Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-04-20

impressed upon two hearts as if they had
had been scared with iron. As a drowning
man thinks of the crowded events of lie
time, Foster Houghton thought, in that mo.
ment of supreme agony, a dozen links OF
circumstantial evidenee-the boys batfied
desire for money, his angry words, his evil
associates, his missing revolver, his deliberate
EXPLANATION of a night long absence, his IN
innate knowledge of the affairs OF the bank,
except the secret combination OF the lock,
which he had often teased for in vain. Two
things were stamped upon his brain together.
and he was thankful that his wife could
know the horror of but one of them.
His own SON was engaged in plot 10 TOD
the bank, by threats OF assassination against
those who gave him lie
He himself was irrevocably enlisted in
Mot 10 capture the robbers, and so bring his
boy to inlamy and a punishment worse than
death.
The discovery eompels pause in the mar
rative 1t made none in the natural progress
OF events. Re man who had spoken mo-
toned the cashier to rice, ard Assfstea his
hands in covering hls limbs with
1ryss.s : - .sss..l- ~ eloshsng- a--~-
=, =. opposite sac u tLg bed moving RAN- :,
81 d.itly as a sailor, bound Mrs nooghtons
1sre she law. without a touch of rndensssa
or indignity beyond y hat his task made nec-a
essary. A knotted handkerchief from his
pocket was tied across her mouth. The third
figure stood at the window either to keep
watch without or to avoid seeing what took
place within; but Foster Houghtons eyes
could discern no tremor, no sign of remorse
or hesitation, IN its bearing.
Now, cashier, " said the one voice which
alone had been heard since the stroke of the
clock, you will have to consider yourself
ready, for we have time TO spare. | feel
sure that you know what is healthy for you,
but still l will tie this rope round your wrist
to save you from any dangerous temptation
to try a side street Number Two. you will
90 below. and see that the coast is clear"
With one more look at his wife's eyes, in
which he saw outraged motherly affection.
where the stranger saw on.y fright and pain,
Foster HoughtOn suffered himself to be led
I from the room. One of the robbers had
preceded him /; one held him tightly By the
wrist one, the one whose presence gave the
scene its treble terror, remained only long
enough to extinguish the taper and lock the
door. The outer door was fastened behind |
them, also and then the noiseless little I
procession (fOr the cashier had becn per- /
mitted to put on his stockings only) filed
I along the gravel walk, through the pitchy /
blaekness which a mist gives to a moOnlesstl
night. towards the solitary brick building
occupied by the Blue River National Bank
They passed the school house where Fcs- /
ter HoughtOn had carried has boy dozen 4
years before with a bright new primer
clutched in frightened little fingers then
the desolatc OLD mansion of his own father.
where the lad had been petted and worship
ped as fervently as at hume a little farther
on, the church where the baby had heel
baptized, and where the youth had been
chaied beneath distast full sernons-its white
steeple lost in the upper darkness and.
few PAGES beyond, the academy, within whose
walls the cashier had listened with such
do a.. n i
- The Return OF Regulus to Carthage- on !.
the last commencement day. Hssfhonght al
these things as he passed, thsngh so IDany
other thoughts surced IN hiss mind and he
wondered if ousAsNe.s heart BESIDE bis own
ws.-esss So remi92seuees gn tic
ssfntEss e - zzfsslx Sc
dh1S--1sks a .sjSiaed
them. IN 50
"a 1t is all serene" ;" he said, IN a low tohe,
but with a coarser voice and utterance than
his confederate's; " nothing more than
cat stirring. | have uuhitched the mare, ard
we should be off in Is minutes.
Albright, Number Two said the Read
er- The swag viii be in the buggy in less
time
cashier, you are a man of prudence, 4
know. If you work that combination, skill
fully and promptly, not a hair of your head
shall be harmed. If you make a blun2Cl
that costs us a minute, not only will this
knife be at home in your heart, bat we shall
stop on our way back and set your cottage
on fire. Our retreat will be covered, and
you know the consequences there before the
alarm W i'll rouse anybody. | have sworn to
do it,
Foster Houghton fancied he saw shud-
der in the slight figure before him but it
might have been puff of wind across the
long drapery.
n IL
" The man values his life, and he is going TO
open the safe quicker than he ever did be
fore. Open the door, young one, and les
be about il -"
The robber, who had not yet opened his
lips, aud whose every motion the cashier
watched stealthily, stepped forward TO the
bank door; and as he drew key from un-
der his cloak the prisoner caught another
glimpse of the chain he could have sworn to
among thousand.
Tho door swung open. The cashiers
heart was in his throat. He had not heard
a sound of Bixby; but he knew the village
constable too we'll to fear, or hope, that he
might have given up the chase. All four
entered the building, but before the door
could be closed behind them there was
shout, cry of dismay, a rush of heavy feet,
fash of light in a lantern which CLEANED,
but a moment before it was extinguished,
the confused sounds of blows and oaths, and
breaking of glass, punctuated by sharp
report of pistol. Foster Houghton could
never give a clear account of a terrible mo- I
ment in which his Consciousness seemed
partly benumbed He took no part in the
struggle, but seemed to be pushed outside
the door. and there, as the tumult within
began to dimisish, Silas Bixby came hur-
riedly to Aim, dragging masked Gs.-s -hy
the SHOULDER. s- II
H...-.ls1sop. you must help little We
have got she better of 'em, and my men are
holding the two big fellows down. But the
hight Is not out of them yet, and you must
hold this little one three minutes while /
help to tie their hands. Just hold this pistol
to his head, and he will rest very easy.''
Even while he spoke Bixby was inside the
door again, and the CLEAN of light that fol
lowed showed that he had recovered his Ian
tern and meant to do his work thoroughly.
Foster Houghton's left hand had been
guided to the collar of his captive, and the
revolver had. been thrust into his right
There was no question of the composure OF
the robber now He painted and sobbed and
shook, and made no effort to tear himself
from the feeble grasp that confined him.
III the cashier had been irresolute all his
life, he did not waver for an instant now.
lie did not query with himself what was his
duty, or what bis wife would advise. or what
the bank directors would think.
a. Harry" he whispered, hoarseIy, his lips {
close to the mask, II know you. y
The shrinking figure gave one great sob.
Foster Houghton went right on without I
pausing. Id
''Bixby does not know you, and there is |
time to escape yet. l shall fire this pistol !
in the air. Run for your life to your horse 1
there, and push on to TInborough. You '
can catch the train. May God forgive YOU. 1
The figure caught the hand which had re- '
leased its hold as the words were spoken. f
and kissed it. Then turning back as if up. 7
on sudden impulse, the robber rnurmured q