Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-11-04


looked on his dead child, the thought Of the
evil compact he had tut inst entered into
caused him to shudder cnnvnlsivelv. Bow
ing his head on his knees. he sobbed aloud.
Harry" said his wife. ''tis better it
should be so. I almost wish those darlings
yonder lay; as. stiff and cold But Gods
will I've done p And in softs low tones. she
repeated the touching verse: as it we'll
with thee ?--is it we'll with the child And
she answered it is we'll"
It was wild, dark night towards the lat
ter end Of February. some twelvennnth af-
ter tbe departure Of the Lar eleys from " :
bury. that four men separately and cal-
tiausly approached a deserted barn ahont
two miles distant from the dwelling Of E.
| aitls's uncle. Farmer Vowles. One of them
carried dark lantern the others were pro-
vided with '.jemmies." as professional
cracksmen term their short crowhars CEN
fre-bits, and other housekeeping imple-
ments All were armed with .pistols-and
thus provided. the four men met at the rem
devious. about mile from which, in Sc
cluded lane, they had left their horse ard
buggy sa
Arrived at the barn, they each disguised
their faces by covering them with Grape :
and having looked to their pistols. and Fl
nally decided on their arrangements. they
again stole forth separately to meet at Far
mer Vowly's orchard, from whence. by a
back door, Harry had informed them an
easy access to the interior Of the dwelling
could be obtained.
It had been arranged that Sharkey should
force the lock of the door. he being an ex-
perienced 'cracksmen.' while the other two
men kept watch and that the door once
open, Harry, who well knew where the
strong box was kept. and where also the
key and the plate was deposited, should
enter, secure thu booty, and then join his
comrades. Well primed with brandy, the
infatuated young man consented to all that
was required of him. only STIMULATING with
the others that come what would, no per-
sonal violence should be offered to the old
man. Ssssf,
Mr.. Sharkey performed his part of the
nights work with wonderful celebrity the
gteat door, after few efforts, swing back
noiseless on its hinges.
Now, then, Harry, and be quick about
it,"
And with stealthy step. Langley en-
tered the well-known dwelling Proceed
ing first to an escretoire in the parlor, he
easily broke. open a drawer and procured
the key Q, the strong box. This business
accomplished, he softly made his way M
the dark staircase, and across landing,
from which a door opened into little room,
which communicated also with the sleeping
apartment Of the farmer. This door was
left ajar, 50 that he could distinctly hear
the regular heavy breathing Of the occupant
Of the bed-chamber. Partially turning
the slide Of the dark lantern SO as to see
| what he was doing, he gently opened the
strong box, drew therefrom several packa-
ges Of bank bills, some small parcels and
several bags Of coin, crammed bis pockets
with all the plate he could discover, and
was about to shut down the lid, when to
his horror and surprise. he felt his left arm
grasped by powerful hand Looking up.
he saw Farmer Yowles standing over him
with horse pistol in hand
A fierce struggle ensued In the course
of which Harry hat fell off, and with it
the mask of Grape which had hitherto con-
cealed his face
''My God can it bes Harry Langley
midnight robber y exclaimed the old man
At that moment Sharkev. who had heard
the struggle. pushed into the room to the
rescue of his companion, and leard what
Vowles said. #A
- Recognized, by heaven! Then there's
no help for it, A shot. a heavy fall, and
the poor old man lay a corpse Cd the floor
Hpfrying away the terrified young man.
Sharkey left the house in all haste Their
companions without joined them, and in a
quarter of an hour they were driving to-
wards London avoiding Bath at the top
of their horses speed BY -daybreak they
reached the skirts Of large wood, and here
they judged it best to divide their booty
and separate. ga
The amount Of plumber was great The
bark bills. gold and silver coin, and plate,
wers equally divided Langley taking a
larger amount Of the former in lieu Of his
share Of the latter. which The other knew
better how to dispose Of Some small par
GELS, which in his hurry. Harry had thrust
into his pocket. on being examined. were
foun9 to contain merely useless papers,
which they tore up and flung away
And here's an old pair Of shoes =
They'll do for one Of vonr young ones, Har
~. You may have them, as you've beer
atthe trouble of bringing them away =
What the deuce could have possessed the
old blockhead to have put them in his strong
box p
And Sharkey tossed them carelessly to
Langley, who scarcely knowing what he
did: put them in the breast pocket of his
coat
The parties then separated. and took diff
fercnt roads, Harry mounting the stage
which overlook him. after he had started
about two hours, and reaching london the
next morning.
But bow was he to account to his wife
for the possession Of such a sum Of money
as ne now had about him? He knew that
did she ever suspect that he came by shil-
ling dishonesty, she would rather have died
than touched it. He determined. therefore,
after much elaboration, to conceal the bulk
Of his i'll required treasure, and produce it
in small sums at time, as though they
we're legitimate earnings. But where to
concealit? That was tile puzzing ques-
ton. Who could he trust I? AT length,
ho riec; loA ~ Gao II ~ ,n.i Ia.r, :. -, 49,