Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-12-02

1t was not quite fair of my father, /
must own, but he determined to set a trap
for Tom Rocket, baited with the five
hundred guineas, at the bridge. He
posted up to London, saw Bradshaw,
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 Bradsaw was detained upon
some important government trial, and so
another runner, Fraser, no less cele-
brated officer, look his place.
1t was settled that the runner should
come by different roads, and all meet at a
way side i'm about FIVE miles from the
bridge, at eight O'Clock p. IN. on the day
my fathers pocket-book was to be return.
ed. An hour afterwards they were to
him on the road three miles further on.
Their object, you see, in taking this
roundabout course was to battle Toms
spies and aecomplices, and to get secure
j ind about the appointed spot long be
fore the appointed time,
My father was little late at the place
of meeting; but when he arrived there
he could see no one about, except a loui-
ish-lookinS countryman in a smock-frock,
who was swinging on gate hard by.
Good noight, maister,' said the yokel.
Good night to you, replied my
father.
Can ye tell me who this yer letters
for said the yokel, producing folded
paper.
/ My father saw in moment that it was
his own letter to Bradshaw.
Where did you get that he said
quickly,
'Ahr replied the yokel, replacing it
in his pocket, that I'D be tellins. Be-
/ yer expecting any body?
What's that to you?' said my father
'Oh, nought,' said the yokel, only 9
gentleman from London,
'HaP ? cried my father, what gentle
man 2
Will name beginning with F. sui
you? asked the yokel.
I Fraser? The word fell involunsarily
from my fathers lips
! That's the name, replied the yokel
jumping down from his seat, and chang
ing his tone and manner in moment
, I'm Fraser, sir, and you're Mr.. Sandi
ger, as has been robbed of pocket-booI
containing valuable papers; and we'r
, going to catch Tom Rocket as has got IL
that's our game, sir. All right, sir; an
= now to business.
: But where are your men@ m
] father asked, when Fraser had explaine
5 the reason-fo his disguise.
All right again, sir, said the runne
: they will join US. We have not muc
d time to lose, so please to lead the way
So my father led the way, followed b
? Fraser; and by the time that they cam
in sight Of the bridge, they had been JON
ed by four London officers, in diferel
/, disguises, and from different direction
d One appeared as tramp, one as pedIa
d another as a gentieman's servant leadir
a horse, and the fourth as q soldier.
one could have guessed that they had N
e before, much less that they whre engag,
= together in a prpconcerted scheme. N
? father gave Fraser great credit for Il
=, dexterous way in which he had collect
his forces.
It The bridge upon which the money W
- to be placed, consisted of two arch
An across the river, and was joined on eth
- side by a long sort of causeway, built u
e, on piles over meadows that in winl
i'll time were generally covered with wat'
q ltso happened, that the very next moi
Ve ing after the robbery heavy rain Sc.
all and soon the foods were out, so Il
rs .-sre vas no way of getting on the brid
S. but By going along the causeway, VII
ep extended a distance Of hundred var
tie sloping down gradually to the road,
IN each side Of the river. This causeE
re was built Of wood. At some places I
timbers were covered with earth q
er, stones, but at others the roadway
IN, worn out and they were bare, so that 2
/ one looking up from underneath, co
d, see who was passing overhead. Mr. F
ct, ser's sharp eye took in the position i
moment. He got two hurdles out a fl
ny close by, and with some rope, that be
red brought for another purpose, fastel
them 10 the piles, so that they hung
eT shelves between the roadway and
food, one on each side Of the bridge,
Ill, about twenty yards from II. This
bis plan two Of his men were to lie
fe. den on each hurdle, whilst be and