The Penn's Grove record., 1896-10-16

uVh phuC koS1g NNAtAM A~A8SHNAA
them to let him know the instant b.
was wanted.
lie departed In a feverish state OF
anxiety. wondering, naturally, wha;
the night would bring forth.
Now, directly the old gentleman had
left the real character Of the pseudo.
police officers was apparent. 1t was
quite true that a notorious "little" gang
of bank robbers contemplated an attack
on the bank that night, and those
scoundrels were actually none others
than themselvesi Their warrants were
forgeries, and the s~ergeant's uniform
the perfection of Imitation to the last
button. No time vas to be lost. From
the coattail pockets Of the sergeant
came some of the finest tempered steel
drills and other implements for forcing
and boring iron safes that ever graced
the person Of the most experienced crib
cracker. Deity manufactured skeie.
ton keys for picking the best and most
complicated locks were brought forth;
in short, everything needed for a thor.
ough, daring and successful burglary.
We've got a long nights work, Char
lie, I'm afraid" said one. ITS now 0
o'clock, and If we get through this safe
under ten hours we're lucky. We must
set to work with a will"
Accordingly the sergeant" speedily
turned his attention to the back prem
lses with a view to a hurried escape
should they be disturbed. while the two
others directed theirs to the huge iron
safe spoken of by the banker. Drills
were quickly applied behind the hinges
Of the door, and boring began In real
earnest, for these gentlemen" burglars
knew pretty well everything worth
knowing as to the construction OF most
safes in use.
Progress was very slow At nrst. but
the men neSe ceased. Drill. drill, drill.
on went the work almost In silence.
Now and then just a short spell for a
"breather." Midnight arrived. and a
little better progress. for they labored
harder than w One, 2, 8 O'Clock,
aud nov the huge iron door began to
yield and crack a little.
Tough work. Jim. But itll pay US
IN the end. old fellow. Keep 1t up. We
must hnish II by 9 o'clock, for perhaps
some blessed office cleaner may be here,
OF people be moving outside"
Four O'Clock. and a good aperture
was made. Five O'Clock. and they were
perspirins Ike b~iscksmiths at a forge
in July. and they worked like demons
with their drills and levers. Presently,
with a united and terrific effort, the
outer door was loosened from its sock
cts.
Good" muttered one. as they grad
ualy, yet laboriously, lowered the
mighty piece Of metal to the ground.
The inner compartment Is very short
work. chummie."
And so it proved, for with the utmost
dexterity one pried the lock as the 9th.
er, with a thin chisel as hard as ada.
mant, started forcing the door.
zone more wrench, Jim, and then for
the spoil!" And he rubbed his handf
with giee.
Clang! And open dew the door. But
what?
FoiledI Frustrated! Bafiedl The
safe was empty
The scoundrels. who had instantly
dived their hands into the interior.
shrank back aghast, swearing and
pouring curses upon the ole bankers
head.
Bah! the old blacksuardi He bas
done US. Jim, And who'd have dream
ed IT."
There's no time to lose" biurted his
confederate, smashing anything he
could lay his hands on, In sheer wan
tonness. its striking 9 o'clock, and
work people are about"
Tools were hurriedly collected and
pocketed again, and the sergeant
with a disappointed growl. suggested
that they should go out by the door they
came in by, as nobody was stirring
much, and the back way meant scaling
walls and roofs. This they did. but
Immediately on emerging into the stree
they were me, by Mr.. Marsden in com
pany with three constables. The old
banker had experienced a sleepiesi
night and risen early. calling at the pc
lice station, innocently enough, on nix
way to ascertain the news, IL any. an
he was there astonished to learn tina
they believed 1t to be a bogus affair, al
they knew nothing Of it.
There was a desperate effort on thu
part of the burglars to escape, but ON
or two passing workmen at the cry O.
Help! rendered assistance and thu
police officers" we're strongly secured
Philip Marsden, on stepping into tn
bank, although greatly unnerved AM
agitated at the state of AFFAIRS, coul'
scarcely suppress his laughter on find
ing that his "decoy," as he called 1t, ha'
given so much trouble, and thorough.
done them, although he was quite ig
norant Of the plot he had unintentton
ally laid for them.
The 'decoy," an old, insecure safe
which was always purposely kept emf
ty, was one of Mt, Marsden's ingeniou
ideas for throwing burglars on tn
scent, being fixed in a prominent pc
sitlon to attract notice, while othe
safes containing the valuables were IA
away from the rooms IN ordinary use
The pseudo-detective officers are !
safe custody now. They have thei
regular drills and Instead OF piekin
locks, pick oakun.-Liverpool Mercur,