The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-02-01
When the Sleeper
Walked
By M. QUAD
Copyright. 1916. by tho Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.

MIR. Wnlte was Ill energetic, puSulut
sort of man, and there came time
when he overdid 1t. His nerves CAV,
way. and there was fear among bill
| friends that he was going to breal
down.
Mr.. Whites only clerk was an ole
bachelor named Penfold. He had beer
in the store since its opening and could
/ be trusted to the utmost limit. He had
a room at the back of the store, and II
was his custom after the doors were
| locked to sit and read for 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 man walked in. Penfold's door
was open. and his light was so placed
that he 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 q mask over his face and false
whiskers. He stood for a minute as
If finding himself In strange place
and then walked toward Penfold' 3
room, turned to the right and passed
around the counter.
The man was behind the counter for
perhaps two minutes, and then be re-
appeared and. without look toward
Penfold. walked to the front door and
out OF 1t, 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 few into
violent temper. He 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 brother-in-law,
named Carson. Mr.. Carson at once
volunteered to take Penfold's place at
night until he had solved the mys-
terry. He did not believe Penfold
guilty, but there was mystery to be
solved. When night came he was on
hand. and he had a shotgun for a
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 be also
had the mask and whiskers that PEN
fold had told about. He acted just as
the man hal done on the previous
night. He walked to the counter and
around it and robbed the jar of about
SIS. 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, Il think have solved this
mystery. but / want another night to
ma Ike sure of it,"
Mr.. White was told of the second
and he relented a little to-
ward Penfold. The affair was as great |
, mystery to him as TO the two others. |
It was proposed TO him that Penfold |
should pass the next night with Car
ION, and he readily consented.
On this day the sales amounted to |
,120 II was placed in the jar. Pen
old was on hand when the store was
ocked up that night. and he. too, had
brought a gun. II the stranger came
gain he was to be captured at all |
,osts. The time wore away until /
about midnight, and. 10. the stranger /
appeared just as he had twice before!
Ills actions were the same. He was
llowed to pass behind the counter and 4
ret possession of the money before he
vas interfered with. He was leaving
he store when the men grabbed him.
70 their surprise. he made no resist
nee whatever One of them seized
lis whiskers and the other his mask
nd pulled them of. and Mr. White
TODD there before them He was very
1uch dazed. and IL was half a minute
efore be could say:
"Why. men. what is this? What are
We all doing here? This Is the store,
mt it?'
"You have been robbing yourself.
am White" replied the brother-in-
NV. "You we're at the money jar
We minutes ago. and bet the roll is
/ your pocket"
He inserted his hand into a pocket
nd pulled out the money. At the
anne moment his wife arrived and
ave her explanation.
''You see." she said. that have sus-
ected for a week past that Sam walk
I in his sleep. and remained awake
might to convince myself. / know
lat he was sound asleep. when he got
II of bed and dressed himself. fol-
wed him downstairs and saw him
ead this way. Then it came to me
lat he was the robber. and 1 hurried
ter him"
But what have ! done with the
oney | took from the jary"
The two men accompanied her home,
Id a search was made. and in a bu-
au drawer where he kept his shirts
I'd cuffs was found every cent Of it.
Mr.. Penfold went back to his situa-
IN. The brotherin-law had a hearty
of laughter. and Mr.. White went