Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 April 1892 — HE UNDERSTOOD LOCKS. [ARTICLE]

HE UNDERSTOOD LOCKS.

Mr. XMlga .Opeuii a Sale «ud Xstracta -Five Hundred DtfUar*. “Do you see that tall, spare mam learning against »the rail over there?” said James Vance, steward of the Athenian Club, to.aSan Francisco Examiner man. “Weil, I’ll tell you a little yarn in which he played an amusing part. Some years ago Maquette & Haggeman, of the Crystal Palace saloon, got in a big safe, all .gorgeous with paiirt and glorious with impossible lamdscapes. Ernest Haque tte was very proud of it, and in his bustling, .eager way would show it to Old patrons of the place, expatiating upon its merits. “Oiie evening he was engaged in showing a party of gentlemen the wonders of the safe, and ran .on: ‘No burglar could* ■ever get into that, I tell you. He oouldn’t open it in a week. It’s the safest safe in this town, for money.’ “ ‘Oh, I don’t know about that,’ said that tall man, who was then leaning on the bar, just as he is now leaning on the rail. ‘I don’t think it’s so safe.’ “This startled Haquette a little. No one had ever questioned that sale before in that offhand way. He flushed a little, while the stranger regarded him nonchalantly. Haquette felt nettled, and at last blurted out: * ’’ ‘l'll put SSOO in that safe, and if you can get It out in six hours you can have it. -Axes, jimmies, and ail tools are allowed, but dynamite ishirred.’ “ ‘l’ll go you,’ said our friend. ‘We'll iust make it half an hour and no tools, however.’ "Haquette dumped SSOO into a bag, put the bag into the safe, and turned the combination. ‘There you are,’ he said, defiantly. “The tall man got down on his knees, put an car against the safe where the tumblers work, and began turning the knob of the combination. He didn’t say a word, but steadily clicked away. Haquette began to sweat and step around. “In twenty-three minutes the safe was open. Our friend over there took the bag of money, handedit to the dumfounded Haquette, and said, cynically: “I don’ t t want your money. They salted me for a little job like that once. My name is Ensign.’ ”