The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1902-06-26
He Played Burglar.

To the man whose shingle bears th,
inscription "Siis Expert" and who's,
little shop, not far from the great dry
goods district, oontsins q full sssottaien
OF Implements for the forsibls opening oi
ssis, the writer said, Would you be well
qualified to play the burglEi
Yes. said the keen eyed little man, run
ming his fusers through his seaat hsii
red sstiysly. l once did play burglar.
In fact, played tho star role In q safe
cracking splsrprise. | was the iunosenl
means by which q Wholesale house wss
robbed Of seysrsl thousand dollars which
bad bsen taken ia too late ia the day TOO
be banked.
was 10 business then in another city,
| was sitting smoking jn my chop door
obout 8 o'clock one evening when mas
ssngsr boy came with a note ON the letter
paper Of a we'll knowa house sskins me
10 come at onos with my tools to The
o&os oil the nrm,
The ofnse was lighted mp, and q portly
prosperous looking man sst at q roll top
desk, while two clerks. psrched on stools
wers working at some books.
am Mr.. sSid the portly one,
giving the name OF tho head OF the firm.
Something has gone wrong With the
safe. and want you to open 1t. The
com bInstiop is 627.45, bat something
must have broken inside. for II woa't
open, and We have got to get some bo oks
out Of the safe tonight.
Az tried the com mbinstion which the
man bad gwen me he explained that be
had locked the safe before hs vent out
to dinner and was unable to open II
when be came back.
II was one OF those alum hlsd saies,
and suspected rust had done ito work
inside.
Nothing to do but drill II open. said
Go ahead. said the portIy one, and
ioA't keep me here any longer than you
san help.
With that be turned to the desk. and
worked away unssspsotinsly. There
vas dead silence except when the man at
he desk spoks 10 one or the other Of tho
Jerks aboat some account, and the tread
u tbs peliosmsn on that bsst could be
heard ss be passed the offi,s.
l did not rssliz, until latter that / was
Vorkipg cut OF view OF the passing
for the safe was bshind the
,ooh keepers desk, but the shsdss were
Up and the man st the roll top desk and
hs bookksspers conld b. plsinly seen
rom the street.
got out my bits, adjusted the brace,
nd soon steel was biting steel, bat the
ound OF the racket vas drowned by the
lick Of the typewriter. for tbs portlv
'srty bsssn debating 10 one OF the clerks
Q soon - began drilling the cafe.
When thought 1t oil over aitsrwsrd, IL
ccursd TO me thst this was to cover the
ound OF my operations. Ia kslf -
Iour | had . hole 10 the front OF the
sie. snd 9 little manipulation got tbs
um blers into place. and the door SWING
pen.
Here yon He. sir, said !. and the
ortly man came sfoupd 10 the safe.
Vary nes.ly done, be said. You'c
,,kes good burglar.
Bat the sound OF the r4cks! would
ring tho cops said !.
True, remarked the man, and. drawing
at roll OF bills, be handed me $50.
. that righli be ssked
Q lite right replied. So.ll sons
, tue nofLiog TO HI the safer
No, said BE-. | will hsve ,hs nsksrs oi
he sale stteui 10 II,
As | gathered up my .cols the potilJ
.au ulftcttu Que ~ Tue citfAs W Get Oui
be books that we're needed. snd be vent
sok 10 the desk
/ nuudied back Q ny chop, meeting
DO policeman 4 he corner. aud while
ss stsndipg cbs'ilIg sith bin the trio
ns ont Of the n e.
You can CONS rosn an boar lister 10
be norBiss, tsid the porily nss ~ be
Ilmbsd iEio sb.bsem that hsd rolled pp
, the tfns', sIi stou'ina the usms uf 9
ell kuosn club 10 tie driver. be
nilsd the doors 10 sd sss driven svsy
Before roou ise E,itd.y The policsn nsn
bon tsi i-itsd TO sbd detective
.ns to ny sbop
Thst y. p.i iib you did lssi sifhi,
nd the poliesnsn.
Nhsit l sstso. the nature OF the york
Lsd dane Iot yet dsvslna on me
The iootins Of "a safe, said the poles
an. Come slors
The por,ly psrson Who employed ne
"a .H L..f