Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-07-29

OF imitation to the last button. No time
was to be lost. From the coat pockets or
the sergeant" came some Of the finest
tempered steel drills and other imple-
ments for forcing and boring iron safes, as
ever graced the person Of the most ex-
pcr!enced crib-cracker. Deity manu-
featured instruments for picking the best
and most complicated locks were brought
forth; in short, everything needed for a
thorough, daring, and successful burglary.
We've got a long nights work, Charley,
I'm afraid said one. Its now nine
O'Clock, and. II we get through this safe
under six hours, we're lucky. We must
set to work with a will"
Accordingly. the sergeant was speed
ily turning his attention to the back
premises with a view to a hurried escape
should they be disturbed, while the two
others directed theirs to the huge safe
spoken Of by the banker Drills were
quickly applied behind the hinges Of the
door, and boring commenced In real earn
est, for these gentlemen" burglars knew
pretty well everything worth knowing as
to the construction Of most safes In use.
Progress was very slow at first. but the
men never ceased. Drill, drill, drill, on
went the work almost in silence. Now n
then, just a short spell for a "breather."
Midnight arrived, and a little better prog
ress, for they labored harder thar ever.
One, two, three o'clock, and now the huge
iron door began to yield and creak a little.
Tough work.. jim. But itn pay us in
the END, old fellow. Keep It up. We must
finish X by s o'clock, for perhaps some
blessed oftice-cleane may be here, or peo-
pie be moving outside"
-Four o'clock, and a good aperture was
made. Five o'clock, and the were per-
spring now like blacksmiths at a forge
In July, and worked like demons with their
drills 81 nd lnUnrS pracnnt1u uIth n ,,,gta1
and terrific effort the outer door was
loosened from it's sockets.
"Good!' muttered one, as the gradual
ly, yet ~laboriously, lowered the mighty
piece of metal to the ground. 1.-The inner
compartment Is very short work, chum-
mic"
And so 1t proved, for with the utmost
dexter!ty one pried the lock, as the other,
with a thin chisel. as hard as adamant
started forcing the door.
One more wrench, Jim, and then for
the spoil" Acd he rubbed his hands with
glee.
Clang! And open flew the door. But
what?
Fooled! Frustrated! Bafhed! The safe
was empty!
The ~scoundrels, who had instantly Owed
their hands into the interior, shrank back
aghast, sweating and pouring curses upon
the old bankers head.
Bah the old wretch! He his tricked
US, jim! And who'd have dreamed it?"
There's no time to lose, blurted his
confederate, and smashing anything he
could lay hands OF in sheer wantoness.
It's striking six o'clock, and w~ork-people
are about"
Tools were hurrtedly collected and pock-
eted again, and the sergeant" wttL. i as
appointed growl, suggested that they
should go out by the door they came in by,
as nobody was stirring much, and the
back way meant scaling fences. This they
did; but, Immediately on emerging into
the street, they were met by Mr.. Marsden
in company with three officers. The old
banker had experienced a sleepless night.
and risen early, calling at the police sta
ton innoCently enough on his way to as
certain the news, If any, and he was there
astonished to learn that they believed It
to be a bogus affair, as they knew nothing
Of 1t.
There was a desperate effort on the part
of the burglars to escape, but one or two
passing Workmen, at the cry of "Help!"
rendered assistance, and the burglars
were soon secured.
Mr.. Philip Marsden. on stepping into the
bank. although greatly unnerved and ag-
itated at the state OF affairs, could scarce
ly suppress his aughter on finding that
his "decoy," as he called it, had given so
much trouble, and thoroughly fooled them.
although he was quite ignorant Of the
plot he had unintentionally laid for them.
The "decoy," an old, but substantial.
safe which was always ~purposely kept
empty, was one of Mr.. Marsden's ingen-
ious ideas for throwing burglars off the
scent, being fixed in a prominent position
to attract notice, while other safes, con-
tanning the valuable property, were far
away from the rooms in ordinary use.
The pseudo-detective officers are In safe
custody now. They have their regular
drills" and. instead Of picking locks, are
cracking stones.