The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-04-15

posal with scorn as savoring of the
superstitious. Pete had a large family
to support, he argued. He spoke
frankly to his friend and colaborer.
The burden of his remarks were in
these words:
"You make me tired with yer ghost
and things and don't want any more
darn fooling-see? De blamed job is
most trough anyway"
Pete and Jerry went back to work.
At the first crack of the drill J4ry
said:
Pete there's man or something in
that safe."
Both men grew as pale as ghosts at
the mere suggestion. Pete intrepidly
applied his ear, first to the lock and
then to the drillhole.
Hey, in there!' 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! [ 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 if
their. own lives depended on the result
of their labors instead of the unfortun-
ate bookkeeper's. In less than three
minutes they had hole somewhat
smaller than the business end of a col
lar-button knocked into the 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 sky-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 that he would
fall back exhausted 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 more
powerful. What it was remains to be
seen.
Hey, in there!' cried Pete whats
the combination of your safe?"
''3-15-73, " came back in au almost
sepulchral tone.
1t 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
much torn and disordered when he
stepped to the floor, but the pallor gave
place to red flush at perceivino 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
bookkeeper walked straight to his desk
and rang call for police.
Almost simultaneously, so quick and
quiet was the action, he opened
drawer, took out pistol, and covered
the two burglars with a fatal precision.
As he did so he uttered these words:
''Gentlemen, would be the basest
of men if I did not feel profoundly
grateful 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 1 shall make an
effort to perform. have accumulated
a little money, and with it 1 shall see
that the best counsel is engaged for
your defense. If you are convicted,
why"
Here the officers entered having
broken in the door with a crash.-M
Y. Herald