The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-09-29
in the slighter figure beside him; but it might
have been q puff of wind across the long dra-

20, blow the threats" said Number Two.
"The man values his life, and he is going to
open the safe quicker than he ever did before.
Open the door, young one, and lets be about
it." The robber who had not yet opened his
lips, and whose whole motion the cashier still
watched stealthily, stepped forward to the
bank door; and as he drew key from under
his cloak the prisoner caught another glimpse
of the chain he could have sworn to among a
thousand.
The door swung open. The cashiers heart
was in his throat. He had not heard sound
of Bixby, but he knew the village constable
too we'll to fear, or hope, that he might have
building; but before the door could be closed
behind them there was shout, cry of dis
may, a rush of heavy feet, flash of light in a
lantern which cleaned but moment before it
was extinguishcd, the confused sound of blows
and oaths, and the breaking of glass, punctua-
ted by the report of q pistol. Foster Houghton
could never give clear account of the terrible
minute in which his consciousness seemed
partly benumbcd. He took no part in the strug-
gle, but seemed to be pushed outside the door; (;
and there as the tumult within began to dimin-
ish, Silas Bixby calne hurriedly to him, drag
ging masked figure by the shoulder.
"Houghton, you must help little We have
got the better of 'em, and my men are holding
the two big fellows down. But the fight is not
out of them yet, and you must hold this little
one three minutes, while I 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 which fol-
lowed showed that he had recovered his Ian
tern and meant to do his work thoroughly.
Foster Houghtons left hand had been guided
to the collar of his captive, and the revolver
had been thrust in 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.
If the cashier had been irresolute all his
life, he did not waver for an instant now. He
did not query within himself what was his
duty, or what was prudent, or what his wife
would advise, or what the bank directors would
think.
"Harry," he whispered, hoarsely, his lips
close to the mask, "I know you."
The shrinking figure gave one great sob.
Foster Houghton went right on without pals-
"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 Tinborough. You can catch the train.
May God forgive you"
The figure caught the hand which had re-
leased its hold as the words were spoken, and
kissed it. Then, turning back as if upon
sudden impulse, the robber murmured some
thing which could not be understood, and
thrust into the cashiers hand mass of chilly
metal which his intuition rather than his
touch recognized as Peleg Houghton's 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 wriggle away from
you? why didn't you sing out sooner ?"
'I think am getting faint. In Heavens
name, go quick to my house and release my
wife and tell her all is safe. The fright of these
shots will kill her"
Foster Houghton sunk into swoon, even as
he spoke, and only the quick arm of Silas Bixby
saved him from fall on the stone steps.
"See 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 so
start after the 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 pro-
vided for the guard of the prisoners and the
restoration of the disabled, the commander
was off at q run. Half of Enfield seemed to
have been awakened 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 lookup under the engine house, to harness
horses for the pursuit, vouchsafing only very
curt replies to their eager questions as to what
had Happened He was exasperatedon arriving
at Foster Houghton's dwelling to find the door
locked and the windows fastened. So he raised
a stcntorian shout of, "Its-all-right-Mrs.-.
Houghton. Robbcrs-caught- -and-nobody
-hurt"; repeating his words carefully to insure
being understood and then scud at full speed
back toward the bank 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 white as death, andsup-
ported by friendly hands, Assured that Hough-
ton was now able to release his wife, Bixby ran
on to the green, and in five minutes more was
settled in his gig, and urging his cheerful little
bav Morgan over the road to Tinborough, men
tally putting into form his narrative for the
Trumpet as he went.
CHAPTER III