The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-07-15

town, wiring full accounts of the day s
doings. Only the three of us already
mentioned knew of the projected at.
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 &C
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 it in the safe,
closing, but not locking, the door.
Meanwhile 1 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 its brass handle.
l 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 quietly 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, il 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 l
at once opened the safe and removed
the cash box, which Harper put in a
place of safety, and substituted the one
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, clock
work machine driven by heavy weights,
and capable of attaining a very high
speed
An hour passed. It struck twelve.
The rain was still beating against the
windows. l was stiff and cold and
weary, and was beginning to wish we
had called in the police, when l heard
something trifle louder than the rain
at the pantry window. There was
quick scratching sound like a 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 n ot have heard
their operations. In a few moments
the pantry door opened with a 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 ancxclamation 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 rctrace his steps. As
had anticipated, and indeed reckoned
on, n" stretched out his empty left hand
to guido J self along the counter,
and-scized the brass rail As he did
so the full force of the battery struck
him. "Blazes,' he shouted, or rather
yelled out. He tried to let 20 the rail,
but in vain. Then he tried to drop the
cash box, but that stuck to him too.
He 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 OF counter as the current ierked
his arm spasmodically TO and fro.
At this point Harper quietly turned
on the tr4nsmitter 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 a sensation of COM
ing disaster is given by the RAPIDLY in
creasing revolution of a score of
wheels which gather speed and force
and noise until it seems as if the whole
machine viii 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, unfightable
agony. OF course he jumped to the
conclusion that the noise Indicated
some fresh Increase of his torments.
lie began to scream for mercy.
''Oh-l-h! Help me, Murder, Oh, gem
tlemen, stop it, Don't kill me, Help!
Help" He writhed and struggled. fell
on his knees, and, by an enormous ef-
fort, tore the rail from its place: but
the battery wire still held on. For a
time has CRIES and struggles rcdoubled;
but at last he lay exhausted on the
floor. ! then turned off the current
and we turned on :tc gas There Law
our man, his face gray and distorted as
though he had had fit He was Quits
young. After he had somewhat recov-
cred he begged hard to be let 60. gasp