Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-01-15

Well, he locks honest enOugh-bnt
looks ain't always a guide, said the man,
quietly.
Then I'll stop in the bank tonight snd
see if | can trap my gentleman, exclaimed
Bennett, if you'll leave me the key.
| can't do that, replied, but | shal
report the fact to the manager the first
thing in the morning.
As you like, sir. he assented reluctantly
and they both returned to their long neg
lected meal.
Again l retreated into my den, this
time with the proud consciousness OF hav'
ing something important TO relate wher
Monday morning should see the stream o
busy workers once more settling will
books and papers and filthy lucre general
| ly. One-nay, two cigars did | consume
down to the last half-inch, read Byles OF
Bills nearly through, in default of more
cheerful literature, and am afraid tiny
doze must have ensued, as | WAS awaken
ed by Benefits voice close TO me asking
what | would take for luncheon. Mechan
ically fixed upon the hackneyed chop
with cup of coffee, TO be fetched from
the only eating house that deigned 10 opel
for a couple of hours on Sunday. While
he was gone | took the opportunity o
making my second round, and found moth
ing but peace everywhere, with the Sigh
exception of being startled by the banl
eat from the cavernous depths Aof tn
enormous coal cellar. Eventually | re
turned to my room and found II succulef
chop smoking upon the table, tlanked by /
cup of coffee, which, on tasting, | foun,
rather peculiar-indeed fancied | coult
detect II peculiar aroma in the beveragt
which seemed to make it more than ordi
narly palatable; anyhow | thoroughly
enjoyed the repast, and when IN intenscl,
slumberous sensation crept through al
my veins, my strongest effort of viii
proved insufficient to keep me awake
While l was still struggling against tn
impulse, Lance came to inform me that h
was going out to dine ut his house clos
by. AS he closed the door behind hin,
my eyes shut, and l fell asleep, but onl'
in few moments to be awakened by hs
voice again addressing me.
l don't think I'll 90 out to dinner, sir,
said he, gazing at me with strange en-
preston.
Why not? qouth |, drowsily.
Well, sir, don't feel very bright to-day
and I'd rather stop indoors; and if you a
be so kind as not to mention 10 Bennett a.
I've come back. But you don't look very
well yourself, sir, just now.
Lance, that stout has made me mos
confoundedly sleepy!
Well, have n bit of II nap, sir. I'll sec
the place is all right-only | don't want
Bennett to know I'm here.
All right, all right, l replied, rather
shortly, for | wanted to be left to myself;
| yet was somewhat surprised at his wish
for concealmenl in so trivial matter.
| Again | saw the man pass out anC
partly close the door, and once more
drifted into heavy but pleasant slumber
Soon | was denizen of dreamland and
sharer in its grotesque and fantastic i'm
aginings. thought was clinging to the
telegraph wires that spread like webs owe
London, and performing thereon athletic
feats in impossible positions; then flew
through the air toward my home in Woo
| Green, spinning as went thread of wire
by which to return-a useless precauton
us | was at once transported to the deser
of Sahara, where | found myself on {;
camel's back careering across the burning
plain. But in my dreams the face of thu
eX-policeman Lance, and ever and anol
strange grating noises seemed to be bornt
by us on the wind. The pace began tC
slackcn; and, rs l spurrod on my stood t'
fresh cXertion seemed to feel the pricl
of the rowel in my own flesh. 1t became
sharper and more painful; and gradual.
camel, desert, chase, faded from my visiol
and the bank once more dawned on IN,
awakened senses. But though my aeria
steed and his surroundings had all disap
peared, the spur unaccOuntably enoug
remained, as my neither limbs were pain
fully reminding me.
1t was no dream this time-I was wild
awake. Quickly glancing around, dis
covered Lance crouching down beside m
chair, and vigorously applying pin to th
calf of my leg. To this proceeding | wa
about to enter an indignant protest whe
II significant gesture warned me to renal
mute. His face was white with unwonte
excitement, rs he rose noiselessly to III
feet, and beckoning me to n small apel
ture in the wall used for the transmissio
of books and papers between manager
and clerks, bade me look upon spectacl
that made each individual hair upon m
head to stand erect. The drawer contain
, ing the stamps and gold was being tan
pcred with before my very eyes in broa
) daylight. STOPPING down with his bac
toward US was man softly but swift
. forcing the lock with chisel. But the ma
the thcf-who was he? knew ut
| glance that long form. 1t was Bcnnet
We both shrank.
Take off your boots, sir, he whisperc
in u low voice. | noticed that his ow
feet were shoeless Creep round oulsiC
f the counter, and wait till give the wol
then over and help me.
nodded assent; and then SAW Lam
| crawl out upon his hands and knees in
= the Office, behind the shelter of IL lon
S high desk ut the end of which he won
/ be within Il few feet Of Bennett. | ere
3; away to the other entrance of The man
f gers room, which led into II large spat
n appropriated to the public. and glidir
. noiselessly along, | arrived where kne
S | must be opposite the man at his wor
Click, click, went the chisel against Il
' brass lock. 1t was apparently work
: time and difficulty, though the sound
: crushing woodwork betokened the ne
4 accomplishment of the deed. How lol
4 the time seemed! Had Lance been able
: get close to linn undiscovered?
c Judged so, as the chisel still continu,
:, its grating work. Sometimes it stopp,
4 for II moment, and then | knew that Il
man was watching the door of the man
: gers room, to see that was safe under Il
influence of the narcotic administered
!, nv cup of coffee. Click, click, crunc
d, and the whole lock appeared to con
e away, the drawer being at the same tin
a drawn softly open.
y Now, thought |, here goes.
D Not yet! could hear the mellow cli'
: of the small bags Of gold as they we
d hurriedly transferred to the mans pocket
= then the stiff rustic of many sheets
G stamps told like destination. isten
breathessly. Suddenly there was II W
! of mingled fright and rage, and vaultil
Il ut one bound across the counter, sl
Bennett falling backward, the thro
clutched by the practiced hands of the e
policeman, who hung on with will, ha
ing sprung upon him silently from benin
+ The strangled man struggled like II fen
G dealing me several ugly kicks with h
1onO lops as | attacked him from tho fror