The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-05-14
SLEEPING IN THE STORE

Arthur Shepherd might be said to
live in Ramsay & Co.'S jewellery
store, for he stood behind the counter
all day and slept under it at night.
Not a very lively or cheerful exist
ence, to tell the truth; but he was
junior clerk and the comfort and con-
veniences of junior clerks are not
much studied by employers in gem
eral-certainly not by Ramsay q Co.
1t was very lonely in the great store
after customers and statesmen had de-
parted, when the heavy iron shutters
were UP and a single gaS-jet cast
faint light upon the two long coun-
tiers, covered with ghostly white cloth.
when no sound sould be heard except
an occasional footstep upon the al
most deserted sidewalk, or the distant
rattle of wheels from the more fire.
quented streets.
Still, the silence and rest were ex-
ceedingly grateful to a boy who had
been upon his feet ever since early
morning, and the most pleasant hour
of Arthur's whole day was that which
he passed in reading, upon his little
cot, before going to sleep.
Being expected to guard the store,
he was furnished with rattle to give
alarm if thieves tried to force an en-
trance, as we'll as a revolver; but, as
one sixteen-year-old boy could hard
ly be considered match for perhaps
half a dozen desperate robbers. it is
not likely that his employers really
thought that any attempt at burglary
would ever be made.
And yet there was enough in the big
safe to make it worth while for a
"cracksman" to run good deal of
risk to secure it. Ramsay & Co. dealt
only in the best goods. and that safe
held thousands of dollars worth of
jewels and costly plate, a tenth part
of which would have made the poss-
essor rich for life. But all this wealth
was shut in by double steel doors and
complicated locks of the latest pat
terns-a very formidable barrier, in
deed.
Then, besides Arthur, there was the
interior through peepholes in the
hour in walking his beat, so that the
store appeared sufficiently protected
to set at defiance all the burglars in
the country,
But the unlikeEest things sometimes
happen in this world. One night as
Arthur awoke from an extremely un-
pleasant dream, in which he had not
only been sentenced to be hanged, but
was actually dangling from the gal
lows, to find the reality no great inn
provement upon the dream. Some
thing seemed to be crushing his chest
and at the same time COMPRISING his
throat almost to Suffocation.
. fbFauy hic ard
gled wildly
Lie still. youngster," was whisper
ed close by his ear-"lie still, and
you won't get hurt; but if you move
a muscle"
And cold iron ring pressed his
temple.
Fairly awake, Arthur opened his
eyes, and saw a masked man, who
with one knee on his breast and one
hand grasping his throat, was holding
a cooked revolver to his head.
Three more men, also masked, were
standing by.
He understood it all in moment
burglars
He saw that it was helpless to at.
tempt any resistance, and remained
perfectly quiet, while the man tied
him hand and foot. and crowded a
dirty gag into his mouth. with a calm
disregard of his personal comfort
which did not promise the tenderesi
treatment in case he became trouble.
some. They next passed a rope oveI
his neck, which they made fast tc
one of the uprights of the counter
and left him, apparently feeling en-,
tirely secure against any attempt or
his part to escape, as we'll they might
Through a crack in the counter
Arthur saw one man take up a posi-
ton near the door, to give warning Of
any danger from without The Other
three began making preparations fol-
an attack upon the safe, with as mucf
GOODNESS and unconcern as if they haC
been honest mechanics commencing
an honest days work. From large
valiSeS they took out hammers, drills
files and several queer-looking instru
mentS, the use of which Arthur couiC
only guess at.
But he spent very little time in tina
manner. What he wanted to find GU
was a way of escape. He knew tina
if the burglary was accomplished ht
would be severely blamed for having
been caught mapping. True. he coulC
not have prevented it without having
made a practice of never going tc
sleep at all, which would have beer
asking rather too much of anybody
but Mr.. Ramsay was not in the habit
of making allowances at any time
and would be still less likely to do sc
after such a loss as the robbery would
infiict UPON him. Besides, Arthur
light even be suspected Of having
nrn an accompl:ce of the thieves
~. above all. there was the Ameri,
-" boys determination never to be
"7ten nor to submit to bad fortune
"verything possible had been
ne to overcome it.
~ thought Arthur. I'll get out