The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-04-28
POOLING A BURGLAR.

The burglar who had served short
| term in the bridewell for being caught
/ while trying to leave house he had en-
| tered without the authority Of the owners
| was engaged in the practice OF mis- prores-
sion again.
| "Tbev don't catch me in no self actin
| ,,are this time," he said to himself as ne
| raised a rear window OF the house ne mad
| selected as the scene of his operations and
| cautiously insinuated his head through
the opening. \
II don't sec no cards tellin me It's all
| right and not to make noise and will
please shut the pantry window SOS the
| things won't freeze. / guess it's all
| straight.
with a whispered caution TO his oonfed
crate, who was to remain on guard out
side he crawled noisclessly in, stood few
moments to listen and then proceeded to
peuetrate farther into the interior.
Finding only a few things worth steal
ing on the lower floor, he started up the
stairway.
One of the steps creaked, and he stopped
instantly.
Not the slightest sound came from the
rooms above, however, and, after waiting
a reasonable time he moved forward and
upward with great caution.
Entering shat seemed to be the main
upper room, he glanced about him.
Sufficient light came in from the street
lamp across the way to enable him to see
bed in one corner occupied by man
whose deep and regular breathing furnish
cd sufficient evidence that he was sound
asleep.
The mans clothing was hanging at the
foot of the bed
Tho burglar moved in that direction
Instantly he heard a loud whisper:
Don't do thati You'll wake him!"
Annoyed and alarmed at what he con-
oeived to be wholly unauthorized and
bungling attempt on the part of his con-
federate to take hand in the fine work of
the job instead of remaining at his post of
duty outside, he turned his head and
moved back step or two.
'Stl" came the whisper again, louder
than before
The burglar glanced at the sleeper, who
had not stirred, and then moved toward
the door, with the intention of admins
tering voiceless rebuke to his reckless
confederate
You blamed fool - whispered the voice
again. You haven't got sense enough to
rob sand bank. Let me do this'
The burglar peered into the gloom Of
the upper hallway.
Not seeing his pal, he stepped out
throug h the door,
"Stopp' exclaimed a loud, determined
voice. "If you move another inch in this
direction, IN put bullet through youP
He jumped back and darted in the d.
rection Of tho front window
Hi, therer' spoke another voice
Don't go that way either Can't you
see you're running right into gum"
Trembling in every limb, he stood near
the center of the room uncertain what to
do.
He put his hand to his hip pocket
If you make another motion with that
hand, exclaimed a voice from somewhere
in the darkness, ''I'll shoot I've got the
drop on your
He stole another glance at the sleeper.
The man had not stirred.
The burglar felt a cold sweat breaking
out all over him.
Then, as the savage yell of a fierce dog,
apparently under the bed, came startlingly
TO his ear he jumped with yell of terror
to the side window, five or six feet away,
plunged through it, carrying the sash with
him, and rolled down the kitchen roof in
to deep snowbank, from which he
emerged a second later and fled like a deer,
followed by his bewildered confederate.
He had made the horrible blunder Of
trying to rob professional ventriloquist-
who happened to be awake.-Chicago
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