Middletown transcript., 1870-03-26


the door again, and the CLEAN of ligh
3 which followed showed that he had recov
C cred his lantern and meant to do his worl
thoroughly
Foster Houghton's left hand had beel
guided to the collar of his captive, and th
| revolver had been thrust into his right
There was no question of the composur,
of the robber now. lie painted and sob
bed and shook, and made no effort to teal
himself from the feeble grasp that confined
him.
If the cashier had been irresolute all hi.
life, he did not waver for an instant now
lie did not query within himself what was
his duty, or what was prudent or what
} his wife would advise, or what bank direc.
tors would think.
d" Harry" he whispered, hoarscly, his
lips close to the mask, 81 know you"
The shrinking figure gave one great
Sob Foster Houghton went right on
without pausing.
"Bixby does not know you, and there
is time to escape yet. [ shall fire this
pistol in the air. Run for your life to
your horse there and push on to Tinbor-
ough. You may catch the train. May
God forgive you"
The figure caught the hand which had
released its hold as the words were spo-
ken, and kissed it. Then, turning back
as if upon sudden impulse, the robbcr
murmurcd something which could not be
understood, and thrust into the cashiers
hand mass of chilly metal which his in
tuition rather than his touch recognized as
Peleg lIoughtons watch and chain. He
had presence of mind enough to conceal it
in his pocket, and then he fired his pistol,
and he heard the sound of flying feet and
rattling wheels as Silas Bixby accosted
him.
What in thunder! did he wrgglc
away from yc? why didn't you slug out
sooner"
Il think am getting faint. In Hca-
ven'S name go quick to my house and re-
fright of these shots will kill her."
Foster Houghton sunk in a swoon even
as he spoke, and only the quick arm of
Silas Bixby saved him from fall on the
stone steps.
F'Sce here, boys" said he. eff you
have got those fellows tied up tight, one
of you take Squire Houghton and bring
him to, and I'll go over to his house and
unite his wife, before [ start after that
pesky little rascal that has got away. If
| had "a supposed he would dare to risk
the pistol [ should have hung on to him
myself. Mike, you just keep your revolver
cooked, and if either of those men more
than winks, shoot him where he lies"
Having thus disposed of his forces, and
provided for the guard of the prisoners
and the restoration of the disabled, the
commander was off at run. Half Elm
field seemed to have been awaked by the
shots, and he was met by half dozen
lightly clad men and boys whom he sent
on this errand and that, to open the lock-
up under the engine house, to harness
horses for pursuit, vouchsafng only very
curt replies te their eager questions as to
what had happened. He was exasperated
on arriving at Foster Houghtons dwelling
to find the door locked and the windows
fastened. So he raised stcntorian shout
of, It's-all-right-Mrs .-Houghton.
Robbers caught-and- boay-hurt )"
separating his words carefully to insure
being understood and then scud at full
speed back toward the band again. He
met halfway an excited, talkative little
group, the central figure of which was the
cashier of the bank, restored to life, but
still as white as death, and supported by
friendly hands. Assured that Houghton
himself was now able to release his wife,
Bixby ran on to the green, and in five I
minutes more was settled in his gig, and
urging his cheerful little bay Morgan over
the road to Tinborough, mentally putting
into form his narrative for the Trumpet"
as he went.
Thus it came about that it was Foster
IIoughton himself who unloosed his wife's
bonds, bending his gray head, as he did
so, to print kiss of sorrow and sympathy
on her wrinkled check, and leaving tear
there.
"He has escaped" he said, "and is on
the road to the station"
"Will he not be ovcrtaken 2"
II think not. He has a fair start, and
knows what is at stake; and tho train
passes through before daylight"
Then the woman's heart, which had :
borne her bravely up so far gave way, and
she broke into terrible sobs; and the hus- =,
Dand who would comfort her was himself
overcome by the common grief and could
lot speak word. Silently they suffered !
ogether, pressing hands, until the enter !
ng light of dawn reminded them that even }
his day had duties and perhaps now pha- !
les of sorrow. They could hear the quick "
tcps of passers evidently full of excitement
'ver the event of the night, and talking
III together They could not be long left d
AS they dressed, Foster b
Ioughton-unable or reluctant to describe
n any detail the scene at the bank, as his r
wife was to ask him about it,-suddenly a
in his pocket the watch, en- o
anglcd in its chain. ii
''Hc gave me this, and kiss" he said, c.
very word a sob: and Mary Hourhton il