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

our way out easy enough"
heard them leave the vault, the iron
bar put in its place, and the key turned in
the paddock.
1 realized the fact that there was no hope
for me. was prisoner and there must
remain until Monday morning.
II was no pleasant thing TO contemplate,
remaining shut up there forty-two hours
without food or water but there was no
help for 1t, for knew that all the scream
ing in the world would only be so much
breath wasted; / therefore resolved to take
matters as philosophically as / could, and
not indulge in useless repining.
Fortunately had in my pocketa volume
of Shakespeare, and the dark lantern was
also in my possession. 1 made seat for
myself on some ledgers, and turning down
the lamp to point at which 1 could read
conveniently, began to enjoy myself as
well as the circumstances of the case would
permit.
/ read five or six hours, and / can safely,
affirm that never enjoyed Shakespeare-sl
well before. The absolute quiet prevailing
and the fact of being shut Off from all ex-
|
preciate the hidden beauties of the great
poet more than ever did in my life.
read till / grew sleepy. l then made a
bed for myself of the account books, turn
ed the lamp down to the faintest glmmer,
for the sake CT saving oil, and closing my
eyes was soon fast asleep.
When awoke and looked at my watch
1 found it was ten o'clock on Sunday morn
ing. l had therefore slept about twelve
hours.
felt very hungry, but knew that had
twenty-four hours more to pass there be-
fore 1 could get anything to eat, so deter
mined to try and sleep as much of my
time as l could, remembering "q,ti dort
dine"
read good deal of Shakespeare during
the day, and about eight o'clock in the
evening again composed myself to sleep.
was suddenly awakened by the sound
of voices in the stone vault, and naturally
supposng that It was ten O'Clock on Mon
day morning, and that some of the clerks
were coming to open the safe, glanced at
my watch and to my extreme surprise
found that it was exactly twelve O'Clock at
night.
By some intuition the thought $ ruck me
in q moment. 1t was some one come TO
rob the bank, and the reverend gentleman
of the day before was spy.
The first words | heard confirmed the
truth of this conclusion, for l heard the
Rev. Mr.. Elliots voice exclaim 10 his con-
fedcrate =
"Well here we are in the famous stone
vault-do you know, jim, we got in much
easier than expected"
''Thanks to ycur visit on Saturday after
noon, Bobby, as one of the biackcoated
gentry"
The robbers, then, were the famous White
Haired Bobby and Slippery jim.
"Yes," returned Bobby, 81 think l gam
moned the two buffers pretty well. You see
Jim, what 1t is to be a man of educatior-s
should like TO see you in the part of the
Rev. Mr.. Elliot, and see what a figure you'd
cut in it,
"That amt in my line, no how-but tell
you what Bobby, you can't beat me at pick
ing lock-
"You are pretty good at that, but come,
let us get at the swag.'
"You are sure you haven't forgotten how
to open the safe, Bobby?"
"No, indeed the fool told mo it was by
turning the handle round seven times. OF
all the blabbers 1 ever saw, never saw
one come up to this man Braintree."
saw that it was now time for me to act.
Fortunately had my pistol with me.
drew 1t from my pocket, cooked it, and
turned the lamp TO its full. l waited for
the door of the safe to be opened, realizing
fully that my only chance of overpowering
the two rufiians was to take them by sur
prise; for If I allowed them to recover
themselves from the sudden effect of my
appea rance, they being two 10 one, would
soon overpower me.
had not long TO wait. l heard the han
pie turn seven consecutive times, and then
Bobby gave a strong pull at the heavy door
of the safe.
1t yielded, but in moment stepped out
with the dark lantern turned full upon the
robbers, and with my arm stretched out
holding the cooked pistol in my hand.
The effect of my appearance on Bobby
and Jim was absolutely terrific. They
must have thought me a ghost for they
both turned perfectly livid with fear.
Before they had time to recover them
selves | knocked Jim senseless to the floor
with the butt end of my pistol, and spring.
ing upon the other, grasped him by the
throat and bore him 10 the ground.
Fortune favored me in another respect,
for / saw hanging out of the pocket of the
rutiian had under me long piece of cord.
He struggled violently, but l was the
st rongest man of the two, and succeeded
in binding him fast without much trouble.
When had White Haired Bobby secur-
ed turned my attention to his companisn,
who fortunately for me, remained in con-
dition of insensiblity. In five minutes
had both so securely bound that they could
not move hand or foot. / left them while
/ went to arouse the house.
proceeded first to Mr.. Braintrees room.
He slept over the bank. knocked loudly
at the door.
"Who's thereS What Is it2" he excaim-
ed.
"Get up, Mr.. Braintrce," | cried out
"White Haired Bobby and slippery Jim
have made an attempt to rob the bank,
They are now lying in the vault securely
bound"
"You are jesting, Archer" said Brain
tree, jumping out of bed and opening the
door.
at is positive truth. The Rev. Mr. Ell
liot to whom you so obliglngy showed the
vault on Saturday afternoon, and explain
ed to him how to open the safe, was none
ether than White Haired Bobby himself"
1t was IA minute or two before Mr.. Brain
tree could realize the news | brought him.
At last the truth began to dawn on his
mind.
"You say the villains are securely bound