The morning times., 1895-09-08
RODDY THE RAT.
BY william Perry Brown.

Roddy the Rat was professional man.
1t also might be added that he was ex-
tremely professional, in that he added to his
true profession another one which he only
assumed because Of his natural modesty,
ana for the sake Of convenience.
In public Roddy was supposed to be
gentleman OF elegant leisure In private
Roddy knew that ne no more resembied a
gentleman or any kind than black snake is
ike an angel And, yet, in his two capaci-
ties or professions, he was faithful TO his
creed. which is more than some better men
may have charged to themselves.
Upon the street I'D in the sunlight Z oddly
conveyed. in his appearance, the idea OF
slightly exaggerated dude But at night,
baiIasted by a Jimmy in one pocket and
large assortment Of skeleton keys in the
other he would not only lurk in the darkest
corner, but hide his unciasSic profile behind
a mask when uninitiated acquaintance
came along. Like an owl, he shupned the
light and proved his real professional skill
at an hour when the honest man clings TO
his bed like an oyster to his shell.
The sheriff Of ooltewah County. being out
late one night, was attracted by a noise in
somebody's back yard as he was returning
10 the county site. The little town was
steeped in slulnber and dimly bathed in the
light of the moon just one week old that was
hanging its horn over the edge Of western
ridge not far away.
AS vigilant official, the Sheriff became
curious, and dismounted softly from his
wearied horse, and, creeping forward, CEN
tered his Official soul in his ears. AS he
peered over a high, paled fence, he held his
very breath in away that might have
caused CONSERVATION TO his nurse had he
been a baby
1t happened also that Roddy The Rat had
arrived in town that day. Being somewhat
celebrated in certain circles as cracks
man, he had been sent for to open secret
account with the Ooltewah Bank, wherein
the debits-if things went well-should be
altogether on the side of the cashier.
The bank, being as modest as it was sub
stantial, was one of the several architectu-
rally consanguineous structures on retired
side street. Roddy had never seen the
building before the present occasion, yet
it had been so faithfully described TO him
that he believed he could lay his hand upon
! the vault door on the darkest night after
the furtiye mastering of a few preliminary
! obstacles in the way Of iron bars and grated
windows.
Meanwhile, as has been said, the high
! sheriff was trying to investigate the mean
| ing of the curious noises that had barely
made themselves audible to his keen ear.
| Some one or something was working at
! the back window of a building thatappeared
as if it might be a bank, Jail, or small
SIZED lunatio asylum. -
| When the sheriff realized this he was
| amazed, and then he chuckled to himself.
What or who could it be? Either boy or
dog or a lunatic might be responsible,
though hardly q sane man. The officer
screwed the sand out Of hi 0~ 2-'3 wished
for night glass. He little
lower and applied his ey, 20re IA
vorable angle; then he che, min, ana
figurativeIy hugged himself, so 10 speak.
The mysterious and dimly seen worker
pried, twisted and tugged with certain in
| genious tools whereof the honest workman
| is supposed to know but little AT length
an iron shutter gave way and the depreda-
tor cautiously disappeared from the sher-
! ifs sight The official now heSitateG
no longer, but climbed over the fence, stole
| forward, and, closing the shutter, eau
| tiously placed a heavy prop against it in
| such q way that it could not be opened
| from the inside.
| Then, loosening his pistol in its holster
be produced a key as large as a wagon
wrench, surveyed il kno wipgly and chuckled
1 again. this time so heartily as TO render
| him uneasy lest the person inside might
| have heard.
'I'H interview the gentleman no W.
said the sheriff to himself. wonder what
| he yviU have 10 saw? OF all the fool tricks
1 ever knew this nips the persimmon, by
gannyr'
Then he walked round TO side door,
unlocked it, entered and drew his revolver.
/ Advancing cautiously and softly, he turned