The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1910-03-03
is two clerks were confederates,

! II pretended to work all the faster
after this Incident, but In realit ac-
complished very little, didn't dare
lessen the pressure Of my bit on the
steel for the diminution of noise
would have betrayed me, but bored
Ito make the hole larger instead Of
deeper u couldn't see my mans face.
but he was evidently at least part''
treasured. AT any rate, he said moth
ing.
i And while / worked thought. Here
was Il unwittingly participating In .
burglary. All other considerations
were lost in my horror OF having to
share the punishment that these men
were likely to get in the end. My
whole mind was at once bent on out
WHITING them. The moment they sus-
pected that I had got on to their
scheme l would be forced to continue
my work at the muxzle of revolver.
What should / do? Anything should
do to attract attention without would
fall upon me as well as on the bur
glars.
II saw but one possible way Of de-
Ifeating their purpose. That was to nm
ish the drilling.s get at the tumblers
and put them so out of gear that To
get them in order again would require
taking out the whole apparatus. On
this course I resolved.
Having come to decision. was
anxious to get through as soon as
possible, fearing as mLrh as they that
we might be caught in the act. /
therefore worked with all my vigor,
the typewriter pounding the while.
Ny Employer. seeing that ] was doing
my best. seemed to regain any con-
fdence he might have lost by his mis-
hap.
your all right young man. You're
sure TO win. Ten minutes yet to
make your $4,000. III do better. I'll
make it 10000"
He didn't need to make it $1,000 TO
induce me to hurry. II any one should
interrupt the proceedings didn't see
how l would escape the penitentiary.
SO workd as hard as could, but in
order to inspire confidence purpose
ly lost the $4,000 b ytwo minutes.
That's all right said the chief in
response to my look of disappofnt-
ment. Two minutes don't make any
difference to man who will make
as much out of your work as / viii.
I'll give you the whole amount. Now
open the door,
@The most important work yet re-
mains" I replied. "These tumblers
are complicated affairs. If get them
out OF gear I'll lose this fortune and
my girl too
well. be careful" he said anx-
iously.
Meanwhile my brain had been as
busy as my hands. I saw that more
depended on my deceiving them than
, IN throwing the lock out Of gear. II
could persuade them to give up their
, job without my throwing the lock out
OF gear It might help me in the story
III would tell after all was over.
worked on for awhile. then let piece
OF steel in the lock drop in its place
wifL a click. With an exclamation
land an assumed look Of horror I turn
ed toward the men.
what is itg" cried the chief.
1 i've done IT,"
~what."
II couldn't open II now II you'd give
me a million. I've lost. I've lost"
Il believe you're fooling." said the
man.
He called the two clerks" together
for a consultation. knew very well
that they were discussing the feasibili-
Ity Of forcing ne at the point Of pis.
toll to 20 on. I also saw from their
Expressions that two of them believed
my story and the third was doubtful.
Finally the two convinced the third.
and the chief. approaching me, said:
you've done the best you could.
and I'm sorry you've lost your prize.
II you'll come around in the morning
I'm make you Q handsome present. !
can't do Il now because all the money
ia in the safe. You can 80 now. Good
by"
I thanked him. picked up my bag
and was about to leave when the man
who had doubted by sincerity ap-
preached the chief excitedly and said:
~You don't mesn 20 say you're 60
ing to let him 90 out FIRST and send
cops In here after u.s."
From this point they threw on all
idea OF deceiving me. The leader said
TO me: You stay here for ten min
utes. Ten minutss--do you heart
One Of US win be waiting outside. and
| n you come before ten minutes you're
q dead man. Seer
feigned TO be very much astonish-
"a and frightened and told them I
would stay as long ~ they wished.
Then they turned out the lights and
went away. ! knew tier ten minutes
for me to stay didn't mean anything.
and after was satisfied they were on
III went out myself snd In . drug store
IIookep up the residence Of the presi-
dent Of the company. Then went to
1 his house and told him ire whole sto-
ry. handing him my written promise
a