Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-07-27
Miseellanu.
Missed Him.
nY A ZEAL pErEcrlxE.

perh APPS it was not. He was clever fell
low-ah that he was. They asked me
to catch him; L said I'd try. / wouldn't
promise-no, only said I'd try.
| tried His offense was nothing
merely what is commonly called Rail-
way Plant 1t succeeded though, and
my gentleman was wanted
made grand hit when | nabbed his
companion. He told me his haunts and
habits, but he would MT aid me in catching
him. L determined to do it myself.
was green hand then. No matter, had
the will. found the way. He was to
be at a tea party that Thursday night. L
was invited. Shall | take two policemen
in disgnse and arrest him ? No; all his
friends would rescue him. will go alone.
| went. | left my little house-a four
room dweling-at six. Il locked the front
door, and off 1 went to- Mrs. Jones tea
party.
1t was the month of September. We
had great fun at -. There was a gen.
despite the fact that, when L was intro
duced to him, | was informed he had Just
come from the Continent. We fell into
conversation. He began to pump me.
This was what wanted l was deter
mined to play the simple, and tell him all
he asked.
He stared hard at me. Perhaps he
knew me, perhaps he did not. He was a
peculiar man, with short black hair, a
clean shaved face, (parish priests are alike
clean shaven-strange coincidence dressed
in a suit of light gray. He looked smart
| might safely have shouted, All hands
to pump ship for he pumped in the
most barefaced manner.
He asked me where l lived | told him.
L saw no use in deceiving him; beside
had a little plan in view-I might invite
him to my house and pin him.
Had | any company? None. Any one
else in the house? No. L was a bach
elOr; preferred to live alone And then,
in the most quiet and insinuating way, he
asked me did | shoot He did !; he had
been shooting lately. Last week he was
shooting in Suffolk. All, and l remarked
in very innocent way, looking up be-
nignly at him, that L thought-that was,
| understood-he had Just come from the
continent.
He started. pretended to be surprised,
and he assured me, in fact, he had been to
the continent since, But about the shoot
ing? No. did Mt shoot; l was timid
about firearms. The sight, only, assured
him, of a loaded gun made me tremble
(pass me here, reader; there is a loaded
gun always hanging over my chimney piece
IN the parlor). Had l no firearms? He
had beautiful gun. No, | had none.
Then he returned to the house question.
Did | sleep on the ground floor? No.
Where then At the top Of the house,
it was two stories high Oh back or
front Back. He was very inquisitive,
l thought; but l seemed to enjoy telling
him Al Al eSqld He tAqHsgRhfh he &c asked sss ddn me
did L approve Of keeping money at home,
or did l send it to the bank l started. l
began to think this was too good. No
matter | would 90 through with it. l
had told him lies enough why not tell
him another? Aye, why not? l kept my
money at home. Banks were unsafe but
/ assured him | felt uneasy Just then,
because | happened to have more than
usual, and it wasn't mine. Five hundred
pounds ready money, L think | told him
No, it was five hundred pounds in notes,
-ha. ha ! ha! Five pence in coppers
would have been nearer the mark but nc
matter poverty Is no sin.
Yes, 1 kept 1t in the house; and he
thought it very strange that had no arms
Here [ stopped and begged his pardon
had arms. He turned pale. L had arms
yes, had some. What were they? he
might ask lie might my arm was a
boiler-stick with two ounces OF lead in the
top of it, Oh he seemed greatly re-
lieved
l told him the doors and windows had
bolts on them, and were all we'll barred
all but one. He pricked up his ears, and
family murmured, Which p led me or
and gave me hope. ] thought it best tc
encourage him-all but one. The front
window on the ground floor. said, had nc
bar on the shutter. They had all bells,
told him. 1t had bell ; it was very safe
Thieves never think Of getting into the
house by the front, you know. And there
was no area or garden. The door opened
on to the pavement Yes, it was very safe
wasn't it? Yes, he thought it was
Then he talked about politics. etc.; anC
then he got up TO go-so soon? and Mrs
Jones begged him to stay; and | begged
him to give me a call some night, for-ah
really, he was very-tbat is, mis- company
was very-ahl very agreeable, ha ha
ha He was going my way, would | q
with him or would he wait for me7 No
| would stay an hocr longer at least, AM
-fhtr sec the Misses Browne to their home
Ha. ha ha what notion | had of it
He thought me very simple, no doubt,
he thought all | said was true. l ofte
wonder, now, whether he ever suspecte
that the quiet individual who did not shoe
or put his money in the bank, and put bel
on the doors and windows, was a detectiv'
who would do his best to see him in quod
before twelve hours were over. Ha /! ha
ha we shall see what we shall see-so v
shall
He is gone. He shuts the hall doc
He looks wildly about him, and then s.
off in the direction Of my lodgings. a
watching from the window. Oh L forg
10 tell him. All really, must 90. Goo
evening. Mrs. Jones ia ia l will cls
on nv hat and follow him. | shut the ha
door quietly, and start in the same dire
tion. Ha! thought so.
There he is in the dark, round the co
ner. He does not think any one sees hiI
Here is a low waII--how handy! LII
behind it and watch him. His position
well chosen no one can see him, unle
Just where am.
Look what he Is at Well, I'm b!owe
He pulls ont a coat from goodness kno'
where. Il is quite black. He puts
over his other coats, and he even pulls
his trousers. All, he has other ones und
them-they ere black too. And then
takes off his tall hat and slows all his ira
where the coat comes from. Ills hat
replaced by SLOUGH. Then out comes
.,r at black heard aud Inoustacbe. WIN