Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1903-07-23

Ob tl bt caro- ut, J0th. Nfit pttIutu.
he would wait listening. If at 80 he
had heard no sound in the house, he
was TO begin operations on the window.
He allowed himself ten minutes to
make an entrance and twenty minutes
in the house. lie would leave by the
back door and hurry up the alley two
blocks. where the hack was to be in
readiness once i'll the hack, DrOver
might drive back to the barn. aR usnnl.
As on tnat other night when the
three waited in the shrubbery, there
Was not a sound to bc heard inside the
great house. on the minute Jackie
climbed TO the ledge of the window,
and swiftly, silently, like the master
be already was. this youngstcr Of
twenty concentrated his energy upon
the window lock. 1t proved to be an
old fashioned affair, ~ Cind,' as
Jackie expressed IL aftcrward. Before
half the allotted time had passed the
burglar was within the rear drawing
room of the mansion, and he had en-
tered through the same window that
had been shattered a wear before by
the bullets which ended the career of
old Pete Dresser.
After reaching the interior Jackie
stood mOtioursS for several minutes
20 assure himself that no one had been
disturbed by his entrance. The house
was MS silent rs a deserted castle.
First of all the houscbrcukcr sought
his way through the dark to the kitch-
en- door and, having located IT care
fully without even the aid Of n match,
he did strange thing. 1t was boltcd
as well US locked. Jackie sprung the
bolt and lock, operations which cost
a moment apiece but neither q click
nor rattle, for his fngrcs were deft
and strong and steady. Then he re-
placed the key Of tho kitchen door
from the inside to the outside.
Rear stairways. being usually with
out carpets, are crcaEy and unsafe.
Except In case of an emergency, few
burglars trust themselves upon them.
Jackie rctraced his steps to the front
of the house. passing through the din
Ing room. where there were cabinets
containing rich and heavy silverware.
These things did not tempt him now.
Thcy might do IN q pinch. He reached
the thickly padded and carpcted front
stairway. having peculiar satisfaction
I'm the thought that so much bad been
accomplished without sound. The
prcIimiuurics were passed; the crucial
moment had come 80 one hut a bur
Elar knows the hcr"" strain Of such an
Instant. when n single misstep will
turn the whole hating world upon the
invader. when ones mind Is a vcrltable
hothcd Of terrible ima.iulnEs, when an
almost overwhelming temptation comes
90 scream and end the suspense.
Jackie was alone. II wus his hrSt
single handed "opcralpu." The crisis
now at hand would bring him achieve
ment or defeat, and what hIdeous
meaning Tint last word cmbodies TO Il
burglar years Of life NJ best, life itself
perhaps | often wonder If therc were
any other thoughts than those Of
| achievement IN that cool young head at
! the foot of the stairway.
Up. up, through the dark. and still his
/ savioys. silence and darkness, stood by
/ him He reached the upper hallway
| and revealed that rare caution which
/ is a part Of courage i'm thoroughly To-
! eating the rear stairway before going
/ farther. Jackie wore rubber soled
| shoes. which were light. ncTtblo and
noiselcss. lie paus ut the doorway Of
4 a Side room his cars straluiug Ike a
/ coyotes, and his eyes, long accustomed
| now 10 tine dark grouped the objects in
/ the apartment. II was uuoccuQi"d, at
! lcust for the night. The boy would not
/ have dared 10 light a match in the room
/ Of a sleeper for matches arc danger
/ Gus, both on account Of the odOr and
! the possible sound. He took the chance
! I'm this moccupiod room, however.
There were several small articles ~
value on the dresser and in one Of tho
upper drawers the young burglars
hand closed upon two tiny plush cases
Of cXccDd..g promise" These latter be
! pockctyd without opening.
The room across the hall contained a
sleeping man unmistakably. There was
that faint. swectish Odor of liuuor