Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 September 1885 — GETTING IN AT NIGHT. [ARTICLE]

GETTING IN AT NIGHT.

BY JIM JONES.

The door was locked when I got home, and how to get in without waking up “the governor” was the difficulty. 1 knew he’d give me “particular tits” if he knew 1 was out after ten, and the clock had , ust struck one. The back ' yard was an impossibility, and but one chance remained. 'J here was a porch over the i'rorft door, the roof of which was but a few<reet below two windows, j One of them I knew was fastened down, ■ and the other opened from a bedroom, which might or might not ba occupied. An old maiden sister of Tom’s wife had arrived on the second day, and it was very probable that she was in that r'oin; but I knew the bid was in the farthest corner from (lie window, and hoped I should be able to get in without waking her, and then I had comparatively ,an easy thing of it. So, getting a plank from a neighboring board-pile, I rested it against the eavoj -of the shed, pulled off my shoc« put them in my pocket, and the® “cooned up.” All right so far, but I thought it necessary, in order not to arouse any suspicions in the morning, to remove the plank; so, dragging it up, I threw oil’ the end, and down it went with an awful clatter on a stray dog who had followed me for two or three squares, who immediately set up the most awful howl a whipped hound ever gave tongue to. That started half a dozen other dogs in the neighborhood barking. A mocking-bird in the window above commenced singing as if he intended to split his throat at it, and an old woman, in her night clothes, with a candle in her hand, appeared at her window across the street. I knew I was safe as far as she was concerned, but if any one came to our windows the candle gave enough ligbt to very prob ably discover me.’ Nobody did come, however, and the old lady, after peering up and down the street for a minute or more, popped her head in and retired. The mocking-bird kept up its eternal whistle, and it was fully half an hour before it and the dogs settled ■down and gave me a chance to move. Creeping slowly along the wall till I reached the window, I put my hands on the sill, spring in, and, with my ■ head and shoulders within, and my legshanging out, I stopped to listen. Yes, she was-in that room, for I could hear her breathing. After waiting for a minute I cautiously drew up one leg, then the other, slewed them arouijd, and putting them down to the floor, ras just conscious that I had stepped on something soft and yielding, and •was about withdrawing them when another yell broke out at my feet; the old maid jumped up crying “Murder,” and the dog and the mocking-bird started again. 1 saw through it all; I had “put my foot in it,” more ways than one. A little darky was lying on he? back under the window, and I had stepped on her face, and of course, woke her up. I decided- in a flash what to do. The house would be aroused, and I caught, to a certainty, unless I could get to my room before the governor was up. But, I had not a moment to lose, for the little nigger was yelling, and the woman screaming, so I started for the door, made three steps, and struck a chair, tumbled over, and, of course, made the awfulest racket you ever heard of in the “dead hour of night” in a peaceable house; the nigger and the old maid screamed louder than ever; the mock-ing-bird whistled line a steam engine, and the dogs fairly made a noise as loud as the Anvil Chorus.” I reached the door, however, swiftly and quietly opened it, and just got out in time to see the old gentleman open his door, with a candle in h s hand, and •come hurrying up the stairs. Not a moment was to be lost. There was a wardrobe near where I stood, and I sprang behind it. Lip came the governor, reached the door, went in, and in the meantime there were all sorts of confusion and inquiry down stairs as to what was the matter. Nobody else came up, though, and from where I stood I heard every word of inquiry in the rooms. Of course they could jiot make much of it. The little nigger wes too much frightened and too sound the time to understand the

