Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-03-09
to their sockets and I was prison

was, any one shut inside it could
hear every word that was uttered
in the vault, while no noise that he
might make could reach the outside
| was aware Of that peculiarity and
knew that it was utterly useless toT
me to call out.
The only hope l had was, that
when Mr.. Braintree missed me he
would surmise where l was. But
in few moments this Illusion was
dispeIled.
"Why wher can Mr.. Archer be?''
heard Mr.. Braintree observe. "Ohl
remember now, he had an engage
ment after banking hours, and ]
suppose he has gone to keep it, but
think he might have left the Ian
tern with me. But we can find our
way out easy enough"
| / heard them leave the vault, the
iron bar put UP in its place, and the
key turned IN the paddock.
realized the fact that there was
no hope for me- / was q prisoner
and there / had TO remain until
Monday morning.
1t was no pleasant thing to con-
template remaining shut up there
for foFty-tWo hours without food or
water; but there was no help for it,
for / knew that all the screaming in
the world would only be so much
breath wasted; l therefore deter
mined to take matters as philoso-
phic&lly as could, and not indulge
in useless replning.
Fortunately, had in my pocket a
volume of Shskspear, and the dark
lantern was In my possession. 1
made a seat for myself of some
/ ledgers, and turned down the lamp
/ to a point at which l could read con-
Veniently, began to enjoy myself
as well as circumstances of the case
would permit.
read for five or six hours, and 1
can safely affirm that / never Onjoy-
ed Shakespeare as we'll before. The
absolute quiet prevailing, and the
fact of being shut of from all ex-
terror influences seemed to make me
appreciate the hidden beauties CT
the great poet more than / ever did
in my life.
read till I grew sleepy. / then
made bed for myself of the account
books, turned the lamp dove to the
faintest glimmer, for the sake of
saving oil, and closing my eyes, l
When / awoke and looked at my
watch, found it was ten o'clock on
Sunday morning. / had therefore
slept about twelve hours.
l felt very hungary, but / knew
that had twenty-four hours more
to pass there before l could get any
thing to eat, so I determined to try
and sleep as much of my time as
possible, remembering the French
proverb, "qui dort dine"
read great deal of Shakspear
during the day, and about eigth
o'clock in the evening, again COM
posed myself to sleep.
was suddenly awakened by the
sound of voices in the stone vault,
and naturally supposing that it was
ten O'Clock on Monday morning, and
that some of the clerks were to come
open the safe, / glanced at my watch
and found to my extreme surprise
that it was exactly twelve O'Clock at
night.
BY some intuition, the truth flashed
over me in moment. 1t was some
one come to rob the bank, and the
reverend visitor of the day before
was q spy.
The first word 1 heard confirmed
the truth of this conclusion, for
heard the Rev. Mr.. Elliot's voice ex-
claimed to his confederate:
Well, here we are, in this famous
stone vault-do you know, Jim, we
got in much easier than 1 expect
ed"
teTbaDl-a 10 xyouY. VyiSit on Saturday
afternoon, Bobby, as ono OF the
bl1ek-ooafed gentry 49,
The robbers, then, were the ia
nous "White Haired Bobby" and
| Slippery jim"
'FYes," returned Bobby, 81 think
7 gammoned the two buffers pretty
well. You see, Jim, what it is to
| be a man of education. l should
like to see you in the part of the
Rev. Mr.. Elliot, and see what fig
ure you'd cut in it.n
'"That amt in my line, no how
but tell you what, Bobby, you
can't beat me at pickinga lock-"
'"You are pretty good at that, and
no mistake. But come, let US get at
the swag."
"You are sure you havn't forgot
ten how to open the safe, Boby?"
'ENo, indeed; the fool told me that
| it was by turning the handle round
seven times. OF all the blessed ba-
| bies that ever saw, never saw
any to come up to this man Brain
tree" M
| saw that it was now time for me
to act. fortunately had my pistol
| with me. 1 drew it from my pock-
ct, cooked il, and turned up the Ian
tern to its full. / waited for the
door of the safe to be opened, real
iZing fully that my only chance OF
oveTpowering the two ruffians was
to take them by surprise; for ii al
lowed them to recover themselves
from the sudden effects of my APP
pearance, they being two to one,
would soon Overpower me. "
/ had not long to wait. l heard
the handle turn seven times, and
then Bobby gave a strongpull at the
safe.
1t yielded, but in a moment ]
stepped out with the dark Ian
tern turned full on the robbers, and
with arm stretched out holding the
cooked pistol in my hand.
I L AAO CACNI "a REN~~- NANI OA
Bobby and Jim was absolutely ter.
rifle. They must have thought me
a ghost for they both turned perfect.
ly livid with fear.
Before they had time to recover
themselves, knocked Jim senseles:
to the floor with the butt end OF my
pistol, and springing upon the other
/ grasped him by the throat anC
bore him to the ground.
Fortune favored me in another re
spect for saw hanging out of tht
pocket of the ruffian I had under
me, long piece of cord. He strug
gled violently, but l was the strong
est man of the two, and succeeded
in binding him fast without mucI
: trouble. "a
When l had White Haired Bobb,
secured turned my attentionto hi
companion, who fortunately for me
, remained in condition OF insensi
bility.
In five minutes l had them botl
so surely bound that they could no
move hand or foot. l left them
2 while went to arouse the house.
| proceeded first to Mr.. Braintree'
/ room. He slept over the bank.
! knocked loudly at his door.
J, "WhO's there? What is it?" he ex
= claimed. 2
"Get up, Mr.. Braintree," 1 erie,
Z out. 'fWhits Haired Bobby an
Slippery Jim have made an attemp
{ to rob the bank. They are bot
now lying in the vault secuxel
d bound"
n ''You are jesting, Archer" sal
= BFaintree, jumping out of the be
o. a,,d Oy,auinor the door