The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-03-01

wrapper, Bill Ketchum watching him
with one eye, and wondering whether
he was insane, or Just the smartest man
he ever saw. He had an idea that it
was just the easiest thing to knock
him over rs he stood there, and walk
off with the plumber; but that hint
about the telegraph stopped him. The
old man showed him out, and when he
got into the hall he says: ''You
are the first peddler that ever saw
that carried a revolver in his breast
pocket -
Bill started little, for he had an
idea that Calcott must have seen it.
no, no, says the old man; $50 you
have got one p
The last thing he said to him as he
was going down the steps was "You
are not smart enough for this job, my
man.
Ketchum told his fellows that he
was never so clean winded in his life.
81 felt so mean when / was going
away says be, 'sthat I'd half mind
to reform and cut the profession"
Well, not to make the story
too long, the upshot of the story Of 1t
was that Ketchum. I. fellow by the
name of Welter, and Jack Frost put
up the Job TO crack the old man S
place. Ketchum and Frost, | think.
went into the business from kind of
pride. They considered they had been
challenged, and it was . point Of honor
to take the old man at his word.
They got up there one dark night IN
May and laid by till long after mid
night. Then they got over the fence
and sneaked up to the house. They
were all heavily armed, and, | forgot
to say, were delayed some time look
ing for the telegraph wire. which
they couldn't find, of course, there not
beingany Fancy their surprise when.
after crawling found the place, look
ing for soft spot to break IN they
found that the front door was unlock
ed and the hall dark. 1t had been
agreed that old Calcott should be shot
at sight if he interfered.
There was good deal of anxiety at
the headquarters OF the gang that
night for this job had been talked
about a good while, and ketchum had
staked his reputation on it. Dutch
| Morley Was to be sst d point III the
road about two miles north of the nous
with fast team to carry off the
sway" and arrangements had been
made at Dobbs Ferry to divvy and
| cut.
Dutch Morley waited till day begar
to break, and then only two of his
men turned up They were covered
with blood, and one Of them had his
arm broken. Welter had been left
| behind disabled. The story they told
was curious one. The whole gang
got round them when they reached
I their dive. and put the questions, tt
| them fast and thick. III
'sBub you fixed the old fellows flint
| anyhow - said somebody.
1--WE didn't see him at all" answer
| ed Ketchum. doleiully. mo, d ID it
| we were in the dark. Why a lamp
wouldn't burn any more II stone
| We liked to suffocate.
ooh, that's thin" says another
"why didn't you 60 out III the aIr!'
/ because we couldn't get out; WI
| were fastened in like rats. Ever,
|
shutter on the inside as tight as Il rlcf
mans pocket. There WAS only on
way out--down back staircase out
side, about twelve inches wide onl.
one of us could go at "a time, and whel
we reach the bottom something fell OF
us in turn.
That was Ketchum's account of it
Frost was the only plucky one Of TIL
lot. He didn't believe IL witchcratt
and he vowed he would get square o.
Old Calcott.
With that he sets out to find Gallo
Charley, who was the best man in In
business where there were iron shut
tiers concerned.
The very next day but one after thi
. attempt on Calcott's house The Gle
Spring Herald Il think it was tn
Herald) had another notice like this :
The attempt TO rob my house o
Thursday night. which failed so con
pletely, should not brighten othe
thieves from making the trial. Fo
the next thirty days there will be NOR
gold and silver on the premises tina
; ever before.
JOHN CALCoTT.
Frost got hold of Calico Charley an
| explained the whole thing TO hin
None of the gang knew Charley's RICH
| name. and don think be was toll
the name of the man they were to rot
+. Frost explained TO him that it was til
/. steel shutters that knocked them,
and he thought now they knew til
trick one of them could wedge the iro
/, and keep the exit open while the other
{ secured the property. At all event:
. the two men cooked mp new job an
, made sure that they would haul tn
whole pile, as We say. Charley, VIII
2 was careful worker. went at th
. thing Systematically. and talked yer
: little. They were about two week
r getting ready. In spite OF all the
d plans to keep it dark, the gang e
! wind of the affair. and of course the
were all very anxious TO see how
D would come out.
: Charley and his pal went up to
/ little station about three miles north {
Glen Spring land started down at nigi
! on foot. 1t was so dark when the
got to the house that they could M
e see the sign. There wasn't the glin