The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-03-19


treasures.
upstairs room? raised one end of
the covering and started back in as
tonishment. could almost have shout
ed in my surprise. Throwing back the
cloth in eager haste I soon disclosed
to view collection of treasures that
made my hand tremble. No robbers
cave ever revealed 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 nom 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 q house and carry away
IN bundle.
Gazing at this strange accumulation
of miscellaneous goods, l felt that l
was standing in a dangerous place, for
the collector Of them would not hesi-
tate an instant to kill me if he once dis
covered my presence. Here We're the i'll
gotten gains of both my master and the
doctor, and either one would be pro-
yoked and frightened enough to take
my life IL he once saw me in the
storeroom. Nevertheless was so fas-
cinated by the glittering heaps of gold
and silver and precious Jewels that l
could not refrain from examining and
handling each one individually. 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
me could not be controlled. In all my
experiences 1 had never beheld such a
sight. 1t seemed like glimpse of a
burglars paradise.
l believe for short time I was be-
wildered and half crazy. know that
seated myself on the floor and took I'D
one article after another, holding it ap
to my lantern to be sure of it's genuine
ness and then pressing it closely
against my face.
Then l filled my pockets with them
and tried to estimate the wealth that
l could carry away, although had no
intention Of removing a single article
from the house. My plan was to re-
trace my steps so that the doctor would
not know that his storehouse had been
visited by stranger. / had another
way to corner him or at least to bring
him into my power by holding his Sc
cret over his head.
When was finally satisfied in gioat-
ing over the stolen goods, | began to
think of returning. | put the articles
back in their places just as had found
them and drew the cover over them so
as not to excite any suspicion. Then /
left the room after one longing look
behind, locked the door and retreated
up the ladder to the cupola. could not
fasten the staple in as securely as be-
fore, but by means Of a long piece of
wire | succeeded in attaching it loosely
into the door SO that nobody would no
tice it unless he happened to visit the
cupola. This l judged rarely occurred,
and I thought was safe in leaving
matters as they We're. l climbed down
the piazza post and once more found
myself on the green lawn without hay-
ting aroused any of the inmates of the
Ihouse.
My nights adventure had been sue
,Sessful, and l retired to my bed feeling
I that l possessed secret which made
ME the equal of either my masb9 or
4lte doctor ia power. At any time l
G Sght uHe aatka s,aoHtslsr TO rGta&heoa