Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-01-22

EVERY certain Wire rings bell some
where. An honest man can't tell when
he has started the thing ringing. He'll
have his rafe open and be taking out
the stuff. First thing he knows he is
looking up at gun in the hands Of a
certain person, who laughs like an
ass and says: You gave the alarm
YOURSELF"
From the above quoted remarks it
must not be hastily gathered that Sim
mons's discourse was monotonous in
its adjectives. On the contrary he was
man Of striking and even burning
speech, and was as innocent Of re-
dundancy as the most learned profes
sor who ever babbled about rhetoric
to classeas Of bored young gentlemen
whose tastes ran more to football and
the proper coloration of meerchaum
pipes.
Nichols cleared his throat and sound
ed his lowest register.
'Mr. Simmons?" he inquired.
Suppose it is," answered Simmons,
with a caution born Of long years of
warfare with gentlemen interested in
improving the condition of the poor.
Nichols leaned over Simmons's shoul-
der in his most impressive manner.
Jenkins the Gent" he whispered, and
sprang back to observe the effect.
''Thats what they used to call me-
| acknowledged Simmons evenly.
':The celebrated safe breaker?" asked
| Nichols.
''Oh, I've had my picture in the pa
pers more than once,'' replied Simmons
with a delightful absence Of pride.
"Can have talk with you alone? %
asked Nichols.
Simmons led the way into his private
room.
'Why did you quit the business?'
queried Nichols, when they had moist
ened the organs after the most ap
proved manner prescribed by Mr.. Silas
Wegg.
''Too many certain wires," replied
Simmons bitterly. ''Got jugged three
times in succession. Thought it time
to quit. Bought this place here an(
settled down.
"Say, now," began Nichols. III,
looked around the room hesitatingl,
and twiddled his watch chain with
nervous hand. "Say, now,'' he reiter
ated, carefully avoiding Simmons's eye
| eff you saw good chonce-no. wire
OF anything like that-would you tax
it?''
5 "Go on,' said Simmons; ssI'm inter
! ested'
Say, now" Nichols began again
: He gulped with difficulty, his Adam
5 apple feeling as big as an orange. GO
know a place." He took anothe
4 moistener and leaning back in his chat
D gazed at Simmons with overbrigh
l eyes. He stimulated again and playe
neryously with the empty glass.
Banks at Mannington, just th
: other side Of Jersey City," he wen
on. He addressed his remarks softl
l to the empty glass in his hand. Ell
+ cashier and I'm in a hole" He smile
! gently and licked his burning lip
Tomorrow night there'l be $1,000
! in the vaults. I'll have the watchma
d fixed and things arranged so that
S good man can easily get at the none,
1 There should be 100000 by right
n but I'm short for the difference. Yo
y get in, take the 100000 and the ban
will think the whole 100000 wa
= stolen.'''
~ He plunged into other details gay
l. map Of the bank, the address whe,
f. he lived, and wound up with almo
e fearful entreaty.
a "Wil1 you do it?'' he whispered. eel
y AS favor to me? Will you do
Eh?"
G. '1'll be there" answered Simmon
IS rising. ''There'll be certain prelimi
s. airy expenses. You'd better lea
N $1,000"
er 1t will be seen that no matter VIII
O. part Of his studies Nichols pursu
a. it cost the bank good money. But e
rs perience was in store for the ban
and experience is always costly. Al
H. the experience Of bank indirect
TX paying money to be robbed is a nc
city, and novelties come high.
Ill After Nichols had left Simmo
to philosophically crossed his legs a
a sat downS to figure the thing out. ]
leaned back thoughtfully, one ha
he caressing his favorite beer mug. t
er other thrown over the back of
ut chair. His eyes had an introspecti
cast. He smiled reflectively. Oc
ng sionally an after hour reveller wo,