The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1894-10-02


a lively wind was banging shutter
and moaning through the swayin!
branches as Bill and quietly stol
along the dismally dark and desertec
country road.
With valises containing article
used in our trade, and smoking pipe
with shoppers on to hide their glow
we silently made good time over th'
wet and soggy ground till old For
Electricity, as we dubbed the objec
of our attack, loomed up before us.
We knew the place well, for boil
Bill and myself had managed to Sc
cure work there when the house wa
being remodeled. Through a side
hedge and across the large lawn from
tree to tree we cautiously advanced
pausing frequently to observe and
listen.
Not a sound save the uncanny
screech Of an owl and the clustering
chilly wind soughing among the ever.
/ greens and creaking the bare tree tops
fell on our eager ears.
Thanks to the supposed superior
protection of electricity, dogs were
not on hand to interfere with our
pleasure, though had there been we
had a patent way of winning theii
friendship.
When we got close to the house
we made q circuit around it, and
finding everything safe and comfort
able we prepared for business. In
stead of attempting guarded dooi
or window. or even cutting hole
through the clapboards into the par
lor, as we might have done to avoid
the wires, our plan was to emit >
through the unprotected roof. TAX
ing from my bag an arrow with g
coil of fishing line attached, placed
it in bow (which had been my cane
while travelling Hnd neatly shot thu
line above and over the house, &c
that it fell clear of windows or oh
structions.
In few minutes single tug on il
told me that Bill had found the ar
row on t'other side of the house
Then l tied on heavier line, light
but strong enough to hang two or
binary rnen, and signaled Bill to hau
away. Next l fastened on a wei
creased high power pulley block, OF
which was the flexible rope for our
ascent, and gave the signal to hau
away again and make fast.
Soon Bill did so, and, joining me-
we got ready to go aloft.
l went first, of course, being the
senior partner in the concern and
chief manager of my unpatented in
vention.
Comfortably sitting on a woode1
crosspieCe, l pulled away on the end
less rope attachment lone pound pull
lifting FOUR and easily raised myseb
to where / could reach and noun,
upon the broad caves of the shingled
sloping roof.
In a jiffy Partner Bill performed
the same circus act and was at my
side.
Like two cats, we quickly clam
bered, with the help of the crossline,
to the scuttle, and then, with no trou
BILE at all to such artists as we were,
the bolt was forced, ard Fort Elec,
tricity was taken, with its garrison
blissfully dreaming of the safety af
forded by the latest burglar alarms.
Softly creeping down the scuttle
ladder, we gained the garnet floor,
and there, by the CHEEKY light of our
dark lanterns, we donned our work
ing suits, consisting of long white
nightgowns and caps, and which, ]
am proud TO say, l invented for occa-
sions like the present.
Being an honest burglar, never
considered it square to needlessly
startle sleeping person. The ladies
especially suffer from nervous shock
and fright and either faint dead away
or scream 50 loudly that it is annoy
ing, to say the least.
The men are apt to waken out of
humor OF are scared to death, and in
both cases are generally beyond reach
of argument.
But in our handsome ruffled night
gowns and caps we fearlessly glide
in and out Of bedrooms, make half
awake men turn over on their pill
lows SO we can get their watches or
pistols, with no more than a sleepy
grunt at being disturbed, and even
get in bed beside them if there's dan
ger of actual discovery.
You see, our boldness and appear
anCe naturally cause them to take us
for members Of the family and treat
us accordingly.
This surely is much pleasanter than
burning sulphur matches under their
noses or binding their eyes with the
rays of dark lantern or giving them
a pointed revolver bluff or a billy
crack on a defenseless bald head.
Put yourself in their places, and /
guess you'll fully agree with me.
Well, Bill and /, like two white
robed Santa Clauses came down
stairs and went straight to our work,
Bill taking the rooms on one side of
the dlmly lighted hall. and the 9th