Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-08-03
The Robbers Lamp.

"Got to 90 over on foot :" exclaimed the
contractor.
Not a chance Of any thing else" replied
the agent. d" But then, its only five miles, |
aud you'll have better quarters there than
here, in this vile shauty The money will be
safer, too--lct alone that the men won't 60
to work sgain, unless they're paid in the
morning"
"ls the road safe2 | don't like the idea
of Juggling so much money could defend
myself, or run but fifteen hundred dollars in
small bills is big package to run with
Send your valise over in advance
"Whom by2"
"My man"
" Is he trustworthy"
Honest as the day and he needn't know
there's anything iq it but dirty linen. lie
can start now and you can wait till after
supper if you will
And, so saying, the agent of the railroad
company stepped to the door Of the shanty,
and shouted for Patrick; and, shortly, that
individual came-as bright, lively, honest
looking son of the Green Isle as ever
helped build Western railroad.
" Patrick !"
Yis, yer honor"
"Take this genteman's yalise over to the
village, and leave it with the superintendent.
Tell him the owner'll be after it this evening.
g. An is that ALL yer honor ?"
That's all-only be quick about 1t, and
you'll earn an extra dollar"
" I'm list the bye for that, onyhow. Sure,
it's small bit of a valise.'
And, so saying, Patrick picked up tho OBJ
iect of his contempt, and trudged away, with
an utter absence Of curiosity as to the nature
of what he was carrying
The temporary station at which the " con-
struction train" had landed the contractor-a
gentleman named Perkns--was at the end Of
the new Airline Railroad to -- and, as
the laborers thereon had not been paid over
promptly, they had now for some days been
on strike, abandoning the works, and con-
gregating idly at hamlet, few miles dis.
tant thereby compelling their delinquent em-
lployers to come to terms. Mr.. Perkins had
brought a good share of the terms with
him, for immediate distribution and, after a
plain, but hearty supper with the agent, he
was about to start on his tramp, when it was
discovered that a good-sized Western thunder
storm was Just about to burst, and the walk
was postponed until the sky should clear. In
a few minutes more the rain was coming down
in torrents, and kept it up an hour or so, al
the end of which time the contractor padded
away over the muddy road, congratulatinl
himself that the valise in Pairick's care was
waterproof.
&" He's had roughor time than will, any
how and now, if amt robbed and murdered
before | get there, shall do well enough, il
spite Of the mud And so muttering t.
; himself the worthy gentleman splashcd for
ward.
Our present business, however is not will
his employer, but with Patrick himself
The parting injunction to make haste haC
not seemed to make very deep impression
on the careless son of Erin and he trudget
easily along, with an occasional shrewd glanc
at the somewhat threatening sky, growing t
= himself;
Faith, an I'll be there before he will, an
it don't rain an mobile will if it does. Och
: but it's wake one to be givin dollar 70
carryin' the loike O. this !"
A li.tle more than halfway across the ope
! prairie between the railway terminus and tn
NllihHc was iolcIdDiJ hchne BioNSf HhH
was after sunset when Patrick plunged III
:, der its shadows Nor had he gone far, be
" fore as the gloom rapidly deepened, the pre-
monitory flashes of Lightning and the deeI
= smothered roars Of the thunder gave toke
that the storm was upon him.
Now, an cud ownly git to the ovid 10
house, it ud kape me dhry. lIowly Nose
what big flash was that!
And so saying Patrick broke into a yer
= respectable trot, which quickly brougf
= him out into little weed-grown clearing
y In the center Of this was small log hous'
i the deserted homestead Of some discontente
= squatter who had moved farther WESTWARD
" 1t consisted of but two rooms front and bOcl
and all vestiges Of doors or window shutter
had long since disappeared but it promise
some sort Of imperfect shelter from the rain
., Patrick was but just in time, for hardl
- had he stumbled over the grassy threshold b'
fore the first big drops began to patter an
these were quickly followed by such penetra
ing torrents as compelled him to select h
standing place under as good a corner of Il
eaky roof as he could find.
"Bess me sowl, but this is a wet rain, on,
how I'd not loiko to be found dhrownC
"a wild another mons portmanty about II
~ clothes. Whisht now, Pathrick, me jewel
l. what's that2"
ID And, as he spoke, Patrick once more al
Is vanced to the doorway. 1t was now all b.
'r pitch dark, and he could hear the half mufl,
II voices Of men. whose proiane utteranc
70 seemed to try to direct one another towai
l. the shelter:
IA N II