The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-09-29


of his ten children; and he was an equal part
ner in the new factory enterprise at the Falls
So Mr. Houghton did not venture to guess or
what errand Mr. BiXby came to see him, ano
showed him to chair in the twilighted sitting
room, with face composed to decline request
TO discount q note, or to join with interest in Q
conversation on the Sunday School, or to listen
to a report of the new fire engine fund, with
equal case and alacrity.
MIR. Bixby looked about him to see that no.
body was in hearing. you'll excuse me, ]
know, Squire, if 1 shut down the windows, hot
as it is" and before his host could rise to an
ticipate him, he had suited the action to the
word. "It's detective business. It's big
thing. Do you know told you, Mr.. Hough-
ton, the first of the week, that there was dan
gerous characters about town, and asked you
to keep your eyes open at the bank. Will
you bear witness of that?"
'I remember it very we'll, Mr.. Bixby, and
also that there has not been single person IN
the bank since that day, other than our own
towns-people and friends"
s'Thaat is Just it," said Silas Bixby, twisting
his whiskers refectively; "they have got some
accomplice who knows the neighborhood, and
whom we don't suspect. But We shall catch
him with the rest. The fact is, MIR. Houghton,
the Blue River National Bank is to be robbed
tonight. The plot is laid, and have got eve
ry thread of it in my hand"
Foster Houghton was one of class in the
village who were habitually incredulous as to
Silas Bixbys achievements, as announced by
himself; but there was positiveness and as
surance about the constable's manner which
carried conviction with it, and he did not con-
ceal the shock which the news gave him.
"Just you keep very cool, sir, and I'll tell
YOU the whole story in a very few words, for l
have got one or two things to do before catch
the burglars, and have promised to look into
Parson Pettengilrs barn and doctor his sick
horse. There are two men in the job, besides
somebody in the village here that is working
with them secretly. You needn't ask me how
managed to overhear their plans, for l shant
tell you will read it all in the Tinborough
Trumpet day after tomorrow. They. are regu-
lar New York cracksmen, and they have been
stopping at the hotel at the Falls, pretending
to be looking at the water-power. They came
here on purpose to clean out the Blue River
Bank"
"Do they mean to blow open the safe 2" in
quired Mr.. Houghton, who was pacing the
room.
"Just have patience, Squire" said Silas
Bixby "I thought it best to prepare you, and
so lead you up kind O. gradual. They have
got false keys to your house door and your bed
room. They are going to come in at midnight
or an hour after, and gag you and your wife,
and force you, at the mouth of the revolver, to
the bank and open the combination lock-
Your help, they say, has gone of; and they
seem not to be afraid of Henry"
"Henry gone to Tinborough," SAID Mr.
Houghton, mechanically.
81 presume they know that too, then," said
the constable. "rhey calculate on forty thou
sand dollars in the safe, government bonds and
all. Their team is to be ready on the Iinbor-
ough road, and they mean to catch the owl
train. You they calculate to leave, tied hand
and foot on the bank floor, till you are found
there in the morning"
Foster Houghton stopped in his rapid walk
up and down the little room, and took his boots
from the closet
"Fair play, Squire" said Bixby, laying a
hand on the cashiers arm as he sat down and
kicked off his slippers. "Ive told you the
whole story, when might have carried out my
you going to do?'
"Going to order stout bolt put on my front
door at once and to deposit the bank keys in
the safe at Fcltons store"
"You will think better of it if you will just
sit still and hear me through" replied the visl-
tor. "Dont you see that will show your hand
to the gang, who are on the watch, and they
will lust leave Elmfeld and rob some other
bank and make their fortunes? Moreover, the
plot never would be believed in the village,
and such way of meeting it would make no
sensation at all in print. No, Mr.. Houghton,
YOU are cashier of the bank, and it is your bus
mess to protect the property. l am constable
at Elmfeld, and it is my duty to capture the
burglars propose to do it in such way that
the whole State shall ring with my brilliant
~ n ton nf
course, so far as your part goes. The pro-
rramme is all complete, and you have only to
fall in."
"Wcll, Mr.. Bixby," said the elder gentleman,
again surrendering to his companions superior
force and determination of character, land
what is the programme 2"
GAS far rs you are concerned, simply to re-
main passive" said the rural constable. "You
are to show no knowledge of expecting the
visit. and after proper display OF reluctance
YOU are to 90 with the burglars, with your keys
| in your hand. If / were to arrest the rascals
now, 1 should have nothing to charge them
with, and could only frishten them out of town.
When the bank is entered the crime is COM
plete. / shall be on the watch with two strong
| fellows l have secured to help me-men who
served in my company, stout, afraid OF nothing,
and not smart enough to claim the whole cred
it when the lob is done. When you are fairly
inside the bank we shall pop out from behind
the bowling alley, guard the door, flash our
lanterns in their faces, and overpower them at
once. 1t sounds very short now, but it will ea-
sily fill column in the city papers"
i'Mr. Bixby," said Foster Houghton, with a
good deal of deliberate emphasis, II have al
Ways Ways thought you a man of sense: think SO
now. Do you suppose / am going to stand
quietly by and see couple Of ruffans tic q gag
in the mouth of my wife, when l know and
can prevent it before hand ?"
"No, sir, expect no such thing" said Blk
by not little embarrassed. ~ expected like
as not you would bring up some such objection,
so have provided for it in advance. John
Fletchers little girl is very sick; they have
gone the rounds Of all the folks on our street,