The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1917-07-20
When the Sleeper
Walked
By M. QUAD
Copyright, 1916, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.

store I'm the village of Hazleton. II
was a small village. and the trade
was mostly with the farmers around II.
Mr.. White was an energetic, pushing
sort of man. and there came a time
when he overdid 1t. His nerves gave
way, and there was fear among us
friends that he was going to break
down.
Mr.. Whites only clerk was an old
bachelor named Penfod, He had been
in the store since its opening and could
be trusted to the utmost limit. He had
room at the back of the store. and 1t
was his custom after the doors were
locked to sit and read for a couple of
hours.
Mr.. Whites nervous strain had not
bettered itself when, one night as the
clerk sat reading, he heard key rat
tie in the front door. and a moment
later a man walked in. Penfod's door
was open, and his light was so placed
that be could see the length of the
store very plainly. The man stood for
moment looking around him. His
| figure was that of Mr. White. but he
had a mask over his face and false
whiskers. He stood for a minute as
| il finding himself in strange place
and then walked toward Penfold's
room. turned to the right and passed
around the counter.
The man was behind the counter for
perhaps two minutes, and then he re-
appeared and, without look toward
Penfold, walked to the front door and
out of it. turning the key after him
The clerk had heard him moving the
Jar In which the money was kept and
at once Investigated, The money it
contained amounted to about 5000, for
there had been some heavy sales dur
ing the last three days. 1t was gone!
Not a bill remained!
AS soon as daylight broke Mr.. White
was notified. and he at once flew into
violent temper. lie charged his old
and trusted clerk with having taken
the money and would not hear the
story of a strange man.
Mr.. White was alone in the store
that day. and he made no explanations
to any one except to his brotherin-law.
named Carson. Mr. Carson at once
volunteered to take Penfold's place al
night until he had solved the mys-
terry. He did not believe Penfold
guilty, but there was a mystery to be
solved. When night came he was on
hand, and be had a shotgun for q
weapon. He did not pass his time
in reading. but in listening, and about
! midnight he heard some one approach
the front door. Then the key was
turned in the lock and the door open
ed. There stood the stranger. He had
the figure of Mr. White, but he also
had the mask and whiskers that Pen
fold had told about He acted just as
the man had done on the previous
night. He walked to the counter and
around it and robbed the jar of about
$40. He came within ten feet of Car
son, but did not seem to notice him.
Well" said the latter to himself
when the stranger had passed out and
departed, II think have solved this |
me re sure of it,"
Mr.. White wtE told of the second |
robbery, and he relented a little to
ward Penfold. The affair was as great
a mystery to him as to the two others.
1t was proposed to him that Penfold |
should pass the next night with Car
son, and he readily consented
On this day the sales amounted to /
$l2O. 1t was placed in the jar, Pen
fold was on hand when the store was
locked up that night. and he, too had !
brought gun If the stranger came
again he was to be captured at all
costs. The time wore away until |
about midnight, and. 10. the stranger :
appeared just as he had twice before.
His actions were the same He was
allowed to pass behind the counter and
get possession of the money before he
was interfered with. He was leaving
the store when the men grabbed him.
To their surprise. he made no resist
ance whatever. One of them seized
Ills whiskers and the other his mask
and pulled them off, and Mr.. White
stood there before them! He was very
much dazed, and 1t was half minute
before he could say:
why, men. what is this? What are
we all doing here? This is the store.
isn't it?"
You have been robbing yourself.
Sam White" replied the brother-in.
law. You were at the money lar
five minutes ago. and I bet the roll is
In your pocket"
He inserted his hand into a pocket
ana pulled out the money. At the
same moment his wife arrived and
gave her explanation
You see," she said. that have sus-
pected for week past that Sam walk
ed In his sleep. and remained awake
tonight to convince myself. | know
that he was sound asleep when he got
out of bed and dressed himself. fol.
sowed him downstairs and saw him
mead this way. Then 1t came to me
that he was the robber. and hurried
after him."
But what have | done with the
money took from the jar?"
The two men accompanied her home.