Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-01-12
DID HE Do RIGHT -?
QUESTION IN ETHICS WHICH REGISTER"
READERS MAY SOLVE
Gratitude Versus Stern Duty-A Head BoOkksspsr,
Accidentally Locked in Safe, is Released by
Burglars, and Quickly Decides
Upon BIS Aetio9.

this hOrny-handed pair planned the
burglary Of certain safe in the eStab-
liShment of a furniture concern on the
west side. On the evening in question
the bOOkkeeper had had Il wrangle with
his accounts.
Il can't make head or tail of this"
ne said to the senior member OF the
firm, but | know everything is all
right. An error of several hundred
dollars has been carried over from each
daily footing, but where the error be-
gins or ends haven't found out"
The fact was the monthly sales had
been extraordinarily large, and Il page
of the balance had been mislaid. The
head bOOkkeeper spent an hour In again
casting up both the entries of himself
and his SubOrdinateS after the eStab-
lShment closed its doors for the day.
Then he went home for his supper,
determined To locate the deficit if he
didn't get wink of sleep that night.
BookkeeperS. it must be- remembered,
have singularly sensitive organisms,
susceptible to the slightest atom of any
thing which reflects upon their pro6ity
or skill.
At hali-paSt eight he returned and
commenced anew his critical calcula-
tions. lie worked precisely two hours.
at the end OF which time he suddenly
slapped his forehead aud exclaimed
Great Scott. Why haven't looked
through the safe for a missing sheet?
Ten to one Weeks forgot 70 number
them"
lie turned over the pages of the bal
ance in his hand, and sure enough, the
numerical mark OF designation in the
upper left hand corner was wanting. In
all likelihood one page, or perhaps two,
had Slipped into some remote corner OF
the safe.
The safe was large one, partially re-
ceding into the wall, aud containing all
the papers, documents, and several days
receipts ia cash and drafts of the firm.
The bookkeeper, in his efforts to un-
earth the lost page of the cash balance,
was obliged to intrude his entire body
inside the safe. Fearful lest the candle
he held should attract attention from
the street, showing out as il did in glar-
ing relief against the black receSScs OF
the safe, before entering he drew the
door slightly aiar.
As he stepped in the tail Of his coat
probably caught on an angle OF the
huge riveted hinges of the lock. The
massive gate swung TO as If II had
weighed no more than a single pound,
and the boOkkeeper was prisoner.
lie heard a resonant click, that was
all, and his candle went out.
There IS nothing especially remark
able about the incidcnt-tragic ~ IL
certainly must have been 10 the unfort-
innate wretch inside. Many men have
been imprisoned in safes before. But
this reflection would hardly SOOthe the
agony OF that horrible moment.
The book keeper at the outset lost his
presence of mind. lie fought like Il
Gagged demon, after first .eNerting al
most Superhuman strength against the
four sides of the iron tomb. Then his
body gave out, and without for an in
slant losing consciousness he found
himsclf sitting in 4 partially upright
posture, unable TO stir hand or foot.
At that instant, when hours seemed to
have elapsed, the drum Of his ear, now
abmormally sensitive, was almost split
into fragments, 4 frightful monoton-
Gus clangor rent the interior of the
safe.
The bookkeeper used 10 say afterward
that 4 seconds deviation of character
istic thought and he would have gone
mad.
Stronger minds in parallel situation
would have collapsed. But weaker
personality cliugS more strongly To hope.
only weak Municipalities while in the
act of drowning catch at StrawS. As
the bookkeeper felt himself gradually
growing faint from want of air, his re-
viycd hope led him to deliberately crash
his list into the woodwork, with which
the interior of the safe was lifted, IN
secretaire fashion, one drawer being
built above another.
As may have been eOulectUred, the
noise which smote the bQ0kkeeper'S ear
was that of drill. Although keenly
distinguished from the inside, the sound
was practically Smothered on the out
side of the vault.
At one end of the drill was a cavity
rapidly growing larger in one OF the
steel panels. At its other eLd was
heavy, warty fist, part OF the anatomy
Of Pete. the industrious mechanic.
Pete held the drill while his friend
Jerry pounded 1t in.
Pretty soon the two burglars became
aware that terrible cQmmOtion was
golug on within the safe. IT nearly
drove them into its. They were GER
tainly very much startled.
Jerry was for throwing up tue job,
but his companion rejected the proposal
with scorn as SavOring Of the SuperSti-
tiouS. Pete had large family To sup
mort he argued. lie spoke frankly to
his friend and co-laborer. The burden
of his remarks was in these words;
lyon make me tired with yer ghosts
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.
1t The irst crack Of tho drill Jerry
said,
Pete, there's man or something In
that safe
Roth men grew is pale as ghosts at
tha mere suggestion. Pete intrepidlY
applied his GAR, first to the lock aud
then to the drill hole.
Hey Ia there" he shouted, not 50
loud. however. rs to be heard ont GA the
sidewalk. There came the faint re-
spouse: very family indeed
" For Gods sake. give me air! lam
locked In here, Try ard burst open the
safe"
The two burglars did not stop to talk,
but went at once TO work as L their
own lives depended on the result OF
tbeir labors instead Of the unfortunate
bookkeeper'S. In less than three min
utes they had hole somewhat smaller
than the business end Of a collar button
knoc ked into that safe.
IN stopped to rest, aud the
A.. Srs.tc, who had come so near to
I sstl, "a, athed.
II vpa! ow that the two burglars be-
s,aa sSs t Of their predicament. In