The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-05

when, with an oath, he turned from
the open drawer and growled:
"They hain't nothing down ERE;
We'll ave to go hup."
then:
It guess you're right" I said. But
you'd better let me go alone; I'm
! lighter on my feet.''
| In our upper hall there is a. mes
sengerc call! 1t was in the house when.
we moved in. Regarding it as a dis
| fgurement to the wall, we had meant
to have it removed; but how glad l
now was that we had procrastinated
can be imagined, 4
Breathlessly I awaited, the Villains
answer. He fixed his beady eyes on
me; then, with a cunning leer:;
''I'll go halong, too,' he said; yer
might need protection, yer see. -
| He was troubled by no misgivings
regarding my knavery,. but evidently
he did not believe in the adage that
| there is honor even among thieves;
Of what he considered his share of
| the plumber. It seemed clear. that
the only way to keep him downstairs
4 was to give up my cherished plate.
i Perhaps if I had had more time I
might have thought Of another plan;
me suspiciously, and the crisis was at
hand am q small man, more of a
student than an athlete; the burglar
was a big fellow, with fists like sledge
hammers-and a revolver. So, in
wardly cursing, but assuming a pat
J ronizing and reckless air,yI said: ~
well, I guess I'll have to let yor
: into this after all. You English chaps
are a thousand years behind the times
: You're not onto our Yankee notions
Z -see.'
Il I began moving along the wall, feel
:, Ting the. paneling, until 7 came to tht
/ corner near the door; here T stopped
{ and looked at him; he was watching
: me intently. I pressed one Of bead
: lin the molding, and instantly two O.
l the panels slid apart. disclosing :
:. tempting array of household silver.
2 well, be blowed!" calculated m.
, colleague aloud, forgetting caution
1 and without delay he deity bega1
l pulling out piece after piece. E.z
: "You har rum 'un, you har! Wa
Y goin' to keep hit all to yourself, too
Y fSay, 'owd yer git hon to it" he asked
0 with touch of Difference in his man
i ner.
= :"oh, TIL divvy the silver, but II
; keep my knowledge to myself" re
o piled loosely, for I wanted to kee
: in a good humor.
d So far so good; but what I was t
o do next I had not the slightest idea
IS Ideas came and went confused as
: watched him slowing away our sill
d yer in a sack coat. Again the MAJ
: unwittingly suggested my course.
|, "Say, you tap the top O. the cri
: while stow haway this swag.'
At last, tho he had the silver, it wa
a evident that had his confidence. Per
q ceivIng my. opportunity, was quic
4 to seize it.
\, t "All right; but how do I know the
you won't skip with the silver Will
| Ts,,o OF ~ ran1ia6
d do yer take me for a bloonai1
y hinnocent In harms?" he grinnet
"Dimons an watches his worth 'ay
~ in. - @
I felt convinced Of his sincerity; 81
g slipping off my shoes I pushed asid
ct the portiere and went into the hal
r. At the foot Of the stairs I paused
y If I aroused Alice she would suppos
n. rightly that it was and would certain
q lly speak; the fellowwould hear her an
Nv bolt with the silver. [ dared not ris
lit. Instead, I went thru the Hbra1
~ into little room where my telephor
is located. Closing both doors benin
"a me, and putting my hand on the be
IF to mufde the sound, I rang up Gel
re- trail
20 what is it," came the answer.
-, 20 "Give me the Sixth precinct, qutcl
70 ly," whispered.
waited an interminable time, as
~ % ~
! said: .z.,%s&.
e Cant get them; the wires out
order,
at MY heart sank within me; but
1T, stated the circumstances as briefly
he possible to the operator, requestil
k that he send word to the police.
ge knew that there was nothing left f
ut me to do but keep the fellow occupi
Euntil the officers arrived, but h,
tn small hope Of succeeding. stealth
as back to the dining-roonn, was bew
a dered to find that the burglar hi
Mt vanished; but there on the floor i
,rs the bag Of silver. Presently, howev'
ar- I heard him in the pantry, and m
with piece Of pie in his hand.
Of Where do they keep the liquor
w he grumbled; then, seeing my han
.g- empty, he inquired:
I What luck hup stairs 2"
for I shook my head. Nothing the
worth taking
it'll His brows knitted in way that {
Jus pressed plainly that he doubted \
nnv( tt"
ed .'Eist!" interrupted. ''wha
a. that?"
ley There was certainly a noise .o'
we side.
Ny surprise was genuine. for
,d did not seem possible that my su
J, q. mons could have been answered
,rs quickly. 81
he he The burglar sprang forward q
as turned out the light, at the same II
Ian maklns SFap Lor tAe sllvei.-
To there before him, however. and, I
ar III ndnQ, 1Hdue q Tush iof I'Ie -, =
e threw open the front door, only
$3.50 find nvself seixed instantly by