Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-10-21


police officers was apparent. 1t wal
quite true that q notorious "little" gang
of bank robbers contemplated an attach
on the bank that night, and those
scoundrels were actually none Others
than themselves! Their warrants were
forgeries, and the sergeant's uniform
the perfection of imitation to the last
button. No time was 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 skele-
ton keys for picking the best and most
complicated locks were brought forth;
In short. everything needed for q thor
ough. daring and successful burglary.
We've got q long nights work, Char.
lie, I'm afraid" said one. It's now Q
o'clock, and II 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
ises 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.
the men never ceased. Drill. drill, drill.
on went the work almost In silence.
Now and then just a short spell for q
"breather" Midnight arrived, and a
little better progress, for they labored
harder than ever One, 2, 8 o'clock,
and now the huge iron door began to
yield and crack q little.
Tough work, Jim. But it'll pay US
In the eud, old fellow. Keep 1t up. We
must finish it by o'clock, for perhaps
some blessed office cleaner may be here,
or people be moving outside"
Four O'Clock. and good aperture
was made. Five o'clock. and they were
perspiring like blacksmiths at q 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.
"Goodw nuttered one, as they grad
ually, yet laboriously, lowered the
mighty piece of metal to the ground.
The inner compartment IL 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 spoilT And he rubbed his hands
with glee.
Clang! And open few the door. Blu,
what2
Foiled! Frustrated! Bamed! The
safe was empty!
The scoundrels. who had instantly
dived their hands into the interior.
shrank back aghast, swearing and
pouring curses upon the old bankers
head.
Bah! the old blackguardl He has
done US. Jim. And who'd have dream
ed it?"
There's no time to lose" blurted his
confederate, smashing anything he
could lay his hands on, In sheer wan
tonness. IT'S striking 9 o'clock, and
work people are about"
hr,rrgo6lv oo11Aof0A ond
pocketed again, and the sergeant"
with a disappointed growl. suggested
that they should 60 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 street
they were met by Mr. Marsden in COM
pany with three constables. The old
banker had experienced a sleepless
night and risen early. calling at the po-
lice station. innocently enough. on his
way to ascertain the news, II any, and
he was there astonished to learn that
they believed 1t to be a bogus affair. as
they knew nothing Of 1t.
There was a desperate effort on the
part Of the burglars to escape, but one
or two passing workmen at the cry OF
Help render ed assistance and the
police officers" were strongly secured
Philip Marsden, on stepping into the
bank. although greatly unnerved and
agitated at the state Of affairs, could
scarcely suppress his laughter Oh and
ing that his ''decoy." as he called 1t, had
given SO much trouble, and thoroughly
done them, although he was quite ig-
norant of the plot he had unintention.
ally laid for them.
The 'decoy," an old, insecure safe,
which was always purposely kept emp
ty, was one of Mr. Narsden's ingenious
ideas for throwing burglars OF the
scent, being fixed in a prominent po-
sitlon to attract notice. while other
safes containing the valuables were far
away from the rooms in ordinary use.
The pseudo-detective officers are in
safe custody now. They have their
regular drills" and instead Of picking
locks, pick oakum.-Liyerpool Mercury.