Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-07-10
Gitrrarp Selections.
THE WATCHMANS STORY.
BY ETHAN CARLETON.

One drizzly night as 1 was walking
slowly along my beat, wishing that /
was not single man and watchman,
but a married man, and at home snug in
bed, woman touched me on the shoulder.
What's in the wind now ?" says /.
A row in the family, or do you want
nights lodgings ?"
I couldn't see her face, for the very
GOOD reason that there was no light near,
and she wore veil over her features.
The voice was so sweet, as she answered
me however, that l longed to lift the veil
for l felt sure she was handsome.
20, sir, you are the watchman, aint
yn?' =.
n be polite; "is there anything can do
for yOu%
sE you wish to prevent murder
bsing done tonight" said she in trem-
bling voice, watch the empty store
number 90, closely, all night. Will you
rr,nss to do so % There will be those
who will try to enter there"
Ipromised to keep my eye on the place
and asked her to tell me what she knew
about it.
20, nothing l k'aOa0 nothing" she
fahered, shrinking back. 1 only sus-
pect-but do be sure and watch the
store"
And she hurried out of sight before 1
had considered whether it was best to de-
tain her.
"a murder ~ thought I, and in
number SO p
1t didn't seem probable to me, for the
store had been closed for over year. Ii
was an old building, and the owner was
in Europe. Its last occupant had failed
and absconded, and was supposed to be
dead. at first thought, as l sauntered
back past the store, that the woman nigh
be a little crazy, as we often meet sucf
wanderers in the streets, and then l be
gan to suspect that she might be il league
with villains, who intended to rob some
other place on my beat, and so wished
me to be occupied in watching the empt!
store. tried the door and windows
however and found them fast, and thel
passed to and fro, keeping nearer the stor
than should otherwise have done, whel
suddenly l heard the cry of fire ? at tn
other end of the street, and immediatel
afterwards, man shouting at the top c
his lungs, came running past me.
"Where is the fire % 1 asked.
He mentioned the number and sal
he was going to the nearest engine hous'
and ran on.
1T is as 1 suspected" thought
fastening to the further end of the stree
"The design was upon another store"
When l arrived at the spot designate
all was quiet. l stood in the middle
the street and watching both sides clos
y, but saw no sign of smoke, fire,
alarm in the vicinity, save two or thr
nightcapped heads which were popp
out Of some windows, to see, like myse
what was not to me seen.
Where's the fire % asked they.
If you don't know, 1 don't" said
not little nettled at the hoax. 1"
must have been false alarm
courageous p said one of the mig
caps, with a growl. " Waking peoI
up in the middle of the night, and maxi
them get up out of their warm beds
nothing ~ And he slammed down
window as if it was misfortune that
house was not on fire. Luckily,
alarm had not spread, and the fire
partment were not victimized as Il
often are.
The second time I've been hoa,
TO night" thought /. I will keep
eyes upon the next customer. l won
hthey take me for fool"
Feeling very much like a fool
walked back on my round, and havir
sort of spite against number Sc, whic
considered hoax number one, kic
the door.
10 my surprise, it few open will
resistance, and l found myself spraw
upon the threshold. As / had kiC
myself down, picked myself up,
i9elng for the door, found it had
opened during my absence. The
was wholly in the the lock.
Somebody has been here, that's
n lmuttered, and just then l h
agFoan inside. / listened. The g
vas repeated. At once I called for
and getting lantern, entered the
win half dozen others. To our ht
'' iound poorly dressed, middle