Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-04-05


81 have heard of that rascal, too" 1 re-
turned.
"Well, now for my information. Ilearn-
ed last night that White Headed Bobby
and Slippery Jim are about to visit Mil
waukeo for the express purpose of depriv-
ing the Citizens Bank of its specie and
valuables."
"The deuce they are" was all 1 could
say.
"Mr. Archer, I do not intend that this
worthy pair shall accomplish their pur-
pose, so 1 want you to keep an extra look
out. 1 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 Headed Bobby or Slippery
jim. Mr.. Braintree continued to visit the
Three Swans nightly, hut heard nothing
further. We came to the conclusion that
the two famous bank robbers had changed
their minds and had gone to exercise their
interesting position in another field.
81 We had forgotten all about the matter
when one Saturday, in the middle of the
month of September, while we were busi-
ly engaged in our various duties, a clerical
individual entered and asked to see the
president. The request was addressed TO
me, and l had an excellent opportunity for
obsel wing his external appearance.
He appeared to be about forty-five years
of age. of commanding presence. His face
was fresh, fair, and exceedingly good-look-
ing. His hands were very white, and he
wore a diamond ring on the little finger of
the right hand. He was dressed in a suit
of black, which fitted him perfectly, and
must have been made bya tirst-class tailor.
It was this black suit, together with the
whitest and stiilcst of cravats, and a short
sighted eye glass which dangled from his
neck, and which he now and then raised TO
his eyes, that gave him so intense a cleric
al appearance to which I have referred
above.
"Do you wish to see Mr.. Braintree on
business?" / asked.
Not exactly on business" returned tie
stranger; "but if he is discngaged, should
like to speak TO him."
"IIere is Mr.. Braintree now," l replied,
as the president stepped out of his private
room into the bank.
"Mr. Brantree," said the stranger, court
eously removing his hat and speaking in
the most polite tone, "allow me to intro
duce myself. Ny hame is Elliot, the Rev.
Robert Elliot. ! am an Episcopal clergy
man, lately appointed a pastor to a church
in st. Paul's. am now on my way there,
but cannot leave until Monday. At my
hotel today, heard my landlord speak of
the extraordinary safety vault you have
connected with this bank. As / have
penchant for seeing such structures, have
thought perhaps you would allow me to
see yours, of which have heard so much"
"Certanly, sir, with pleasure" replied
Mr.. Brantree, who, by the way, was par
tial to clergymeu, doubtless because they
formed such a striking contrast TO the in
habitants of frontier cities. "Mr. Archer"
added my chief, twill you be good enough
to light the dark lantern and accompany
us ?"
1t wanted about twenty minutes of the
usual time for closing the bank, and had
lust finished our work. Had not such
been the case, should in all probability
have sent one of the clerks in my place.
There was nothing, however, to prevent
me from doing as the president requested
l therefore lighted dark lantern, and we
all three descended the steps leading to the
vault.
The specie and valuables of the bank
were kept in an immense iron safe which
was placed in stone chamber of extraor-
dinary thickness, and the entrance TO it
was through an immense iron door, which
was secured by thick bar of iron fastened
by an immense paddock.
BY this means the specie of the bank was
doubly protected, for, even supposing that
robber should obtain an entrance into the
vault, he would still have to force the in
ner safe, matter of impossibility, unless
he happened to possess the secret, which
was turning the handle round exactly sew
en- times. Once more or less would be OF
no avail.
unlocked the paddock, leaving the key
in the lock, and we all entered the stone
vault.
The Rev. Mr. Elliot appeared to be
strangely interested In the place. He gazed
around in seeming wonders he measured
the thickness of The wall. and the length
and breadth of the stone room.
every securei Very secure p he MUIR
INJURED. "You can set bank robbers at de-
fiance with a room like this. Mr.. Brain
tree.n
"yes sir believe we can. for even if
anv one sbonld succeed in getting into tho
stono yaulf thav wouId still hava tho on IN
10 c,roou
.,T.,,o ,,or,, ,.uo >, rosno,,od ,,o .o,ou
, ,sno, a., o',o roa,,,,a.
o'' soN.o" 49, nv r1oa" ,''
IVY apou' you' saie' nc "uuou' s'%no"S
'o"aiu IL 40 "0.'poNo' sou ""'o Nv ,oon'
70 "O' "o''''9' ,''u'"0u ,"i' D'"'"
wv ""PP'". ~ h"o"
lne secret Oh opening the uOoT, Wouiu ue-