Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1891-08-14
A BURGLARS STORY.

| Some years ago me and the gentle
man who was at that time connected
with me in business-he's met with
reverses since then and at present ISM
able to go out--was looking around
| for a job, being at the time rather
hard up, as you might say. We struck
a small country town.
There was one bank there; the man.
| ager was rich old duffer-owned the
| mills owned the bank, owned most of
| the town. There wasn't no other
officer but the cashier. and they had a
boy who used to sweep out and run of
| errands. The bank was in the main
street. pretty well up one end of it-a
| nice, snug place, at the corner of a
cross street. with nothing very near
| it.
We took our observations and found
| there wasn't no trouble at all about it.
| There was an old watohman that
walked up and down the street at
night, when he didn't fall asleep and
forget it.
The vault had two doors. The
outside one was chilled iron, and
had a three wheel combination lock.
| The inner door wasn't no door at all.
You could kick it open. 1t didn't pre-
tend to be nothing but fire-proof, and
it wasn't even that.
The first thing we done, of course,
was to fit key to the outside door.
AS the lock on tho outside door was
an old-fashioned Bacon lock, any gem
tleman in my profession who chances
to read this article will know just how
| easy that job was and how we done it.
This was our plan: After the key
was fitted | was to get into the bank,
and Jim-that wasn't his name, of
course, but let it pass-was to keep
watch on the outside. When any one
passed he was to tip me whistle and
then l doused the glim and lay low;
after they got by goes on again. Sim
| pie and easy, you see. Well, the night
| as we selected, the president happened
to be out of town; gone down to the
city, as he often did. 1 got inside all
right. with slide lantern, a breast
drill, a small steel jimmy, a bunch of
skeleton keys and green-baize bag to
stow the swag. l fixed my light and
rugged my breast-drill, and got to work
on the door right over the lock-
L went on steady enough; only
stopped when Jim--which, as / said
before, wasn't his real name whistled
outside and the Waterman toddled by
/ heard Jim-so to speak-whistle
again. | stopped, and I'm bowed if
they didn't come right up the bank
steps, and | heard key in the lock.
was so dumbfounded when heard that
that you could have slipped the brace
lets right on me. picked up my Ian
tern, and I'll be hanged if didn't let
the slide slip down and throw the light
right on the door. and there was the
manager. Instead of calling for help,
as / supposed he would, he took step
inside the door and shaded his eyes
with his hand and looked at me-
knowed | ought to knock him down
and cut, but I'm blest if l could, was
so surprised.
''Who are youp" says he.
Who are youP" says l. thinking
that it was an innocent remark, as he
commenced it, and a-trylng all the
time to collect myself.
I'm the president of the bank -
says he, kinder short; something the
matter with the lockP"
By George! the idea came to me
then.
YES, sir" says. l, touching my
cap; ..Mr. jennings he telegraphed
this morning as the lock was out of
order and he couldn't get in, and I'm
come on to open it for him."
Il told Jennings a week ago" says
he, that he ought to get that lock
fixed. Where is hep"
Hes been a-writing letters, and
he's gone up to his house to get an
other letter he wanted for to answer.
well. why don't you go onP" says
he.
I've got almost through says l;
'and / didn't want to finish up and
open the vault till there was somebody
here.''
That's very creditable of you"
says he; "a very proper sentiment. my
man. You can't" he goes on coming
round by the door, ,be too particular
about avoiding the very suspicion of
evil"
mo sir,". says l, kinder modest
like
What do you suppose is the matter
with the lockp" says he.
Il don't rightly know yet" says I
"but | rather think it's u little wore,
on account of not being oiled enough.
These ere locks ought to be oiled
about once year."
We'll, he says, you might as we'll
go on now, I'm here; will stay till
Jennings comes. Can't / help you
hold your lantern, or something of
that sortp'
The thought came to me like fash,
and / turned round and says:
How do l know you're the presl-
dent? / amt ever seen you afore, and
you may be a tryin' to crack this bank
for all | know"
That's very proper inquiry, my
man." says he, land shows a most re-
markable degree of discretion. | con-
TESS that | should not have thought of
the position in which ] was placing
you. However l cen easily convince
you that it is all right. Do you know
what the presidents name lisp"
mo, / don't" says /. sorter surley.
We'll. you'll find it on the bill, :"
says he. taking bill out of his pock-
ct; land you see the same name on
these letters, " and he took some letters
from his coat.