The Bossier banner., 1892-09-15


will they think if only three leave
to-night?"
was nonplussed.
II rather like the idea," resumed the
boss; "but think we should have help.
Suppose we get a couple of Schinken's
men?"
Sergeant Schinken was a kind of
semi-public, semi-private officer with
staft OF men, who were largely ems
ployed by race committees In the task
OF preserving order In the Enclosures.
and including bad and doubtful char
| acters. They travelled about from meet
ing to meeting like ourselves and in
this Way Sort of intimacy sprang up.
Oh, they'd just be as bad as the To-
| GALS" said. They'd want to boss
the whole affair, and very likely spoil
it. I'll tell you what IN ask three
young fellows | know to come and have
a game OF cards at our diggins Tonight.
FL tell them to call for tbs at the office
half an hour or so before we close. At
| closing time we can make some excuse,
and send them off with our own three
men, whilst you, Harper and remain. +"
He still hesitated. could see he was
again more than half inclined to let the
police deal with the matter. Of course
his responsibility was heavyi and should
anything go wrong, he would certainly
be severely censured. had, however,
the utmost confidence in my plan, and
would or could see no possibility of fail
ures SO that, eventually, succeeded in
| gaining his consent. This done, I was
only anxious for the racing to conclude,
that we might get down to the town
and prepare our surprise party. At five
o'clock the final race was run; and an
hour later we were hard at 1t in the
town, wiring full accounts of the days
doings Only the three of us already
mentioned knew Of the projected at
tempt and our eonnter-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, he
replaced it in the box, which he handed
to the boss, who placed 1t In the safe,
closing, but not locking, the door.
Meanwhile | had quietly and unob-
served procured box very similar to
Harper's, and after partly filling it with
some odd pieces of metal fastened one
end of a long wire to it's brass handle.
prepared another similar piece of
wire. Ostensibly for working purposes,
/ had gathered all the batteries at our
command underneath the counter, and
when the work was over 1quietly 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
taching the other end of the wire to a
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
the cash box, which Harper put in a
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 unfattering description
of himself, took up his place close to
the Wheatstone transmitter, a clock
and capable of attaining very high
speed.
An hour passed. 1t struck twelve.
The rain was still beating against the
windows. I was stiff and cold and
weary. and was beginning to wish we
had called in the police, when I heard
something a trifie louder than the rain
at the pantry window. There was a
quick scratching sound like nail
drawn across 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-
pecting them, we should not have heard
their operations. In a few moments
the pantry door opened with gentle
creak, and the marauder was in the
room. We held our breath. Confident
in his knowledge, the man had no light
save what came from the windows. He
| approached the safe, and could not al
together suppress an exclamation of sur
prise and delight at finding it open. He
was destined for more surprise and less
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 reckoned
ON, he stretched out his empty left hand