The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-10-10

much worse than good many others
However, that's nothing to do witt
my story. Some years ago me anC
the gentleman who was at that time
connected with me in business-he's
met with reverses since then, and al
present isn't able to go Out-were look
ing around for a job, being AT that time
rather hard up, as you might say. We
struck a small country town. amt
a-goin' to give il away by telling where
II is, or what the name OF il was. There
was one bank there; the President was
a rich old duffcr; owned the mills,
owned the bank, owned most of the
town There wasn't no other officer
but the cashier, and they had a boy,
who used to sweep out and run of er-
rands
The bank was on the main street,
pretty well up one end of It-nice, snug
place on the corner OF a cross street,
with nothing very near il. We took
our observations and found there
wasn't no trouble at all about il. There
was an old watchman who walked up
and down the street nights, when he
didn't fall asleep and forget it. The
vault had two doors; the outside one
was chilled iron, and a three wheel
combination lock; the inner door wasn't
no door at all; you could kick II open.
Ii didn't pretend to be nothing but
fireproof, and IL wasn't even that The
first thing we done, of course, was to
fit key to the outside door. As the
lock on the outside door was an old
fashioned Bacon lock, any gentleman
In my profession who chances 10 read
this article will know just how easy
that job was, and how we done IL.
may say here that the gentlemen in
my line of business having at times a
good deal of leisure on their hands,
10 considerable reading, and are partic-
ularly fond OF a neat bit of writing. In
fact, in the way of literature, have
found among 'em-however, this being
DEPRESSION, drop il, and go on with the
main job again.
This was our plan: After the key
was fitted / was to go into the bank,
and Jim-that wasn't his name of
course, but let II pass-was to keep
watch on the outside. When any one
passed he was to tip me a whistle, and
then | doused the glim and lay low
nfter they got by goes on again. Sim
pie and easy, you see Well, the night
as we selected the President happened
to be out Of town; gone down TO the
city, as he often did. | got inside all
right, with slide lantern, breast
drill, a small steel Jimmy, a bunch of
skeleton keys, and green baize bag,
to stow the swag. | fixed my light
and rugged my breast drill. and got
TO work on the door right over the
lock.
Probably n great many of our read
ers are not so well posted as me about
bank locks, and | may say for them
that three wheel combination lock
has three wheels in il. and slot in
each wheel, In order TO unlock the
door you have to get the three slots
opposite TO each other at the top of the
lock. OF course, If you know the mum
ber the lock is set on you can do this;
but If you don't you have to depend
on your ingenuity. There is in each
of these wheels small hole. through
which You can put wire through the
back of the lock when you change the
combination. Now, If you can bore a
thpn1Iuh hn nj
those wheels by running wire
through those holes, why. you can open
the door. | hope l make myself clear.
i was boring that hole. The door
was chilled iron; about the neatest stun
i ever worked on. | went on steady
enough; only stopped when Jim
which, as | said, wasn't his real name
-whistled outside, and the watchman
toddled 10y. By-and-by, when I'd got
pretty near through, heard Jim-so
TO speak-whistle again. | stopped,
and pretty soon heard footsteps out
side, and I'm blowed, If they didn't
come right up the bank steps and |
heard n key in the lock was so DUN.
foundered when l heard that that YOU
could have slipped the bracelets right
on me. | picked up my lantern. and
I'll be hanged IL didn't let the slide
slip down and throw the light right
onto the door, and there was the Prcsi
dent. Instead OF calling for help as
supposed he would, he took a step in.
side the door and shaded his eyes with
his hand and looked at me. | knowed
ought 10 knock him down and cut out
but I'm blest IL could, | was that
surprised
"Who are your says he.
who are you?" says |. thinking that
was an innocent remark as he com
menced il, and a-trying all the time tC
collect myself
I'm president OF the bank says he
kinder short; something the matter
with the lock?"
BY George! the idea came TO me then
"Yes. sir" says I touching my cap
"Mr. Jennings. he telegraphed thi
morning as the lock was out of orde
and he couldn't get in. and I'm com,
on to open il for him"
II told Jennings n week ago" say
ne, that he ought to get that loci
fixed Where is heT'
Hes been a-writing letters. and he
gone up TO his house to get anothe
letter he wanted for 10 answer"
well. why don't you go right ony
says he.
I've got almost through" says ]
"and I didn't want TO finish mn an,