The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1902-05-29
He PLAYED BURGLAR
Bur He DID IT lNNoceNTLY AND
Old IT ARTlsTIcALLV AS WELL.

by a Trio of Notorious Cracksmcn
10 Get at Their PIundcr.
To the man whose shlngle bears the
inscription safe Expert and whose
little shop. not far from the great dry
goods district, contains full nssOrt-
ment OF implements for the forcible
opening OF safes the writer said,
Would you be well qualified to play
the burgarT"
"Yes," said the little keen eyed man.
running his fingers through his scant
hair rehectively. IL once did play
burglar. In fact, played the star role
In a safe cracking enterprise. | was
the innocent means by which whole
sale house was robbed OF several thou.
sand dollars which had been taken in
TOO late in the day TO be banked.
Il was I'm business then In another
city. was sitting smoking at my
shop door about o'clock one evening
when messenger boy came with a
note on the letter paper of n well
known house asking me TO come at
once with my tools TO the office Of the
firm.
The office was lighted up. aud
portly. prosperous looking man sat at
n roll top desk. while two clerks,
perched on stools, were working at
some books.
~ am Mr.. - said the portly one,
giving the name OF the head of the
firm. Something has gone wrong with
the safe and want you 20 open It.
The combination is G-2II5. but some
thing must have broken inside. for It
won't open. and we have got 70 get
scme books out OF the snfe tonight
"As tried the combination which the
man had given me he explained that he
had locked the safe when he went out
TO dinner aud was unable TO open it
when he came back.
"It was one OF those alum filed
safes. and suspected rust had done Its
work inside.
Nothing to do but drill It Open
said /.
"'Go ahead said the portly one. and
don't keep me here any longer than you
can help
with that he turned TO his desk. and
worked away unsuspectingy. There
was dead silence except when the man
nt the desk spoke 10 one or the other
OF the clerks about some account, and
the tread OF the policeman on that beat
could be heard as he passed the office.
'I did not realize until afterwnrd that
I was working out OF view OF the pass
ing policeman. for the safe was behind
the bookkeeper's desk. but the shades
were up and the man at the roll TOP
desk and the bookkecpers could b'
plainly seen from the street.
II got out my bits. adjusted the
brace. and soon steel was biting steel
but the sound OF the ratchet was drown
cd by the click OF the typewriter. fo'
the portly party began debating TO one
OF the clerks as soon as | began drilling
the safe. when | thought IL all ovel
afterward. II occurred 20 me that thl'
waF TO cover the sound Of my opera
tons.
'In half an hour l had hole in th'
front OF the safe. ana little manipu
lation got the tumbers into place, an'
the door swung open.
"'Here YOU are, sir said |, and th
portly man came around 70 the safe.
avery neatly done he said Nou'
make a good burglar
"'But the sound OF the ratchet woul
bring tho cops said |.
True remarked the man. and
drawing out roll OF bills, he hcnde
me 500.
ais that rightT he asked.
"'Quitc ripht,' replied. Shall com
In the morning TO fix the safer
"'No.' said he. 1 will have the max
ers OF the safe attend 10 it.
"As gathered up my tools the port
H man directed one OF the clerks I
get out the books that were needed
and he went back TO the desk.
81 trundled back 20 my shop, NEE
ing the policeman at the corner. an
while / was standing chatting wit
him the trio came out OF the office.
"'You can come down an hour late
than usual In the morning said n
portly man as he climbed into hal
som that had rolled up to the otiic
ana, SHOUTING tue hhAhN va "
known club TO the driver, he pulle
the doors TO and was driven away.
before noon the next day the ~
nceman whom | had talked with al
n detective came into my shop.
THAT was a neat Job you did la
night. said the policeman.
"'WhatT | asked, the nature OF q
work | had done not yet dawning {
me.
"'The looting OF IS safe said q
policeman. Come along
The portly person who employ
me to open the safe was well know
burglar who had made up 10 impc
senate the bead OF the Grm, and II
two clerks We're confederates, one
whom had got place with the fir
10 get the lay OF the land.
"They had taken possession OF &
e. : Nnn a