Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1902-10-30

/ soon disclosed to Uie1D q collection OF
treasures.
upstairs room? | 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
to view a collection of treasures that
made my hand tremble. No robbers
cave ever revealed a richer store of
wealth than that which lay spread out
before me.
There was the silver and gold plate
of dozen different families. The jew
els and diamonds that had come down
as heirlooms from several generations,
small statuettes. gold framed pictures
and photographs, solid silver knives,
forks, spoons and plates. watches,
rings and bric-a-brac of more or less
value were piled in heaps and clusters
on the floor and tables. In short, there
was everything that a robber could
| collect from a house and carry away
| in bundle.
| Gazing at this strange accumulation
| Of miscellaneous goods, I 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 i'll
gotten gains of both my master and the
doctor, and either one would be pro
voked and frightened enough to take
my life If he once saw me in the
storeroom. Nevertheless l 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. l must
have run 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 1 Lad never beheld such 6
sight. 1t seemed like q glimpse of 6
burglars paradise.
l believe for short time I was be
wildered and half crazy. l know that
l seated myself on the floor and took VI
one article after another, holding it VI
to my lantern to be sure of its genuine
ness and then pressing it closely
against my face.
Then l filed my pockets with then
,, and tried to estimate the wealth tina
' I could carry away. although l had NJ
e intention of removing a single article
from the house My plan was to re
: trace my steps so that the doctor woult
: not know that his storehouse had beef
visited by q stranger. / had anothe
: way to corner him or at least to brin,
him into my power by holding his Sc
cret over his head.
When 1 was finally satisfied in gloat
ing over the stolen goods, l began t.
| think Of returning. | put the article
back in their places just as l had foun'
them and drew the cover oyer them s.
as not to excite any suspicion. Then
left the room after one longing lool
behind, locked the door and retreatet
up the ladder to the cupola. l could no
fasten the staple in as securely as be
j fore, but by means of long piece o
!. wire l succeeded in attaching it loosel
, into the door so that nobody would nc
!. tice it unless he happened to visit tn
cupola. This judged rarely occurred
and l thought l was safe in leavin
: matters as they were. l climbed dow
the piazza post and once more foun
i myself on the green lawn without hay
ing aroused any of the inmates of tn
house.
My nights adventure had been sue
cessful, and retired to my bed feelin
that possessed a secret which mad
me the equal of either my master @
: the doctor in power. At any time
might use this knowledge to ruin ther
or to force them to do my biddin:
: Altogether 1 thought 1 was a prett
, lucky dog.