The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1877-03-29

Bot you fixed the cid fellows hin,,
anyhow said somebody.
We didn't see him 81 all, answered
he,ohum, doiefuly. No, We were 10
the dark. Why, lamp wouldn't burn
any more'n a stone. We liked 10 snfTo-
cate.
Oh, lhaes thin, says another; Why
didn't you 20 out into The Airf
Because we couldn't get out; We were
fastened in like rats. Every window
and door closed up with a steel shutter
on the inside as tight as rich mAn's
pocket. There was only one way out
down = back stAIcass outside, abost
twelve inches wide; only one Of US could
go stA tune, and when we reached the
bottom something fell on us in turn.
That was Kelchum's account Of il.
Frost was the only plucky one Of the lot.
lie didn't believe in witehcraf,, aud he
vowed he'd get square on old CAlcoit.
With this be set out TO fnd Calico
Charley, who was the best in the bust.
ness where there were iron shutters con-
cerned.
The very next day but one after this
attempt on CalcotPs house, the Glen
Spring Herald had another notice like
this.
The sttempt 10 rob my house on Thurs-
day night, which failed 40 completely,
should not frighten other thieves from
making the trial. For the next thirty
days there will be more gold on the
premises than ever before.
JOHN CALcoTT.
Frost got hold of Calico Charley aud
explained the whole thing TO him. None
OF the gang knew Charley's right name
and don't think he was told the name
OF the man they were TO rob. Frost eX-
planned to him that il was the stee shut
ters that Knocked them, and he thought
now they knew the trick one of them
could wedge the iron and keep the exit
open while the other secured tho proper
ty. At all events the two men cooked
up new job and made suie that they
would haul the whole pile, as we say.
Charley who was careful worker, went
at the thing systematically, got his tools
ready, sent Frost off to reconuoiter, and
talked very little. They were about two
weeks getting ready. In spite of all their
pains TO keep it dark, the gang got
wind OF the affair, and of course they
were all very anxious to see how II would
come out.
Charley and his pal went up TO a little
station about three miles north of Glen
Spring, aud started down at night on
foot. II was so dark when they got to
the. house that they could not see the
sign. There wasn't the gimmer OF a
light about the place. They were to go
softly and try the front door. Ii il OPEN
ed they were 10 step inside quickly.
One Of them was to stay at the door TO
keep the egress open; the other was to
go up stairs and secure the valuables.
They had two jimmies, cold chisel and
lot of other traps of Charley's, that you
can see down there at the central Office in
glass case.
They found the front door unfastened
as before. Charley pushed II open and
they both stepped quickly and stealthily
into the hallway. Wait moment, he
whispered to his companion, and striking
a match; want to see how this thing
works, With that he struck light and
took good look at the doorway. see
the trick, says he: give me that screw
wrench and be quick. In less than two
minutes he had the groove in which the
steel shutter moved SO pincbed that no
earthly power could have made the
thing work. Now 90 on, says he, and
with that Frost crawls up the stairway.
he hadn't any more than got to the top
when The iron shutter began TO appear
coming up through the floor, and TO
Charley's astonishment il came down
from above also. He saw in uslante
that he WAS beaten. The two hslses OF
the shutter would come to the pinch iu
through which no human being could
escape. $. he jams the jimmy upright
into the grove TO keep the irous apart,
and calls out 10 Frost IN boarse whisper
to come back. Jack was in the upper
hall aud getting scared, makes bold
rush down the stairs, catches his foot la
something and lands all in heap at the
bottom, knocking Charley's light into
smithereens and making a most Internal
noise. Charley was smart enough,
though, to hold his jimmy steady so az TO
keep the shutters apart aud after Frost
had picked himself up and they had both
listened, without bearing anything, one
of 'em says with an oalbi We're in a
box; let's get out. II was Frost. No,
you don't, says the other. We've come
for the stuff this time. never was beat
en- Jet at this sort Of game, and ain't
beat yet. Take your shooter, follow me
up aud shew me the way.
They got up TO the top Of the stairs.
II was still as death, aud Calcott lights q
bulls eye. Frost was getting pretty
sbAky. So Charley says; Show me the
room, and with his lamp in one hand and
pistol Ia the other be pushes in, leaving
Frost there in The ball watching the
square boIe 10 the door, between the
shutters, and expecting every minute it
would close up. II must have been ten
minutes before Calcott came back. lie
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