The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-09-08
THE ROBBERS LAMP.

the agent. ''But, then, it's only five miles,
and you'll have better quarters there than
here, in this vile shanty The money will
be safer, too-let alone that the men won't
go to work again unless they are paid in the
morning"
rs the road safe? I don't like the idea
of lugging SO much money | could defend
myself. or run; but fifteen hundred dollars
in small bills is big package to run with"
"Send your vaise over in advance of
vour
Whom by?"
My man."
is he trustworthy? ?"
"Honest rs the day; and he needn't know
there is anything in it but dirty linen. He
can start now: and you can wait till after
supper if you will"
And so saying the agent of the railroad
company stepped to the door of the shantv,
and shouted for Patrick; and shortly that in
dividual came-as bright, lively, honest look
looking q son of the Green Isle as ever help
ed build a Western railroad.
''Iis, Yer honor"
Take this gentleman's valise over to the
village, and leave it with the superintendent
Tell Inn the ownerll be after it this evening"
''An' is that all. yer honor?"
"That's all-only be quick about it, and
you'll earn an extra dollar"
I'm just. .the bye for that, onyhow; sure,
it's Il small bit of a valise.''
And, so saying, Patrick picked up the
object OF his contempt and trudged away
with an utter absence of curiosity as to the
nature Of what he was carrying.
The temporary station at which the econ
structon train" had landed the contractor
gentleman named Perkings-was at the
end of the new air line railroad to -;
and as the laborcrs thereon had not been
paid over promptly, they had now for some
time been on q strike, abandoning the works
and congregating idly at q hamlet few
miles distant thereby compelling their de-
linquent employers to come to terms Mr..
Perkins had brought q good share of the
ton; and after q plain but hearty supper
with the agent he was about to start on his
tramp, when it was discovered that 4 good
sized Western thunder storm was Just about
to burst, and the walk was postponed until
the sky should clear. In 4 few minutes more
the rain was coming down in torrents, and
kept ii up for an hour or so, at the end of
which time the contractor padded away
over the muddy road, congratulating HIM
self that the valisc in Patrick'S care was
water proof
Hes had a rougher time than | will, any
how and now, if amt robbed and murder
ed before get there. l shall do well enough,
in spite of the mud" And so muttering to
himself the worthy gentleman splashed for
ward.
Our present business, however, is not with
his employer but with Patrick himself.
The parting injunction to make haste had
seemed TO make a very deep impression on
the careless son Of Erin; and he trudged
easily along, with an occasional shrewd
glance at the somewhat threatening sky,
growing to himself,
it don't rain, an mebbc | will if it does.
Och but it's a wake one to be giving q dollar
for carrying the loikc O. this!'
A little more than half way across the open
prairie between the railway terminus and the
Village was 4 tolcrably dense grove, and it
was after sunset when Patrick plunged lln-
der its shadows.
Nor had he gone far, before as the gloom
rapidly deepcned, the prcmonitory flashes
of lightning and the deep, smothered roars
of the thunder gave token that the storm
was upon him.
Now, an cud ownly gilto the ovid log
house, it 'ud kape me dhry. lIowly Moses,
what flash was thatr'
And 50 saying Patrick broke into very
respectable trot, which quickly brought him
out into a little weed-grown clearing In
the centre of this there was small log house,
the deserted homestead of some discontinued
squatter who had moved farther westward.
1t consisted of but two rooms, front and
back, and all vestiges of doors or window
shutters had long since disappeared; but it
promised some sort Of imperfect shelter from
the rain.
Patrick was Just in time, for hardly had he
stumble over the grassy threshold before
the first big drops began to patter, and these
were quickly followed by such penetrating
torrents rs compelled him to select his stand
ing place under as good q corner of the leaky
roof rs he could find.
"Bless me sowl, but this is 4 wet rain,
onyhow. I'd not like to be found drowndcd
wild another mans portmanty about me
cloths. Whist, now Patrick, me jewel,
what that:9"
And, us he spoke, Patrick once more ad-
yanced toward the doorway. 1t was now
all but pitch dark and he could hear the
muffled voices of men, whose protane ut
terances seemed to try and direct one another
toward shelter.
"IIerc it is Bob, wonder if there's any
thing in it,"
''Not tonight, there won't be. Go right
in; we're comm"
Patrick was no fool, and he had heard
in the tones rather than in the
words; though these were mingled with
horrid profanity; which conveyed to his
mind Ine impression that the new colnora
were men with whom he did not care to
scrape acquaintance; neither did he like to
90 out into the stornl-and SO he quietly
glided back into the little "lean-to" that
formed the other part OF the house, and curl
ed himself up against the log.
In moment more he perceived that three
men had taken possession of his late quarters
and he lay as still rs n mouse, while they
continued n discussion which had evidently
been interrupted by the storm:
''He won't try to get over tonight,
reckon"
eyes he will he's got to-"
''But the storm ?''
"Hc'll wait till that's over
''Maybc he's started"
IF he has, he'll turn back. We're safe
enough to bag him, an it's Il little the best
lay we ever had"
''Pretty good pot, that's fact. Do you
know how he's got ii ?"
ssIn valisc Jim says
"Well we can take 1t Us well in that rs in
anything else. us the man said about his
whiskey'
..But what'll we do with him?"
dead men tell no tales"
.sThat's the safest, | guess and thcy'll