The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-10-10
THE CLERKS STORY.

n clerk III Il general store ut q cross
roads IN southern Indiana. The store,
IL church and i blacksmith shop, with
two residences, made up tho buildings,
and the families OF tho merchant and
tho blacksmith were the only residents.
II countrya about was thickly settled,
however, ana trade was always good.
Before tho merchant engaged me no an
nounccd that ! would have to sleep in
the store o nights, and that unless l
had pluck enough TO dcfcnl the place
against marauders he did not want Inc
at any price.
lie showed mo n shotgun, revolver
and 4 spring gun, which were used, or
oil hand to be- used, 10 defend tho place,
anal the windows were protected with
stout blinds, and tho doors by double
locke. The close OF the war had driftel
u bad population into Indiana. Tho
highways werc full of tramps, and there
were hundreds OF men who had deter
mined TO make II living by some other
means than labor. Several attempts
had been made to rob the store, and it
had come to that pass that he clerk
wanted to sleep there alone.
The merchant seemed satisfied with
answers J gave him, and on Il certain
Monday morning | went to work. The
saruc night \ store about four miles
away was broken into and robbed and
tho clerk seriously wounded. Two
nights later three horses were stolen in
our n~cighborhood. At the end OF Il
week 4 farmer who was on his way
home from our store was robbed on the
highway.
II had not been light sleeper from
habit, these occurrences would have
tended 10 prevent too lengthy dreams
As | lay in my little bedroom at tho
front CT the second story. The revolver
was always placed undcrmy pillow, and
the shotgun stood within reach. The
spring gun was set about midway Of the
lower floor. 1t was 4 double barreled
shotgun, each barrel containing a big
charge Of buckshot, and the man who
kicked the string and discharged the
weapon would never know what hurt
him.
1t did not seem possible hat any one
could break into the store without
arousing mt. There was no door 10 my
room, and after the people in the neigh
borlood had gone to bed l could hear
the slightest noise in the store. | had
looked the place over for n weak spot
and had failed to find it, but my own
confidence came near proving my de-
struction. ] should have told you in
describing the store that Just over the
spot where We set the spring gun was an
opening through which We hoistcd and
lowered such goods rs were stored for n
time on the second floor. When not in
use this opening wa covered by a trap
door.
Toward evening on the tenth day oil
my clcrkship | hoistcd up n lot OF pals
and tubs, and had just finished when
trade became SO brisk that ! was called
to wait upon customers. Later on I saw
that had LETT the trap door p and l
said 10 myself that | would let it 90 un-
til went to bed. The store mad the
only burglar proof safe for miles around,
and it was customary for the farmer
who had hundred dollars or so to leave
it with US. He received an envelope in
which to enclose it, and he could take
out or put in us he liked. On this even
ing four or five farmers came in to de-
post, and as | afterward figured up VIC
had about 81 800 IN the safe.
There were two strange faces in the
crowd that evening. One belonged to n
roughly dressed, evil-eyed man, who an
nounccd himself as 4 drovcr, and the
other rs Il professional tramp. | gave
the latter a piece OF tobacco and some
crackers and cheese, and he soon went
away, and W were so busy up to 8
o'clock that did not give the drovcr
much attention. When we camc to
shut up the store he had gone from nv
mind altogether. We counted up the
cash, made some charges in the day
book, and it was about ~ o'clock when
the merchant lett, was tired, and |
took Il candle and made the circuit OF
the store. set the spring gun and went
to bed. | had TO pass within six feet OF
the trap door as ! went 10 my room, but
] did not see it. 1t was 4 rather chilly
night in October, and we had no tires
yet, and as | got under the blankets the
warmth Was so grateful that | soon fell
asleep.
1t was the first night l had gone to
bed without thinking OF robbers and
wondering how ! should act il case
they came in. l did no. know when l
fell asleep. suddenly found myself
half upright in bed, and thclc was an
echo in the store, as il the fall OF some
thing had aroused Inc. 1t was / o'clock,
andI had been asleep almost three
hours. Leaning on my elbow ] strained
my. ears 10 catch the slightest sound,
aud after a minute l heard 4 movement
down stairs. While I could not saw
what it was, 4 sort OF instinct told me
that it was made by some human be-
ing.
Everything on the street was as silent
as the grave. Ny window curtain was
up, and l could see that the sky had
thicl;cncd and was very black. l did
not wait fer the noise to be repeated. l
was just as cure that some one wa, in
the store rs il l had already seer him,
and / crept softly out Of bed, drew on
my trousers and moved out into the big
room, having the revolver in my hand.
There was no door at the head OF the
stair. | intended to SO there and listen
down the stairway.
As l was moving across the room,
which was then pretty clear OF goods rs
far as tho trap door, ! suddenly rccol-
lected this opening and changed my
course TO reach it. 1t was terribly dark
in tho room, and one unfamiliar with
the place would not have dared to move
n foot. Hall way to the trap Igot down
on hands and knees, andI reached the
opening l settled,down on my stomach.
There was q dim light down stairs.
Tint snttlnl tho fnct thnt con.n