Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-09-25

third and fourth were disposed of in n
few minutes because of their barren
appearance
The large back bedroom which over.
looked the woods was securely locked
and the key missing. With fingers all
of a trcmhlc in anticipation of great
discovery proceeded to pick the lock.
Fortunately ii was a common lock
which required but little real skill to
open. The spring was little stiff and
rusty, but otherwise it worked easily,
and threw the lock back in its sock
ct without causing anything more than
a slight grating noise.
Then | entered the room and closed
the door behind me- | flashed the light
from my lantern on every side, taking
in the whole room in one circular
sweep and fer moment I was disap-
pointed. There was nothing visible in
the room except piles of old furniture
covering. It looked as If furniture had
been stored in the room and then COW
cred over with the cloth to keep the
dust from accommodating on the arti-
Flcs.
But why should the doctor have
such fine furniture stored away in this
upstairs room? l raised one end Of
the covering and started back in as
constituent. could almost have shout
ed in my surprise. Throwing back the
cloth in eager haste | soon disclosed
A..
made my hand trcmble. No robbers
cave ever revealed richer store of
wealth than that which lay spread out
before me.
There was the silver and gold plate
Of a dozen different families. The jew
els and diamonds that had come down
as hclrlooms from several generations.
small statuottos, gold framed pictures
and Photographs. solid silver knives.
forks, spoons and plates. watches.
rings and brc-a brac of more or less
value were piled in heaps and clusters
on the floor and tables In short, there
was everything that robber could
collect from a house and carry away
In bundle.
Gazing at this strange accumulation
Of miscellaneous goods, felt that
was standing in dangerous place, for
the collector Of them would not hest
tate an instant to kill me if he once dis
covered my presence. Here were the ill
gotten gains Of both my master and the
doctor, ana either one would be pro-
voked and frightened enough to take
my life II he once saw me in the
storeroom. Nevertheless | was so fas-
cinated by the glittering heaps Of gold
and silver and precious jewels that
could not refrain from examining and
handling each one individually. must
have rui considerable risk in so doing,
for some Of the pieces rolled out of the
heap and fell upon the floor. But the
fever Of excitement which possessed
me could not be controlled. In all my
experiences ! had never beheld such a
sight. 1t seemed like glimpse of a
burglars paradise.
| believe for short time | was be-
wildered and half crazy. l know that
seated myself on the floor and took up
one article after another holding it up
to my lantern to be sur" of its genuine
ness aud then pressing it closely
against my face.
Then l filled my pockets with them
and tried to estimate the wealth that
1 could carry away, although l had no
intention of removing single article
from the house. My plan was to re-
trace my steps so that the doctor would
not know that his storehouse had been
visited by stranger. | had another
way to corner him or at least to bring
him into my power by holding his Sc
crct over his head.
When was finally satisfied in gloat-
ing over the stolen goods, began to
think Of returning. put the articles
back in their places just as had found
them and drew the cover over them so
as not to excite any suspicion. Then
left the room after one longing look
behind, locked the door and retreatcd
up the ladder to the cupOla. ! could not
fasten the staple in as securely as be-
fore. but by means Of a long piece of
wire succeeded in attaching it loosely
into the door so that nobody would no.
tice 1t unless he happened to visit the
cupola. This l judged rarely occurred
and I thought l was safe in leaving
matters as they were. ! climbed down
the piazza post and once more found
myself on The green lawn without hav-
ing arouseS-tny of the inmates of the
house.
My nights adventure had been sue
cessful, and retired to my bed feeling
that 1 pM se7sed secret which made
me the equal CT either ny mGster or
the doctor in power. AT any time |
might use this knowledge to ruin them
or to force them to do my bidding.
Altogether l thought / was a pretty
lucky dog.