The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-12-06

lhI as iu6 Trap QOOIs hNuOtniy reCOi~
lected this opening and changed my
course to reach it. 1t was terribly dark
in the room, and one unfamiliar with
the place would not have dared TO move
foot. Half way to the trap got down
on hands and knees. and "a I reached the
opening settled down on my stomach
There was a dim light down stairs.
That settled the fact that some one was
in the store. After minute l heard
whispers, then the movement Of feet.
then certain sound which located the
intruders to foot. They were at the
safe in the front Of the store.
/ drew myself forward and looked
down the opening could see a lighted
candle and two or three dark figures ut
the SAFE and could hear the combina-
tion being worked. Ny first thought
was to drop my hand down and open FIRE
in their direction. but remembered that
we had so many articles hanging up that
no bullet had chance Of hitting the
men. was wondering what to do, when
heard one Of the men whisper:
"It's all d---d nonsense. We might
work here week and not hit It,"
But / told you TO bring the tools and
you wouldn't" protested another.
ooh, dry upr put in q third voice.
what we want to do is to go mp and
bring that counter hopper down, and
make him open the box"
"Tll give the Guessed thing few more
trials" said the first man, and heard
him working away again. My eyes
could not have told me the number OF
robbers. but my ears had There were
three Of them, and they were no doubt
desperate and determined men. They
spoke Of bringing me down to open the
safe, as If no resistance was anticipated
or taken into account. Indeed, they
might well reason that they had me ct
their mercy The rain was now falling,
the night was very dark, and a pistol
shot in the store could not have besn
heard in either Of the dwellings.
If they had reflected that I might be
armed they would have Offset it with
the fact that was a boy of 10, with a
girls face and probably a girls nerve.
l don't deny that was bit ratified, and
that my lip would quiver in spite Of me.
but l was at the same time fully de-
termined to protect the store il it coat
me my life. How to get at the fellows
was what bothered me, but that trouble
was coon solved.
There" whispered the man at the
combination az he let go Of it, II won't
fool here another minute. That Ida
knows the combination. and we can
10 IL =
They were coming up stairs. The best
place for me would be at the head Of the
stairway The stairs had half turn in
them, and l would FIRE upon the first
man who came within range heard
the men coming back to the stairway
and my nerve gave way 1t wasn't from
cowarlice, but the knowledge that Yves
to kill human being upset me. l de-
cided to retreat to my room, and If they
persisted in coming that far l would
shoot. The trio had rubbers on their
feet, bnt they came up stairs without
trying very hard to prevent making A
noise.
The one who came first had the candle,
and as he got to the head Of the stairs /
saw knife In his other hand They
made no delay in approaching my room,
and with a great effort braced myself
for what l saw must happen. They
could not see me until within three on
four feet of the door, and their first intA-
nation that was out Of bed was when
they heard me call out:
"Stop, or I'll shootlr
had them covered with the weapon.
and for fifteen seconds there was a dead
silence Then they got plan. The
man with the candle dashed 1t on the
floor, and suppose they meant to ruah
in on me in the dark, but checl1nated
it by opening fire, They then either
meant to retreat down stairs or toward
the rear of the floor, for saw the three
together moving of, and fired at theiz
dim figures. Three seconds later there
was great shout Of horror, followed by
the tremendous report Of the double bar
relied spring gun, and then there was ab-
solute silence.
think ! stood in the door shaking like
a leaf for fully three minutes before the
silence was broken by a groan. Then II
came to me that the robbers had fallen
tiiNNslA tue bpcu hOOT UpJn Nilc COfu
leading TO the gun / struck match.
lighted my own candle, and going to
the opening saw three bodies lying be-
low. Running back to the bedroom to
recharge my revolver, then went down
stairs TO investigate.
1t WAS ss I suspected. The three had
pitched down together. The top Of ones |
head had been blown off by the shot, |
second had a hole in his chest as big as
your fist, while the third. who was 70
sponsible for the groans, was severely
wounded in both legs. 1t was three |
months before he could be put on trial,
aud he then got four years in prison. |
The whole thing was put up job. The
"drover' was Chicago burglar called |
"Clawhammer Dick, and be had hidden
himself in the store that night, and then
let his pals in by the back door. They /
had a horse and wagon in the rear Of
the building, and the plan was to rob |
the store of goods as well as to get at the
money in the safe. A bit Of caTelessness
on my part not only saved the store and
probably my life, bus wiped out q very |
desperate gang, - Bost0N Commercial |
Bulletin.
The Ball Player.
Bobby-Do you like your new housei
Tn1 - Il