The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-07-14

tempt and our cOunter-plan; and we,
convinced that we would be overlooked,
assumed to the bent of our abilities an
ordinary manner and bearing. Harper
produced as usual his cash-box and
sheets, counted and balanced his ac-
count. telling the money, which
amounted to about eighty pounds, out
| on the counter before him. Finally, lie
replaced it in the box, which he handed
to the boss, who placed it in the safe,
closing, but not locking, the door,
Meanwhile I had quietly and unob-
served procured box very similar to
Harper's, and after partly filing it with
some odd pieces of metal l fastened one
end of a long wire to its brass handle
l prepared another similar piece of
wire. Ostensibly for working purposes,
l had gathered all the batteries at our
command underneath the counter, and
when the work was over Iquietly knelt
down and joined them all together in
series. At the same time | fastened
| one end of my spare wire to the mega
tive pole of this monster battery, and
then standing up and leaning over the
counter succeeded, unnoticed, in at
narrow brass rail which ran along the
| top edge of the counter. must explain
that in order to reach the safe from the
| pantry door, as we called it, it was
necessary to pass almost the entire
| length of this counter, and of course to
repass it in returning.
The hour for closing arrived. My
three friends had been waiting some
time. Everything being ready the
| boss sent our three colleagues home,
saying we would follow shortly. The
three guests went with them. 1t was
still raining and they hurried off. The
gas was Immediately turned off, and
at once opened the safe and removed
place of safety, and substituted the one
l had prepared with the length of wire.
There was plenty of slack wire, which
we brought round the back of the safe.
over the other end of the counter,
fastening the free end to the positive
pole of the battery.
All was now ready. We hid behind
the counter and waited Harper, who
was very bitter against the thieves on
account of their unflattering description
of himself, took up his place close to
the Wheatstone transmitter, a clock
work machine driven by heavy weights,
and capable of attaining very high
speed.
An hour passed 1t struck twelve.
The rain was still beating against the
windows. l was stiff and cold and
weary, and was beginning to wish we
! ho1 1a1 in 7 1,oo ,.J
something trihe louder than the rain
at the pantry window. There was
quick scratching sound like nail
drawn across a slate, and Immediately
after we heard the window latch slipped
back and the sash quietly raised. The
men were certainly expert at their
work. Had we not been alert and ex
pccting them. we should n OF have heard
their operations. In few moment.
the pantry door opened vita a gentle
crcak, and the marauder was in the
room. We held our breath. Confident
in his knowledge, the man had no light
save what came fro;n the windows. He
approached the safe, and could not al
| together suppress an exclamation of sur
prise and delight at finding it open. He
delight shortly. Peeping carefully over
the counter, could just discern him in
the dim light, with the box in his right
hand, turning to retrace his steps. As
had anticipated, and indeed rcckoned
on, he stretched out his empty left hand
to guide himself along the counter,
and-scizcd the brass rail. AS he did
SO the full force Of the battery struck
him. "Blazcs!" he shouted, or rather
yelled out. He tried to let go the rail,
but in vain. Then he trie | to drop the
cash box, but that stuck to him too.
lie began to hop about, and stamp, and
groan, and swear, and pray continually
and all at once. We could hear the
cash box thump and rattle against the
floor or counter as the current jerkcd
his arm systematically to and fro.
At this point Harper quietly turned
on the tranSmitter and pushed the lever
over to top speed. Anyone who has
heard an instrument of this descrip-
ton set In motion at its maximum
speed knows what sensation of com
ing disaster is given by the rapidly in
crcasing revolution of a score OF
wheels which gather speed and force
and noise until it seems as if the whole
machine will burst up by excess of We
locity. Imagine the effect this had on
the nerves of the man already in the
grip of some mysterious, untightable
agony. Of course he jumped to the
conclusion that the noise indicated
some fresh increase of his torments.
He began to scream for mercy.
"Oh-h-h! Help me! Murder! Oh, gen.
tlcmen, stop it! Don't kill me! Help.
Help"' lie writhed and struggled, fell
on his knees, and, by an enormous eff.
fort, tore the rail from it's place; but
the battery wire still held on. For a
time his cries and struggles redoubled;
but at last he lay exhausted on the
floor. l then turned off the current
and we turned on the gas There lay
our man, his face gray and distorted as
though he had had a fit. lie was quit .
young. After he had somewhat recov-
cred he begged hard to be let go, gasp
ing out: you've done it hard enough
| on me-"
After some hesitation the boss decid-
ed to let MIN go. l fancy he was not
quite at his ease as to how his action
would be regarded by the department.
Another reason was that the second
man had got clean away. lie had been
waiting outside; but on hearing the dis
turbance and his pals cries had fled and
| left him.
| The man was grateful for his release
and walked slowly and heavily away.
He was evidently severely shaken, and
l should scarcely think would ever try
to rob a telegraph office again.-Cham-
| bcrs Journal
ANOTHER TUNE.
| How Johnny Confounded Church and
| - Hand Organ.
Little Sam had come from the coun-