Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-03-05


srrIIous. Pete had large famlIy "a
support, he argued lie spoke frankly
TO his friend and eo-laborer. The
burden Of his remarks was in these
words:
"You make me tired with yer ghosts
and things, and don't want any more
darn fooling-see? De blamed lob Is
most trough, any wav."
Pete and Jerry wc-., Z to work.
At the first crack of the C. ii Jerry said:
''Pete, there's q man or something in
that safeI''
Both men grew as pale as ghosts at
the mere suggestion. Pete intrepidly
applied his ear, first to the lock and
then to the drill-hole.
Hey, in therer' he shouted, not so
loud, however, as to be heard out on
the sidewalk. There came the faint
responsive, very faint indeed:
For Gods sake, give me air! I am
locked in here. Try and burst open the
safe"
The two burglars did not stop to talk,
but went at once to work as il their
own lives depended on the result Of
their labors, instead of the unfortunate
book-keeper's. In less than three min
utes they had hole somewhat smaller
than the business end of collar button
knocked into that safe.
Then they stopped to rest, and the
man inside, who had come so near to
death, breathed.
1t was now that the two burglars be-
came aware of their predicament In
all probability this was a member Of
the firm or an employe. This fact
knocked the success of the nights ad-
venture sly-high. unless, when they let
the man out, they gagged and bound
him into silence.
But this course would have an ugly
look. 1t might mean murder in the end,
whereas, If they did not let him out, the
chances were he would fall back ex-
hausted before morning, and they would
still be murderers and responsible for
his taking off.
These were highly comforting re-
Elections, but there was still one moro
powerful. What it was remains TO be
seen.
"Hey in therer' cried Pete, what's
the combination of yer safe?"
''3-15-73," came back in an almost
sepulchral tone.
It was evidently hard work to draw
breath through that hole. In exactly
fifteen seconds the lock Of the safe gave
forth the same resonant click it had
| given a half-hour previously. Thanks
to the advent Of the burglars, it
opened as lightly and airily as it had
closed Just thirty minutes before on the
unhappy accountant.
The latter gasped once or twice, and
without any assistance stepped out into
the free air.
Now comes the interesting part.
He was very pale and his dress was
stepped to the floor, but the pallor gave
way to red flush, at perceiving the two
burglars.
They stood stock still as if they had
seen ghost
Without any kind of speech or warn
ing or any attempt at bravado the book
keeper walked straight to his desk and
rang a call for police.
Almost simultaneously, so quick and
quiet was the action, he opened a
drawer, took out a pistol and covered
the two burglars with a fatal pre-
cision. AS he did so he uttered these
words;
Gentlemen, would be the basest Of
men If L did not feel profoundly CRATE
full for what you have just done. l
shall always regard you as any man
should regard those who have saved
his life with peril to themselves. Any
thing you wish Of me shall make an
effort to perform. have accumulated
little money, and with it shall see
that the best counsel are engaged for
your defense. If you are convicted,
why"
Here the officers entered, having
broken In the door with crash.-N. Y
Herald.