The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-04-06

mentioned knew Of the projected at
tempt and orr counter-plan; and va.
convinced that we would beoveriooked,
assumed 70 the bent 81 our abilities an
ordinary manner and bearing Harper
produced rs usual his cash-box and
abeets, counted and balanced his nc
count. telling the money. which
amounted 70 about eighty pounds, ont
GU the counter before him. Finally, he
replaced II ia tho box. which he handed
to the boss. who placed It IN the safe,
closing. bnt not locking, the door.
Meanwhile | had quietly and unob-
served procured box very similar TO
Iiarper's. anaafter partly filling It With
some odd pieces Of metal fastened one
end of long wire ~ It's brass handle.
| prepared another similar piece Of
wire. Ostcnsibly for working purposes,
! had gathered all the batteries at our
command underneath the counter, and
when The work was over Iquietly isnelt
down and joined them all together in
series AZ the Same time fastened
ono end Of my spare wire 70 the mega
tive pole Of this monster battery, and
then standing mn and leaning over the
counter succeeded, unnoticcd, 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 IL, 1t was
necessary To pass almost the entire
length Of this counter, and Of course to
rcpass i 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
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 unflattcring description
Of himself, took mp his place close q
the wheatstone transmitter, a clock
work machine driven By heavy weights,
and capable 81 attaining very high
speed.
\ An hour passed. 1t struck twelve.
The rain was still beating against the
\ windows was stiff and cold and
weary. and was beginning to wish we
had called in the police, when ! heard
something tribe louder than the rain
\ at the pantry window. There was a
i quick scratching sound like a nail
4 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 a gentle
crealS, and the mlrauder was in the
room. We held our breath. Confident
in his knowledge, the man had no light
save what came from the windows. Hi
approached the safe, and could not al
4 together suppress anexelamation Of sur
prise and delight at finding it open, He
was destined for more surprise and less
delight shortly. Popping carefully over
the counter. could just discern him ii
the dim light, with the box in his RICH
hand turning to retrace his steps. Al
had anticipated. and indeed reclxonet
on, he stretched out his empty left hant
to guide himself along the counter
and seized the brass rail. AS he dit
so the full force of the battery strucl
him. ''Blazesia he shouted, or rattle
yelled out lie tried 10 ietgo the rail
but in vain. Then he tried to drop TIL
cash box, but that stuck 10 him too
He began to hop about, and stamp, an,
groan, and swear, and pray continual,
and all at once. We could hear TIL
cash box thump and rattle against tn
floor or counter as the current 1erlte
his arm systematically to and fro. #
At this point Harper quietly turnee
on the transmitter and pushed the leve
over to top speed Anyone who ha
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 o
wheels which gather speed and fore
and noise until it seems as If the Who'll
machine win burst up by excess Of We
locity. Imagine the effect this had o
theInerFcs 81 the man already in tn
grip Of some mysterious, unfghtabl
agony. OF course he jumped to tn
conclusion that the noise indicate
some fresh, increase of his torments
He began to scream for mercy
''oh-h-hi Help mel Murder! Oh, ger
tlemen, stop i'll Don't kill me, Heir
Help.'' He writhed and struggled, fel
ON his knees, and, by an enormous 81
fort tore the rail from its place; bu
the battery wire still held on For
time his cries and struggles redoublec
but at last he lay exhausted on til
= hoor. ! then turned off the curren
and we turned on tho gas. There la
our man, his face gray and distorted a
though he had had d fit. He was quit
Young. After he had somewhat reco,
ered he begged hard to be let %, gasI
ing ont: You've done il hard en4ug
on me.
After some hesitation tAe boss deeie
J ed to let him GO fancy he was nc
quite ~ his ease as to how his actio
{ would be regarded by the department
] Another reason was that the secon
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