Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-08-03
Vol. 65.-3320. No. II.

Well, we can take it as well in that as
in anything else, az the man said about his
whiskey."
" But what'll We do with him p
" Doad men tell no tales
That's the safest, guess and they'll
lay it to some Of the strikers
" Most likely. Have you got the dark
lantern ready2"
" Not much oil in it,"
" Let's GIL it, then | went to get some,
and got into the boss's private office, and
Just found one little can hid away in his desk.
Not another thing worth bringing away. Here
'tis let's Gil up, an take look round"
Thus far Patrick had listened with breath
less interest, while his mind teomed with hor-
rid visions of robbery and murder. As we
have said, he was by no means lacking. in
sharpness, and the reference to the yalse had
not been by any means reassuring.
Howy Mother how did they iver know
| was comm over wid the portmanty2 I'd
like TO know that. Begorrah, I'd betther
have turned back before | iver come An
what's dollar to pay for bein' murdered ?"
Patrick's thoughts were troubling the very
soul within him. when he heard what was said
about the lantern, and it needed no one to tell
him that his only safety from discovery was
in retreat. There was some little noise and
loud talking in the other room, not to speak
Of the rain on the roof, and Patrick had no
difficulty in escaping unheard. Once clear Of
the house, he made clean run Of it for a
couple Of hundred yards, stumbling over logs,
tearing through brers but sticking faithfully
| to the yalise.
Meantime the three robbers had probably
been filling the lamp of their dark lantern
and Just as Patrick reached the edge Of the
woods in the cover of whose darkness he
knew he would be safe, he turned and strained
his eyes in the direction of the log house.
As he did 50, faint glimmer of light came
out through the chnks and crannies
Shrinking a match,n muttered Patrick
" Bad luck to that same for sindin me out
into the wet l--IIowly Mother what's that ?"
While Patrick had been speaking, the light
had gained somewhat in strength, as if the
match was blazing higher but, as he uttered
his concluding exclamation, there came a
sudden, binding fash, equal to many light
niugs, and then dull and stunning sound, as
of some mighty explosion, followed by the
crashing sound of heavy bodies falling among
the tree-tops near him, breaking their way
through the branches.
Patrick waited for no more, but found the
road as quickly as possible and made double
quick time for the village, regardless Of the
rain. When, less than half an hour after
ward, the breathless Irishman with his pre-.
cious burden, dripping with water, opened the
door of the superintendent office in the viii
age, he heard that gentleman remark
What did you say, Jordan2"
Why" replied the boss" with an anx.
ious tone, some fool has broken my desk
open, and stole a can Of the nitro-glycerine
and I'm afraid mischief will come of it,"
Divil fear" interrupted Patrick
4" sorra mischief was done by that same
Ownly we'll have to sarch the woods with
= dogs to foind enough of EN- for q dacint wake
or I'm mishtaken."
The explanation which followed left littl,
room for doubt, and subsequent investiga
= tion left less but as Patrick had surmised
there was very little occasion for " wake"
The contractor got in all right, the mel
i were paid, the road was built, and the mora
= of my story is If you steal nitro-giycerine
n don't Gil lamps with it if you mean to ligh
. them yourself"