Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-05-12

EuTl3ua, U1lSut 10 iSO4N. r
oelior Of the Exchequsr, for any chance !
have of getting back there; but Oeine
where I am, Tn only jail-bird, Ike YOU
mate II.
g Joe. who wasn't accustomed to bold
Speaking of this kind, stepped back pace
Or two and laid his hand on six-shooter.
80 Who do you take me for = ne asked
with an oath.
al don't take yen for any one but
your proper or improper SELF said Sim
mons. quite unmoyed, and filing two tin
MUGS with the sweetened tea.
"'And who am I 2
Joe the Tinman.'
"Joe handled his pistol as one prepared
for action, but Simmons burst into q
laugh.
".Leave off handling your barking
iron,' he said, 'and take this mug OF tea.
I'd advise to put taste of rum in it, TOR
the nights nipper. You know where
the bottle is, SO make no bones about 1t:
When Old Mike THAT was the name OF
the stockman) sent me up here In his
place, he did not forget to say who was
his friends and best customers
GAIL this was said in so easy and COM
Portable a way that the bushranger was
thrown off his guard and no wonder, for
Simmons was tall, thin, young teller at
that time, and the Tinman, besides being
armed to the teeth, was middle.aged,
short, thiokset, and with the muscular
DEVELOPMENT of a bull. The hut was
miles from any other habitation, and the
hight, what with wind rain, was a
screamer.
$50 Joe the Tinman and Simmons the
trap sat down to their tea together, and a
jolly night, I've heard, they had of it.
The pitcher of spirits was filled and emp
tied again again and again. Songs were
sung and tales were told till the noisy
revelry within rivaled the dash of the
rain and the scream of the blast without.
Toward morning each took to Boosting
of his powers of doing this thing or that
thing, and among other things, Simmons,
who'd been when mere boy, sort OF
acrobat at circus, boosted of his powers
Now he said, surprising the traps
were about me, and you was one of 'em,
I'd clear a short man like you at bound /;
and, provided you wern't armed, I'd defy
dozen like you to catch me-
'The Tinman who was bumptious in
his cups, denied this.
"'Why,' said he, IF you was to try to
leap over me as you say, I'd just up with
my arms and pin your two thread-paper
legs So
He illustrated his words by action, but
Simonds only laughed.
Nonsense ! I'd skim over you as a
swallow skins over bit O. water. You
wouldn't even touch my shadder as I
passed.
The Tinman, drinking more rum, grew
angry.
"l'd like to see you try it. You're
more of a grasshopper than a properly
built man, that's what you are Come,
I'll bet you this gold watch that you
don't Jump clean over me as I stand now,
back toward YOU
"'Watch be hanged " says Simmons.
4 bet you bottle of rum against that
bowie you've got in your belt that clear
a short chap like you, hold up your hands
as high as you can, at jump only give
me the run Of few yards
Ozone" And drawing the Bowie
knife from his belt. the.bushranger laid it
on the table"
Cannon" observed Bill, who had
Ii,teud with much attention to the story.
It's a thing a Leotard, or any one O.
them zpringy chaps, couldn't do"
''It's only a trick replied Mr.. Blake
ga mere circus trick-which every clown
in the ring understands Here, I'll show
you how it's done in a minute-that is,
I'll show you how Simmons must have
done it, according to my belief"
With ready obedience Bill stood up,
and tnr nod hi9 hant- t1 +ha
Il suppose that's how the Tinman
stood ?"
Il should fancy just so. Raise your
arms little above the level of your head.
That's it. Throw them back little, and
I'M - ION how the trick was de-o."
BIZ, following every direction, raised
his hands high over his head, then let
them decline slightly in the direction of
his new friend.
The latter taking Bits wrists in his
hand, brought them gently together.
This is how the thing must have been
DONE" be said. Simmons must have
TAKEN advantage OF a position that placed
the bushranger absolutely in his power to
draw pair of handouts from his pocket.
and before the other could make a move
ment slip them on So
The thing was done in an instant, and
before the brakeman could well realize
the fact, he found himself seated in one
of the chairs, his hands fettered, and his
captor, calm and smiling, standing over
him.
"What do you mean by all this ?" Bill
gasped out at last, looking about him
with bewildored amazement. as it a
joke?"
ga capital joke - replied the other.
at was I who tried the same Joke on the
Tinman, and it succeeded capitally."
"You?"
"At that time belonged to the Colo
NAL police. "Now I'm Mr.. Inspector
Simmons My address is Scotland Yard,
and I'm very much at your service"