Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-09-06

AOh Ills NOihStNt. re WIS pretty Sdfe
In assuming that nobody would disturb
him in that lonely retreat
l obtained leave to 20 to the city on
Friday afternoon. and told John not
TO worry If did not appear until the
following morning. / had friends In
the city who might detain me over
night.
About o'clock I left the barn and
started presumably to walk to the city.
John offered to drive me half way
down II l would wait until after sup
per. but the afternoon was so fine
preferred the walk.
Two miles down the road I found
; that | was perfectly concealed from
view of every house, and quietly slip
ped over the fence into the woods. This
piece OF woods l knew backed up to
DIR. Squires house. L concealed the
bundle. which ! pretended that want
ed to take to the city with me, taking
enough tools from it first to answer oil
my present purposes.
AS 1 approached the edge OF the
woods I moved with great caution. |
did not know how many servants the
doctor had, although John had assured
me that he had only one. a copper col
ored Indian who was more foreign
looking than his master. This servant
never associated with anybody else
and was either deaf and dumb or I'M
able TO speak English.
He was sort of faithful watchdog,
1 judged. whom the doctor had be-
friended and who would In conse-
quence give up his life for him if nee
| essary. had met such jealous man.
servants before. and my experience
had always been that they are exceed
ingly troublesome. 1 therefore used
extra precaution.
While yet some distance from the
house I climbed up into the leafy
branches Of one of the large trees and,
pulling the foliage to one side, scanned
the house intently through a pair of
strong fieldglasses. BY their aid I
could note everything that was going
on outside the house and ceuld almost
sec objects inside the windows
The only advantage 1 obtained from
this was clearer idea OF the most
vulnerable points of the house and also
the way to escape from the premises in
the event of an alarm. saw the serv-
ant go about his duties, and later Sc
cured my first glimpse of the doctor.
He was dark bearded, thickset, well
proportiohed man, and one who would
prove bold and powerful antagonist.
| More than this could not say until 1
found myself at closer quarters with
him.
| I remained IN my treetop position
until well after dark, watching every
thing that occurred around the house.
Then j descended to the ground, ate a
few pieces of cold meat and bread.
! drank little wine and threw myself
on the dry leaves to sleep. There was
| no danger Of being discovered In the
woods, and l needed the rest and sleep
to prepare me for the nights work.
1t was shortly after midnight when 1
| opened my eyes again. Habit had made
1t second nature with me TO awaken
| at this hour, and had no fear Of over
| sleeping myself when / first closed my
eyes. l crawled through the under
brush toward the fence which divided
the doctors land from the grove, and
then waited and listened. The house
was perfectly dark, and everything
was calm and peaceful.
T / had thought of dogs, but had failed
to see any around in the afternoon
through my glasses. However. to make
sure of it l initiated the cry and snarl
OF cat-a noise that always brings
kwatchdogs away from their post OF
duty. II the dogs were inside the
house, would find that out later. But
RI really saw no reason why dogs
should be kept on the place.
b Satisfied that the coast was clear, /
made my way toward the house, keep
ing well IN the shadow of the trees
Then 1 made a close examination OF
the windows and doors. They were
locked with old fashioned catches and
Ere-enforced with nails. selected the
doctors study as the place least likely
to be occupied
4 With diamond cutter l took piece
For the glass pane out, making an open
Ing large enough to insert the hand. 1
worked so carefully that the diamond
point scarcely made any Of the grating
noise so common when one operates
with cheap cutters. This one had been
made specially for me, and it was per-
feet In every detail.
AS took the piece of glass out and
deposited 1t on the floor Of the piazza
listened intently for few moments
to see If my operations had disturbed
Eanybody. Then 1 applied my ear to the
I hole in the pane to catch the breathing
i of any watchdog.
4 Nothing could be heard Of an alarm
Ing character, and so 1 proceeded to
Sunfasten the window and to open it.
Now, if l had been in the city or the
hhouse had been a modern one, should
never have thought OF opening that
window without searching for a bur
glar alarm, but out in the country,
miles away from any assistance and
In such an antique house, did not see
the value OF a burglar alarm and CON
lsequently never once gave it consider
alton.
/ l discovered my mistake in an in