Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-02-06
WOODSTOCK. W., THURSDAY, FEB. 6. 1878.

moment the idea flashed into my head
-1wenty-tco Mousand pounds! You
see, all this dancing and junketing, and
laughing and chatting, had completely
driven out of my mind all thought Of
the large sum had in my possession.
| had left it in my great coat pocket,
which was hanging up in the hall down
stairs.
Puff! gust Of wind came through
the house, rafting the doors and viii
dows; and then heard door slam,
and foot-5tep outside OF some one
stealing cautiously away.
Away downstairs | went like amad-
man, my one thaught to put my hand
on that great coat 1t was a brown
great coat with long tails, and two
pockets behind, and Il little cash-pocket
on the letl-hand side in front, and this
breast-pockct in which had put the
bag of money. This pocket wasn't, as
usual. on the left-hand side, but on the
right. There was no coat hanging on
those rails, Only by my witcs water
proof. What? Whoop! | made to
rct hold Of that coat. Great heavens
it was gone,
| had carefully barred and chained
the front door before | went to bed
now it was unfastened. | ran out into
the street, and looked up and down.
hopeless and bewildcrcd. 1t was a
dark, damp night; the lamp ut the
corner threw a long, Sic!,ly ray down
the streaming pavement, but there was
not soul to be seen Everything was
still, and cold and dark.
The money was clean gonc-yes, it
was gone. repeated these words
mechanically to myself, as | crawled
upstairs. MI the results Of this loss
pictured themselves clearly before me
dismissal from the bank, ruin OF all
my prospects, utter errlin, in fact What
could do? to what turn! The blow
that had fallen upon me was so heavy
that it had benumbed my faculties.
Then the thought came to me :
Should 90 to bed and say nothing at
all about il! 30 one knew Of my hay
inc received that money, not soul
but Black, the man who had deposited
ii. had given no receipt for it, no
acknowledgement. Black had gone
to Amcrica--a hundred things might
happen-hc might never return, at all
events, here was immediate relief |
could 90 to the bank next morning,
hang up my hat as usual. everything
would 90 ON as before If Black re
turned. my word was As good rs his,
t The notes and cheques could never be
traced home. But | don't think re-
taincd this thought long, DO YOU ever
consider how much resolution and force
Of will it takes to initiate Il course OF
crime and deception? III neither the
one nor the other; / should have brol-
ed down at once. couldn't have met
that fellows eye and told him mad
never had his money.
woke my wilt-Shc'd slept through
all the trouble. MARY" said, "we'ro
ruined-therc's been robbery"
"A robbery!' cried she, clasping her
hands; land are the men gone"
YES" said.
"Oh, thank Heaven" she said, ''thcn
were safe, Never mind the rest, Jack,
as long as our lives are safe. But
there's my waterproof, Jack oh. dc
run and see il they've taken that.
Then | told her the story OF the
TWENTY-FIVE thousand pounds. She
wouldn't believe me at first; ; bat when
she heard the whole story she was
. frightened enough. Yet she had wits
!. about her more than had.
| You must go off to the town hail.
!, Jack,' she said, '.lnd set the police tc
i work. They must telegraph to NIL the
, stations, to London, and everywhere
Oh do 90 at once, Jack, this very mo-
= ment. Every second lost may be ruiz
= to Us.
Away went to the town hall This
q was BIG, classic place with an i'm
D mense portico aud huge flight ot
: steps; but you didn't go into the por
g tico to Get to the police office, but tc
, the side, which wasn't classical at all
= but of the rudimentaW style Of archi
+ lecture, and you went along a number
of echong stone passages before yor
D reached the Superintendent's office.
: When I'll told the Superintendent
n the story, "Ah" he said, 81 think
know who did that job"
@ "Oh!' said !, show thankful am
| Then you can put your hands upol
Y him and get back the money? wan
!. the money back, Mr.. Superintendent
never mind him. wouldn't mind, in
deed, rewarling him for his trouble, i
: | could only get the money back.
@ Sir said the Superintendent, Sc
q verely, 1.-The police amt sent into th'
# world to get peoples money back
$ nothing Of the sort. We am't going
to encourage composition of felony
and as for putting our hands on Flash.
= .Joe-for he did the job, mark you-
well, what do you think the liberty o
e the subject is for? Where's your evi
Y dence 2
| was obliged to confess | hadn'
g any; wnercat the Superintendent look
!, ed at me contemptuously.
q "Now, let's see into this matter, HI
a said, after he'd made some note on
t bit of paper. "llow came they t.
d know they'd got the money iny you
I coat p