Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1859-12-24

fairly for it.
Tom only chuckled
why, what a ninny you mnst take me
for he said why should bother myself
fighting for what can get without |?
You're cur, thats&hat you are,' my
father shouted in fury.
Don't be cross said Tom, it don't be.
come you to look red in the face. Now
attend to me, he continued in an altered
tone, do you see that bridge ? Well,
there's heap of stone's.in the centre, isn't
there ? Very well, if you will place five
hundred guneas in gold in bag amongst
those stones at twelve o'clock at night this
day week, you shall find your pocket book
and all its contents in the place two hours
afterwards
How am I to know that you will keep
your word p my father replied, little soft
ed by the hope of regainiug, at even so
heavy price, the papers that were invalu.
Pm Tom Rocket, replied the robber,
securing the pocket book upon his person.
what l mean l say and what | say |
stick to. Now, get up, aud mind, be ad.
ded, as my father sprang to his feet, my
pistols don't miss fire.
| shall live to see you hanged my faith.
err muttered ;iadjusting his disordered dress.
Shall help yon to catch your horser-
Tom asked politely.
iii never rest till | lodge you in jail,
said my father savagely.
Give my compliments to your wife, said
Tom, mounting his horse.
'Confound your impudence, howled my
father.
Good night said Tom, with a wave of
his hand, and turning sharp round he jump
ed his horse over the fence, and was out of
sight in moment
1t was not quite fair of my father, must
own; but he determined to set trap for
Tom Rocket, baited with the five hundred
guineas at the bridge He posted up to
London, saw Bradshaw, a famous Bow
street runner and arranged that he and his
men should come down and help to catch
Tom; but just at the last moment Bradshaw
was detained on some important govern
ment trial, and so another runner, Frazer, a
no less celebrated officer, took his place
1t was settled that the runners should
come by different roads, and all meet at a
wayside inn, about five miles from the
bridge, at eight o'clock, P NJ, on the day
my fathers pocket-boo was to be returned.
An hour afterwards, they were to join him
on the road three fields further on. Their
object, you see, in taking this roundabout
course, was TO battle TOMS spies and accom-
plices, and to get securely hid about the
appointed spot, long before the appointed
time.
My father was little late at the place of
meeting, but when he arrived there, be could
see no one about except a lcutish-looking
countryman in a smock frock, who was
swinging on gate hard by.
Good night, MASTER said the yokel
Good night to you, said my father.
Can you tell me who this yer letters for?'
said the yokel, producing folded paper.
My father saw in a moment that it was
his own letter to Bradshaw.
Where did you get tbatY he said quick
Iy.
'Ah,' replied the yokel, replacing it in his
pocket, that nd be tellins. Be yer expect
ing nybodyY
WHAT'S that to your said my father.
'Oh, nought, said the yokel, only gen.
tISuldu lIulu LOUuOu-
'HaP cried my father, what gentemanp
will name beginning with +. suit your
said the yokel.
Frazer? The word fell involuntarily from
my fathers lips
That's the name, replied the yokel, jump
ing down from his seat, aud changing his
tone and manner in a moment. Pm Frazer
sir, and you're Sandiger, as has been rob
bed of pocket-book containing valuable
papers and we're going TO catch Tom
Rocket as has got it-thats our game, sir.
All right, sir, and now to business
But where are your men? my father ask
ed when Frazer had explained the reason
for his disguise.
All right again, sir said the same run
ner-'they will join u.s. We have not much
time to lose, so please to lead the way
So my father led the way, followed by
Frazer and by the time that they came in
sight of the bridge, they had been Joined
by four London officers, in different disguises
and from different directions One appear
cd as tramp, one as a pedler, another as
a gentleman'S servant leading a horse, and
the fourth a soldier. No one could have
guessed that they had met before, much less
that they were engaged together 10 a pre-
concerted scheme. My father gave Frazer
great credit for the deXtrous way in which
he had collected his forces.
The bridge upon which the money was to
be placed consisted of two arches across the
river, and was joined on either side by a
long sort of causeway, built upon piles over
meadows that in the winter time were gen.
orally covered with water. 1t so happened
that the very next morning after the rob-
berry, heavy rain set in, and soon the
floods were out, so that there was no way
of getting on the bridge but going along
the causeway, which extended distance Of
a hundred yards, sloping down gradually to
the road on each side of the river. This
causeway was butt of wood. At some places
the timbers were covered with earth and
stones, but at Others the roadway had worn
out and they were bare, so that any one
looking up from underneath could see who
was passing overhead. Mr. Frazer's sharp
eye took in the position in a moment. He
got two hurdles out of field close by, and
with some rope that he had brought for an
other pupOse, fastened them to the pullies,
en- that ho, h., A., Al.