The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-07-21

thing at the Three Swans last night,
Mr.. Archer, which nearly concerns
us.n
Indeed" I returned, pricking up
my ears.
"You have heard of White Haired
Bobby"" said Mr.. Braintree.
"Do you mean the great bank rob.
ber?' asked.
" Yes, he himself lie has robbed |
more banks than any ten men in the
United States together. He has never |
failed in one instance. His success in
breaking into safes and vaults has some
thing marvellous in it. lie works gen.
orally in company with friend of his
who goes by the nom de guerre "Slip-
perry Jim.'"
81 have heard of that rascal, too," i
returned.
"Well, now for my information. 1
learned last night that White Haired
Bobby and Slippery Jim are about to
visit Milwaukee for the express purpose
of depriving the Citizens Bank of its
specie and valuables."
"The deuce they do!' was all l could
say.
"Mr. Archer, do not intend that
this worthy pair shall accomplish their
purpose, so I want you to keep an extra
lookout. / shall visit the Three Swans
nightly for some weeks, to find out, If
possible, the moment they arrive"
Six weeks passed away and we heard
no more of " White Haired Bobby" or
"Slppery Jim." Mr.. Baintree contin-
ued to visit the "Three Swans" nightly,
but heard nothing further. We came
to the conclusion that the two famous
bank robbers had changed their minds
and had gone to exercise their enter
prising profession in a different field.
We had forgotten all about the
matter, when one Saturday, in the mid
die of the month of September, while
we were busily engaged in our various
duties. a clerical individual entered and
asked to see the president. The request
was addressed to me, and had an eX-
cellent opportunity for observing his
external appearance.
He appeared to be about forty i've
years of age, of commanding presence.
His face was fresh, fair, and exceeding
ly healthy looking. His hands were
very white, and he wore fine diamond
ring on the little finger of the right
hand. He was dressed in q suit OF
black, which fitted him perfectly, and
must have been made by first clas;
tailor. 1t was this black suit together
with the whitest and stiffest of cravats
and a short.sighted eye-glass which
danglcd from his neck, and which HI
every now and then raised to his eyes
that gave him the intense clerical ap
3 pearance to which I have referred
above.
f "Do you wish to see Mr.. Braintret
on business ?" | asked.
"Not exactly on business" returned
the stranger, "but if he is disengaged
, ! should like to speak to him"
"Here is Mr.. Braintree now," l re
piled, as the president stepped out o
| his private room into the bank"
"Mr. Braintree," said the stranger
f courteously removing his hat and speak
f ing in the most polite tone, "allow IN
r to introduce myself. My name is Elliot
t the Rev. Robert Elliot ! am an Epis
copal clergyman, lately appointed pas
I tor to a church in st. Paul's. L am nov
: on may there, but cannot leave unit
l Monday. At my hotel to-day l hear
} the landlord speak of the extraordinar.
a safety vault you have attached to thi
a bank. As have a penchant for seein
such structures, I have thought per
o haps you would allow me to see your:
y of which have heard so much"
r Certainly, sir, with pleasure" re
: piled Mr.. Braintree, who by the wa
was particularly partial to clergymer
: doubtless because they formed such
: striking contrast to the inhabitants {
y frontier cities. Mr.. Archer adde
= my chief, "will you b. good enough
e light the dark lanterl and accompan
e u.s."
: our usual hour of closing the bank, an
: had just finished my work. Had sue
o not been the case, should in all probl
It bility have sent one Of the clerks in IN
place.
|, There was nothing, however, to pr
n vent me from doing as the presidel
(; requested therefore lighted a dar
e lantern, and we all three descended IL
O steps leading to the vault.
e The specie and valuables of the bal
d were kept in an immense iron sa
81 which was placed in a stone chambe
l. The walls Of this cha amber were of @
traordinary thickness and the entran
s. to it was through massive iron doc
Ie which was secured by thick bar
n iron fastened by an immense paddock
Is By this means the specie of the bal
y was doubly protected, for even supp,
u ing that a robber should succeed in {
rs tanning an entrance into the stone vau
T. he would still have TO force the i
+ mense safe, matter of impossibili
Ie unless he happened to possess the seer
is which was turning the handle arou
exactly seven times. Once more or !
Ut would be of no avail.
X / unlocked the paddock, leaving
IS, key in the lock, and we all entered
ed stone vault. The Rev. Mr.. Elliot
an peared to be strangely interested in
place. He gazed around him in see
i'd ing wonder; he measured the thickr
ok of the walls, and the length and brea
Sc. of the stone room.
Du VERY secure! very secure, indee,
he murmured. "You can set bank
ar bers at defiance with room like I
to Mr.. Braintree."
he "Hes, sir;' l believe wa can.
zee even if any one should succeed in
ting into the stone vault, they W.
he have still the safe to force"
he "True, very true" responded the