The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-08-08
"0ver the Wires"
HOW THE BURGLARS WERE CAUGHT.

First, must tell you who am, and
how l came to be in the Baysville Bank
in the "wee sma' hours" one dresry De-
cember night, some three years ago.
My name was then Olive Hudson, and
was seventeen years old that same De-
cember night, and so small that Mrs.
Knights Dolly, who was not twelve years
old, was half head taller than myself.
We were rich folks once, but father
died and left US very poor. Mother
struggled along in a weary hand-to-hand
with poverty till was sixteen, and then
died. She had rented two rooms of Mrs.
Knight, widow, also, with two stalwart
sons, an aged father, and two daughters.
After mother died l was adopted by the
Knights, and although l was earning a
support as music teacher in the Baysvile
Academy, was like one of the family
when l was in my good !andlady's home.
They were all in good positions, but
by no means an arlstocratic family.
John, the eldest son, was in New York in
. wholesale sugar house; Tom was the
night Waterman of the Baysville Bank
building, and grandpa-we all call him
town, while Mary was milliner, and
Dolly stayed at the office, sending and re-
ceiving messages.
Baysville Bank building was a large
granite structure, containing the post
office and bank on the first floor, the te,e-
graph office and number of private law
offices on the second floor, and other pri-
vate offices on the third floor. In the
basement were postoffice rooms for sort
ing the mail, and also the large bank
vault.
knew the building well, for l was
fond of telegraphirg, and spent half my
leisure time perched up beside grandpa,
while be slept peacefully or read the
newspapers.
And that was the beginning of my
amusement at Dryden, the next station.
The operator at Dryden was wit, and
flashed nonsense to our office when bust
ness was dull. 1t fell flat when grandpa
was in the office, but if l were there l
sent back jest for jest, and sometimes an
hour slipped by like a minute as We
talked over the wires of every topic
under the sun. He called himself
"Lion." and I, for nonsense, signed my
self Elephant" laughing as | did SO at
the reflection Of my tiny fingers in the
office mirror.
Beyond Dryden. and only five miles
from Baysville, wac c., a large COM
mercial town, the nearest railway station,
and where an office was always open for
the accommodation of travellers.
As l have said, Tom Knight was the
night Waterman of Baysville Bank build
ing, and lonely time he had of it. The
last mail came by stage at four o'clock in
the afternoon, and the postoffice was va
Gated at six. The bank closed at three,
and by six o'clock every Office was de-
serted for the night.
At seven Tom was on duty, and grand
pa, who was restless at night, was in the
habit of taking down some coffee and
luncheon, Ms the building was only
stones throw from the house.
On the December night have already
mentioned, it had stormed heavily all
day, and had taken new class at the
Academy, coming home later in the day
than usual, and excited over my increase
in salary.
Every body else had gone to bed, and l
WAS lingering over the kitchen fire with
Mrs. knight, dreading the plunge into
nv cold room, where had allowed the
fire to 60 out.
The clock struck twelve, and Mrs.
Knight, lifting her face from over the
Gre, said:
.Do call grandpa, Olive; he's asleep
on the sofa 10 the sitting room. I'll have
Toms basket ready by the time grandpa
has his hat aud coat on. | hate to call
him, for he was complaining Of rheuma-
tism all day, and the ground is very wet,
although the storm is over"
~Let him Sleep" | said; "Iil run over
with the basket. 1t is but step"
But it is so dark are you not afraidi"
Not bit; I'll slip on my waterproof
and rubbers and draw the hood of my
cloak over my head"
"Well, if you will, though l am afraid
Tom will scold at INV letting you CO."
an put the basket and run, and he
will never know who left it"
go into the rear basement door; he
leaves that open for grandpa"
II know"
grasped the handle of the basket, and
hurried across the space between the
building and the house, and stole softly
in at the basement door, in pursuance Of
NJ plan to drop the basket and run.