Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-09-27

+
constable. "You are to show no |
knowledge of expecting the visit, and |
after a proper display of reluctance |
you are to 60 with the burglars, with |
your keys in your hand. If were to
arrest the rascals now, should have
nothing to charge them with, and
could only frighten them out of town.
When the bank is entered, the crime
is complete. shall be on the watch,
with two strong fellows | have secur-
ed to help me-men who served in
my company. stout, afraid of nothing,
and not smart enough to claim the
whole credit when the job is DONE
When you are fairly inside the bank
we shall pop out from behind the
bowling-alley, guard the door, fash
our lanterns in their faces, and over
power them at once. 1t sounds very
short now; but it will easily fill a
column in the city papers"
Mr.. Bixby," said Foster Houghton,
with good deal of deliberate empha-
sis, "I have always thought You man
Of sense. | think so now. Do you
suppose am going to stand quietly
by and see a couple of rulians tie a
gag in the mouth Of my wife, at her
age, when [ know and can prevent it
beforehand ?"
"No, sir, expect no such thing"
said Bixby, not at all embarrassed
a expected like as not you would
bring up some such objection, so |
have provided for it in advance. John
Fletcher's little girl is very sick;
they have gone the rounds of all the
folks on our street, taking turns
watching there; tonight they came
to me and said, 'Bixby, can't you end
US somebody to watch 2 and said l
knew just the one that would be glad
to help neighbor. So l vii deliver
the message to Mrs. Houghton, and
you needn't have a mite 0. anxiety
about her, up there as safe and com
Portable as if she were twenty miles
away"
While her husband yet hesitated
Mrs. Houghton re-entered the room;
and Bixby, quick to secure an advan-
tage, was ready at the moment with
his petition.
"Good evening, Mrs. Hoaghton.-
Been waiting very patient for you to
come in. l called to see if you felt
able and willing to set up tonight
along with John Fletcher's little girl.
The child don't get any better, and
Mrs. Fletcher, she's just about sick
abed herself, with care and worry"
you know l am always ready to
help a neighbor in such trouble said
the lady, graciously, with the prompt
acquiescence which people in the coun-
try give to such calls. "And now
think Of it, Mr.. Bixby, l have another
call to make on your street. l think
I will walk up with you, and so get
around to Fletcher's at nine o'clock.
Ny husband has several letters to
write, so he will not miss me-"
Foster Houghton sat in a sort of
maze, while fate thus arranged affairs
for him, though they tended to a con-
summation which was far from well
come to his mind. His wife went
out for her smelling salts, her specta-
cles, and her heavy shawl; and Blk
by snatched the brief opportunity.
Il have told you everything, Squire,
that you need to know. Keep your
mind easy and your head cool, and
the whole thing may be done as easy
as turning your hand over, Remem-
Der it is the only way to save the
bank, and catch the men that may
have robbed dozen banks. Do not
E stir out Of the house again this even
ing, or you will excite suspicion and
! ruin the game. Between twelve and
! two you may expect your company
aud rely upon me in hiding close to
; the bank. Mum is the word" For
Mrs. Houghton was descending the
stairs.
Come in again when you come
!, back, Bixby; can't you?' said the
= cashier, still loatb to close so hasty
, and so singular bargain.
i "Not for the world" replied the
, constable. ut would expose ouI
i hand at once, aud spoil the trick
Now, Mrs. Houghton, I'm really proud
to be the beau to such a sprightIy
0 young BELLE"
. And so, with word of farewell
they were of, and Foster Houghtor
sat alone in the house with his secret
{ He was not coward, but a maj
! OF peace by temperament and training
and the enterprise in which he haC
=, been enlisted was both foreign anC
diStasteful to him. How many Incl
dents might occur, not set down il
. Bixby's programme, to make thr
y nights work both dangerous and disa
u greeable! His very loneliness mad
l. the prospect seem doubly unpleasant
i A dozen times, as he sat mu5ing owe
ii 1t, he put forth his hand for his boot
y y with intent to go out and Illustrate th
robbery in his own way, regardless O
IL BiXbyS schemes of capture and glory
As many times he fell back in hi
70 easy-chair, thinking now that he wa
ie bound in honor by his tacit agree
It ment with the constable, and agai
that the whole story was nothing bu
y the fruit of the officers fertile imae
- ination, and that only the invento
p should make himself ridiculous by hi
o. credulity. Now he wished his vii
y were at home to make the waiting M
U" ments pass more quickly; then ths
Harry were there to give the aid {
~ his daring and the stimulus of b
- boyish enthusiasm in the strang
"' emergency. And sometimes the ol
mans thoughts wandered, in spite
ou the excitement of the hour, to his bo
|, dancing away the night at Tinboroug
ee He recalled his anxieties over
he sons dissipations, his associates, h
ey growing recklessness of manner, b
ne extravagant tastes, the look of han
s! defiance in his face but an hour
DC two before. His heart yearned ov
the lad in spite of his wild ways, lii
no ItaVjd'S 0vnr bcoIou ap6 ba raOol