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

shall eaten MIN with the rest Ine IdCb 10,
Mr.. Houghton, the Blue River National
Bank is to be robbed tonight. The plot is
laid, and have got every thread of it in my
hand''
Foster Houghton was one of class in the
village who were habitually incredulous as to
Sllas Bixby's achievements, as announced by
himself but there was a positiveness and
assurance about the constable's manner
which carried conviction with it, and he did
not conceal the shock which the news gave
him
s. Just you keep very cool, sir, and | ii tell
you the whole story in very few words, Tor
| have got one or two things TO do before }
catch the burglars, and have promised to
look into Parson Pettingill's barn and doctor
/ his sick horse. There is t;SO men in the job,
besides somebody in the village here that Is
working with them secretly. You needn
ask me how | managed to Overhear their
plans. for | shan't tell you will read 1T all
IN the Tinborough Trumpet of the day after
tomorrow. They are regular New York
cracksmen, and they have been stopping at
the hotel at the Falls pretending to be look
ing at the waterpOwer. They come here on
peFf9ss s " ssHa ssa sqt o tbs si5f 6en the s &
inquired Mr.. Houghton, who was pacing the
room
:. Just have EatIs9Gse es IL re6ard pare you. you
and so led you up kind o gradual They
have got false keys - or house door ard
bedroom door > H-y are going to come in
at midnight or an hour later, and gag you
and your wife, and force you at the mouth OF
the revolver to 90 over to the bank and open
the combination lock. Your help, they say,
has gone off; and they seemed not to be
afraid of Henry
. Henry has gone to Tinborough,'' said
Mr.. HOughtOn, mechanically.
" presume they knew that too, then -
said the constable L" They calculate at forty
thousand dollars in the safe. government
bonds and all. Their team will be ready on
the Tinborough 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
bouts from the closet.
:. Fair play. Squire said Bixby, laying
hand on the cashiers arm as he sat down
| and kicked off bis slippers - I've told you
the whole story, when | might have carried
out my plan without telling a word. Now
what are you going to do?"
Going to order a stout bolt put on nv
front door at once, and to deposit the bank
keys in the safe at Feltons store"
- You will think better of it if you will
just sit still and hear me through" replied
the visitor. " Don't you see that will just
show our hand to the gang who are on the
watch, and they will only leave Elmfed and
rob some other bank and make their fortunes?
Moreover, the plot would never 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 1t is your duty to protect the
property. | am constable at Elmfeld, and
- Hutr b,,- I
pose to do it in such way that the whole
state shall ring with my brilliant manage
ment of the matter, and yours, too, of course,
so far as your part goes. The programme is
all complete, and you have only To fall in
Well, Mr.. BiXby,' said the elder gentle
man, again surrendering to his companions
superior force and determination of charac-
ter ; g and what is the programme
remain passive" said the rural constable.
% You are to show no know ledge of expect
ing the visit, and after proper display of
reluctance, you arc to 60 with the burglars,
with your keys in your hand. If | were to
arrest he rascals now, | should have nothing
to charge them with, and could only frighten
them out of town. When the bank is en-
tered, the crime is complete. l shall be on
the watch, with two strong fellows have
secured 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, flash our Ian
terms in their faces, and overpower them at
once. 1t sounds very short now; but it
will easily fill column in the city papers,
- MIR Bixby,' said Foster Houghton, with
good deal OF deliberate emphasis, '' have
always thought you man of sense. think
so now Do you suppose am going to stand
quietly by and see a couple of rufhans tie a
gag in the mouth of my wife, when l know
and can prevent 1t beforehand?"
- No, sir, think 10 such thing" said
Bixby, not at all embarrassed. l expected
like as not you would bring up some obiec-
ton, so l have provided ior 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 find us some one to
watch?" and said knew just the one that
would be glad to help a neighbor. so will
deliver the message to Mrs. HoughtOn and
you needn't have a mite Of anxiety about
her, up there as safe and comfortable as if
she " ere twenty miles away"
While her husband yet hesitated, Mrs.
Houghton re-entered the room ; and Bixby,
quick to secure an advantage, was ready at
tne mOmOnt with ms petition.
% Good evening, Mrs. Houghton. Been
waiting very patient for you to come in.
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,
a Mrs. Fletcher, she's just about sick ebed
herself, with care and worry"
:" You know I'm always ready 70 help
neghbor in such trouble" said the lady
graciously, with the prompt acquiescence
which people in the country give to such
calls. - And now think of it, Mr.. BIxby,
have a99thsr ,sl shl wfk nsk kElt6 6op pgon yadf ,ysasdf
80 get around to Fleteaer's nt nine O'clock !
My husband has several letters to write, so |
he will not miss me-
Foster Houghton sat in sort of maze, /
while fate thus arranged affairs for him,
though they tended to a contamination which |
was far from welcome to his mind His !
wife went out for her smelling-sats, her |
spectacies and her heavy shawls, and Bixby |
snatched the brief opportunity.
- have told you everything, Squire that /
you need to know. Keep your mind easy
and your head cool, and the whole thing nav |
be done as easy as turning your hand over. /
Remember it is the only way to save the
bank, and catch the men that may have rob
bed dozen banks. Do not stir out of the
house again this evening, or you will excite
suspicion or ruin the game. Between twelve
and two you may expect your company and
rely upon me in hiding close to the bank.
Mum is the word" For Mrs Houehton de-
scended the stairs.
. Come in again when you come back,
Bixby; can't y0u?'' said the cashier. still
loath to close so hasty and so singular a
bargain.
. Not for the world,'' replied the consta-
bic g 1t would expose our hand at once,
and spoil the trick. Now. Mrs Houyhton.
m really proud to be the beau to such
'prightly young belle.''
And SO, with word Of farewell, they were
III, and Foster Houghton sat alone in the r
house with his secret.
He was not coward, but man of peace
~ temperament and training, and the enter