truth, and the upshot of the business was that they concluded she had been dreaming, and the governor, after giving her a sound spanking, and explaining the matter to the aroused neighbors, from the window, went down to his room again. So far, so good. I now had to go I down stairs, reach the back door, unbar it, get into the back y ird, and make for my room, which was in the second story of a back building that stood unconnected with, and about a dozen yards from, the main one. After giving everybody anoiher half-hour to settle down again, I started. Boys, did you ever try to go up or down a pair of stairs at night without making a noise? You may try all sorts of ways, but every step is sure to creak, each with a peculiar noise of its own. and loud enough, you are certain, to awaken everybody. I had gotten nearly to the bottom, when a little fat dog came trotting along the entry toward me, barking furiously. A suppressed “Come here, sir; you, Zip!” silenced him. for he recognized me; but the noise started the mocking-bird, and the dogs in the neighborhood having learned to take the cue, of course all joined chorus for the third time. I ran along the passage, reached the door, and unlocked it, just as the governor, roused the second time, opened his door, and, seeing a man escaping from the house by the back way, of course cried “Thieves! Thieves!” and made a rush after me. I was too quick for him, though, opened the door, sprang out, and broke for the door which opened into the room below mine, and had just reached it when crash! within a foot of my head went a brick, and another voice, that I knew belonged to next-door-neighbor Tomp kins, joined the governor in the cry of “Thieves! Murder! Thieves!” I was safe enough, hushing up the stairs I shelled myself quicker than I ever did before or since, and was in bed and sound asleep in less than half' a minute. Wasn’t there a row, thourrh? I never heard so many dogs before; the mocking-bird, of course, outdoing all previous efforts; the chickens even be gan to crow. Tompkins, next door, was hallooing “Thieves!” and calling the governor. I could hear screams and all sorts of noises among the neighbors, until at length the old gentleman’s voice was heard in the yard, calling “John! John!” John was sound asleep—snoring, “John!” cried the old man in a voice that would have roused a man from an [epileptic fit. I judged it prudent to wake then, [and, jumping from my bed, raised my window, and, rubbing my eyes, and looking particularly frightened (which I was), asked: “Why, father, what in the world is the matter?” “There’s thieves in the house,” was the reply. “Get your gun and come down, and be quick. He’s in the room below you, John!” hallooed Tompkins. “I’m certain of it. I saw him as he ran down, and threw a fire-brick at him. I know he didn t pass that door, Mr. J ones. ” I was directed to “look out for myself.” The governor stood sentinel at the door below, armed with a club, while Tompkins had five minutes to collect aid from the neighbors, and in less than half that, so thoroughly was every house alarmed, there were a dozen or more men in the yard armed with guns, pistols, and sticks. The governor led the attack. Opening the door he called: “Come out here, you house-breaking scoundrel! If you attempt to run or resist, I’ll blow your brains out.” Nobody came, however. “Watch the door,” was the order, “while I go in;” and I was told to “look sharp,” and “shoot the rascal if he came up stairs.” A momentary search was sufficient to satisfy everbody that the thief was not in the room. “He’s up stairs, then,” cried Tompkins, “for I’ll take my Bible oath he didn’t pass that door.” So up stairs they (rooped, but I had lit a candle by that time, and there was no burglar there. The strictest search, even in looking under a boot-jack, didn’t show the slightest trace of him. The yard was next examined, then the house, and everybody being tolerably well satisfied that he had escaped, the neighbors dispersed to their several homes; but I was appointed sentinel for the rest of the night, and ordered not to sleep on my post under penalty of a flogging. The articles missing, on a thorough investigation next day, were two pies and the old lady’s silver thimble. The I thimble turned up in a week or two, i being discovered under the corner of the carpet, but the pies have never i been accounted for to this day. I On oath I could have given very I material testimony as to the disposition of the stolen property, but as the case did not come before the courts I remained quiet. Didn’t the local editors boom,though ? I One of themeiongated himself through I a half a column, and headed the item: [ “A Diabolical and Atrocious Attempt at Burglary and Murder,” describing, with graphic particulars, the fiendish a 1 tempt to throttle Miss—— and her servant, complimented the “coolness and resolut on of R, Tompk ns,. Esq.,” and perorated with a withering anathe- ; ma on the want of vigilance displayed I by the police. I It was tun for me to see with#what ; wide-awake sagacity the watch used to v sLoj>. at the. doo£ apd.listen.4urin,g their nightly rounds for months after; and you could not have a youngster to go under the porch, on any account, after-daikt The-exoitetnent died away, though, after awhile; but I’ll never forget the night I tried to get in with- | out making a noise. *