The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-04-08
gAN Y
: 11THE WORLDS :
4 az A k STORY DEPARTMENT. 4 :

ttHfsaA AttsN@N ~" WIN AAfAf4 ~ ~ III tlft
town. wiring full accounts of the days
doings Only the three Of rs already
) mentioned knew of the projected ~
tempt and orr countcr-pIan; and va.
convinced that we would beorcYloolfed.
assumed 70 the bent of oar abilities an
ordinary manner and bearing. Harper
produced as usual his cash-box and
sheets, counted and balanced his ac-
i count. telling the money, which
amounted 70 abont eighty pounds, cut
on the counter before him. Finally, he
4 replaced Il In the box. which he handed
70 the boss, who placed Il In tie safe,
closing. but not locking, the door.
Meanwhile ! had quietly aud unob-
served procured box very similar 10
iIarper's, and after partly filing It with
! some odd pieces of metal Ifastened one
I end Of n long wire q its brass handle
! prepared another sImilar piece 81
/ wire. Ostensibly for working purposes.
had gathered all the batteries at our
command underneath the counter, and
when the work was over quietly kneit
/ down and joined them all together IN
series. At the same time fastened
one end Of my spare wire 70 The mega
tive pole II this monster battery, and
then standing M and leaning over the
counter succeeded, nnnoticed, in at
taching the other end 81 the wire 70 4
narrow brass rail which ran along the
/ top edge Of the counter must explain
that In order 70 reach the safe from the
pantry door, MS we called Ii, Ii was
necessary to pass almost the entire
length Of this counter, and of course TO
repass 1t In returning.
The hour for closing arrived. Nv
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. Ii was
still raining and they hurried off. The
gas was immediately turned of, and i
at Once opened the safe and removed
the cash box, which Harper put IN O.
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 unfiattcring 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 stin beating against the
windows l was stiff and cold and
weary, and was beginning to wish we
had called Ia the police, when / heard
something trifle louder than the rain |
at the pantry window. There was |
quick scratching sound lflxe a nail |
drawn across. slate, and immediately
after we heard the window latch slipped t
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 few moments
the pantry door opened with q gentle
creak, and the marauder was In the
room. We held our breath. Confidentl
In his knowledge, the man had no light
save what came from the windows. He
-tfft Sf~SAASSAE sAiS 9kAAlf anu COu1u ItOI al
together suppress anexciamation 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 il
the dim light, with the box IN his right
hand, turning to retrace his steps. AS
had anticipated and indeed reekonedl
on, he stretched out his empty lefthandl
to guide himself along the counter.
and-seized the brass rail. AS he dial
so the full force Of the battery struck
him. "3lazesi' he shouted. or rather
yelled out He tried to let TO the rain.
but in vain. Then he tried 10 drop the
cash box, but that stuck to him too.
He began to hop about, and stamp, and
groan. and swear, and pray continuallyI
and all at once. We could hear the
cash box thump and rattle against the
floor or counter as the current ierlsed
his arm systematically to and fro.
At this point Harper quietly turned
on the transInitter and pushed the lever1
over to top speed. Anyone Who has
heard an instrument Of this descrip-
ton set in motion at It's maximum
speed knows what a sensation Of com
ing disaster Is given by4 the rapidly In
creasing revolution q score 81
wheels which gather speed and force
and noise until II seems Us il the whole
machine will burst up by excess Of We
locity. Imagine the effect this had OF
the nerves Of the man already in the
grip Of some mysterious, unfghtablet
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-hl Help me! Murderi Oh. gen
tepen, stop it, Don't kill me! Heidi
Help" He writhed and struggled. felll
on his knees, and, BY an enormous ef
fort, tore the rail from its place; but
the battery wire still held on. For a 4
time hiscries and struggles redonbled
but at last he lay exhausted on the +
floor. then turned of the current =
and we turned on the gas There lay
our man, his face gray and distorted az
Though he had had fit He was qnit4
young. After he had some what reeoy.
sred be begged hard to be let 70. pasr,
ing out: You've done 1t hard enough ! L
IN me.
After some hesitation the loss decid.
'd@to let MIN 90. ! fancy he was NOT In
luite at his ease as To how his action N