunks and contents. had left
Jim at the clerks desk of new tangled
hotel in western town and followed the
porters as they carried the baggage to
the front end of our room, on the fourth
floor. After dismissing them had shut
the door, neglecting to lock it, however,
and had turned to the washstand behind
when heard the door swing slowly
open behind me.
Thinking it was Jim. rinsed the
lather from my eye and turned, only to
find man holding six-shooter in my
face, another locking the door. and a
third making break for the trunk, I
wanted at first to argue the matter from
standpoint Of morality, and so inquired
what right they had to disturb me in
dressing But the man with the gun
remarked automatically: might makes
all things right, stranger, and this is
might, tapping his weapon with the
disengaged hand. felt that the silent
instrument in his hand was deeper, a
more potent argument than any could
advance under existing circumstances.
Back him up to the wall and keep
him covered until we got the stuff. and
then we'll slit his throat aud LOPEZ re-
sumed the leader.
Though tho programme did not just
suit me, lacquicsced as far az tho wall
Put your hands behind you. command.
ed my jalor. | did, when happy
thought struck me. My right hand had
come in contact with knob. which I
recognized as the electric bell which
communicated with the clerk. This was
n feature of civilization the robbers were
not posted about. Unobserved by them
| began by sending the following mes
sage;
'Jim-Three robbers have the door
locked and are just waiting to get our
dust to murder me. Get man and
step ladder, and don't make sign Of
noise. put gun through tho transom
and shoot. Be quick and careful
my only hope was that Jim might
still be lounging where | left him, in
which case his ear would quickly catch
on There was n chance in hundred,
and | began 10 sweat very freely. BIT
! started repeating tho message, and was
nearly through, when bang, bang two
shots were fired from over tho door, and
tho man who had not been hit turned
just enough to lot me bit him back Of
the ear with my right hand the force
of despair and the knowledge Of being
on the right side at last. 1t would be
painting it d shade light to say we had
sprung surprise party on the visitors
| had u gun in admoment, aud kept tho
thieves at bay until tho two men outside
got in and tied them up. except the leader
who was dead as man ever gets to be.
The other wounded one died in hos
pitaI three months aftcrward, and my
jailor was killed 10 an attempt TO escape
jail about the same time. ~ ~
"As had expected. when the bell
began ringing the message in the Office
Jim was there and commenced taking
it The clerk gazed in such astonisb-
mcnt that he forgot to start boy up. to
answer it for u minute, when jim pulled
his gun and remarked The first man
that leave, this room gets all I've got
here in tho neck When he got The
'ringogram, us he aftcrward termed II,
he rapidly explained, cautioned every
body else not to follow, took u drummer
be had met on the train, snatched a lad
dor, and as soon as he could climb around
tho job was done.