The southern argus. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Cherokee County, Kan.) 1891-1???, 1891-10-15

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| ing at the Goals. As fast as one cigar
was used up would light another, and
1 believe that must have smoked
some twenty or thirty cigars that night.
And to that. and to that only. can
attribute the fact of my being here.
But that comes later.
AS sat there noises on the streets
grew less and less, and soon all was
silent except the ticking Of clock in
the room in which / was sitting.
| heard the old timekeeper strike IL in
slow, somber tones. and then 1. be-
gan to be interested in the beat of the
pendulum, and unconsciously con-
structed rhymes that | repeated to N.Y.
self. Then 1 noticed that every few
minutes it would lose beat, followed
by two close together. then lose
another. AS the time went on this ir-
regularity increased. and ! came to the
conclusion that my host had forgotten
TO wind his clock.
las had already acquired an affec-
ton for it, | went up to the mantel on
which it stood. and opening the door
felt inside for key. This soon found
and began winding. the noise of which
caused echoes to ring over the whole
room. However / was not to be de.
TERED, and finished my self-imposed
task and again sat down.
The fire was getting low and the
room chilly, and | thought might as
well proceed to business. Taking a
little bulls v eye from my pocket
lighted it and looked about the room.
Nothing there that 1 wanted. There
were six doors leading into it, and
these tried. The first one led to the
kitchen, the second to the sitting.
room, the third to the cellar, the
fourth to the pantry, the fifth to the
upper part Of the house, and the sixth,
through which my host had gone. was
locked.
THE key was left in the hole. and
taking out my pinchers opened it and
looked into what was evidently the
parlor. Going in. at The farther end
Of the room was door to the right.
and peering into this gazed upon the
head Of the house. snoring like a good
fellow. | took up his pants and riHed
them, getting about $50. Seeing a
sort Of a box at the foot Of the bed. /
tried that, bnt it refused to open. After
some delay got it open and looked
over its contents. There was only
one thing there | wanted and that was
an old-fashioned portmanteau. which
was locked. slit this open with my
knife and found comfortable roll of
bills, about $500. You see, / had been
very lucky. In fact, always was,
never entering house but what !
made enough to pay expenses.
"Aftcr hunting through the bureau.
in which found nothing worth con-
tiscating except clean collar-mine
was dirty, and changed it for clean
one which just fitted mel left for
the other wing of the house. Here ]
found a rumber Of females. and, not
wishing to disturb them. returned to
the dining room and looked about for
the silver. Although I searched as
siduously could find none. and went
upstairs.
AT the head Of the stairs was a lit.
tie hallway, running north and south,
and entering the first room at the right
| looked upop the sleeping counte-
nance Of the eldest son-I guess. l
| went through him to the extent of $50
and going out and relocking the door |
made my way to the other rooms. all
Of which found to be unoccupied.
The last room entered was very cozily
furnished, and sat down on the bed a
moment TO rest.
Well" he resumed. II don't know
how it was. ! suppose was struck by
the brilliant thought that | would take
little rest before | went, so / un.
dressed and went to bed.
When awoke / found nice little
coterie Of officers in my room, and ]
was pleasantly requested to reassume
my habiliments and take walk with
them. which did 10 their satisfaction.
When ended was in a place for the
detention Of criminals. and a few
weeks later found myself in my present
commodious quarters. where | will
probably stay some time, for | am in.
formed that when my present sentence
has expired new charge will be
brought up and after that another, and
so on for don't know how long,
"A. Rudolph Fede1naann IN 50. Pau
II pIODoo,. p,.ooc