Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1875-05-21
THE MYSTFRIOUS ROB
RERY.

near the rampar,s lived a carpenter named
Bcnott. He was q sober man, who said
little. He had followed several trades );
had been a solLicr, travelled great deal,
md had many adventures, but as he never
spokc of them, the Town people thought
ln had nothing good to tell.
The only person that he was at all cor
.lial with wa, an old soldier named Trappe
who had saved his life in battle. This
man was q great talker and b0astcr. and
Benott suspected him of beng knave.
He had set up barber's shop in street
nearby. One evening he called On Benott
to ask him to drink bottle of wine at the
Cheyal Noir, with two old comrades who
had served in the same regiment.
At first Benott refused; but when
Trappc told him it was the anniversary OF
the battle in which he had saved. his life,
he accepted. and insisted upon paying the
score. When he arrived at the cabaret lie
found two i'll looking fellows whom he
hal never seen before. They sat drink
ing together in the public room until
nearly IL o'clock.
Benott. after spending more money than
he had ever spent before ut an inn 10 Mar
monte, babe them good night and went
home, followed by Trappe, who was talk
ing loudly, up to the room where Madame
Benott and her son were. Trappe laugh
,ngly forced them 10 drink two glasses OF
wine with him. Bcnott, annoyed, walked
10 the window, and when he turned
around was astonished to lind Trapre
gone. He remembered this afterwards
but thought little Of it At the time, he wal
sleepy with the wine. lie then fasten
ed his doors and went to bed.
The next morning he was astonished t.
find his shop door ajsr, and on going t
his lumber loft, that the window wa
open. He said nothing, for It was nO! h'
custom to talk about what he did not un
lderstand. On going to his work, he f'unt
the whole town in excitement, and talking
about great robbery committed during
the night. He soon perceived. too, tha
he was avoided, and many cast str"ng
glancts at him. Then he overheard
neighbOr say;
II noticed Benott's shop door open Ias
night after eleven O'Clock, most unusua
circumstance-no h.ht--police-"
He passed on. SO Benott heard no more
but his suspicious were aroused. Il
knew Trappe did not leave his house y;
iii all we're asleep, and that he had opene
the door to the robbers He remembcre
the wine, too. He went to the barber
shop.
"Trappe," said he, ",hou Last saved m
life; l shall say nothing"
The next day Trsppe disappeared.
From this time proofs seemed to acct
|muiatc against Benott. The police foun
1.-The tracks of the robbers from bis rs'of
1.-The ramparts. A silver spoon belongin
I,o family who had been robbed of tho
Iplatc was found under the window Of u
lumter loft. BenOrt was arrested an
brought before the court. He was askc
: by the judge If he left the door and vii
Idoy open.
Hs answered mo-
'Then, said the Judge, do you kno
who did open thems'
n NO. replied BsnOtf; Tor nc did N
know that 1'raple had done il.
y DO you suspect any oner
!. NO. monsieur. A. ! sm suspected u
Justly, l have no right % suspect 0ther'
In short, he answered every questio
sIhonsstly, without ,nculpsting ISapp
THE Judge finding no proof against hln
lwss Obliged u SET him fSee
g Il was evident to him, however. fro
slthc manner Of the discharge and the tal
iIof the people about the cOnrt, that ne ~
s|sull suspected. He showed 10 emouo
cIbus went quietly home.
i Afts embracing his wife and son. VI
a we're asansporsed viii joy p - b
lagsin, he said n the laiser;
II sylvester, you win hear everywhe
-Ithat although I an acquitted, Ia,a 20 !
Thought : koays. n not dtsquieteds q
Iwiii not lsst fogever,s
HI vie ~ sigAeDssd - what y 81
Ibaa did M belisvs 4 6hs west oas
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