Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-10-24

on the summit Of n ridge of country from
which the road swept down into small val
ley, in the middle OF which, and close to the
high road stood small square house.
THE Ten Tramps. dare wager that Jim
Riley and wife are in that house." said Mr..
Choop. ''It is n notorious gathering place
for all the rogues in the district"
Mr.. Choop descended and he and Timothy
held secret council some four minutes. Then
Timothy opened n small bundle-brought all
the way from Newstone-and proceeded with
much gravity to induct himself into n wagon
ers blue smock frock, plentifully braided and
buttoned after the fashion in which wagoners
delight. He next turned up the bottoms Of
the fustian trowsCrs, 30 rs to bring into more
prominent view his laced-up boots then he
| gave his hat a push back and his hair n pull
forward and set of at n swinging pace in the
direction of the Ton Tramps, whistlng the
plough boy as he went. Mr. Choop and
passed the next half hour together, smoking
cigars aud discussing various matters, with a
| glance over the hillock every two or three
minutes in the direction of the inn.
"Why not wait till night / asked Mr..
Choop, "when you could approach the house
without being Z"
because after dark we should be pretty
sure Of finding half dozen rough customers
| there, who would make the matter awk-
ward"
"Then why not take half dozen men with
! you so rs TO avoid all risk p
"What credit would there be in that ?
When Timothy and l fail it will be time
enough to call in other assistance. There he
| Isl"
Timothy was loungng against the doorpost,
smoking long clay pipe. While We were
watching him he took of his hat and scratch
ed his head vigorously; second time aud a
third time.
IAN right, said Mr.. Choop. THAT was
the signal. Lend me your cap, Fred, and
you take my hat don't want Riley to rec
ognize me until get into the house"
Having made the transfer, we set of. Mr..
Choop walking with an assumed limp.
Timothy was still smoking his pipe at the
door when we reached the inn.
'Foine day, master"
VERY fine. my man. said Mr.. Choop.
''What sort of tap have you got here =
'Oh, todish You'll foind the landlord
somewhere inside. All the women folks
seem TO have gone out somewhere"
Two glasses Of your best ale, landlord, "
exclaimed Mr.. Choop to burly, red.hoaded
| man with a villainous countenance who
came forward scowlng suspicously The
! landlords back was hardly turned before a
| quick whisper was exchanged between Tim
othy and Mr.. Choop We were lighting the
| cigars when the landlord returned with the
! ale. He showed us into small room, and
| we left the countryman still smoking at the
| door. He seemed to be thirsty soul this
countryman, for he called for glass after glass
as if fully determined upon getting drunk in
| the shortest possible time. He drank 80
much that the landlords big jug was exhaust
| ed, and lie lighted a candle TO go down into
| the cellar, to draw more ale. Hardly had the
landlord reached the bottom of the cellar
steps before the door was quickly locked be-
| hind him.
Mr. Choop's apathy vanished in moment.
His eyes flashed, his teeth glistened, he look
| ed dangerous. "Go You into the garden, "
he whispered to me, "anl take your stand be
low the window on the left. II Jim Riley
! jumps out, though don't think he'll, have
| time-lay hold of him and stick TO him till !
come. Now, Tim, quick, and be silent. "
Mr.. Choop and Timothy each pulling out an
| ugly looking staff crept up stairs as stealthily
as two burglars, while l FASTENED into the
| garden.
| A mingled noise of shouting and oaths
| crowned by woman's wild shrek, the crash
of falling table, and then the window was
flung up, and Mr.. Darke, dashing madly
| through followed closely by Choop. They
came down almost together, aud rolled over
| in a fierce struggle But Mr.. DArke, twice as
sAIphB ~ Ms bllbutuN, WhS hHHtIuOSl
sitting astridc Of Mr.. Choop. Only for one mo
ment for the next my arms were around his
neck. gave him Il sudden pull back with all
my strength Choop, now on his feet, whip
! ped out his handouts, and had Mr.. Darkc
| safe and fast before that individual could re-
| cover his breath
At this moment Timothy appeared, escort
ing Mrs. Riley as | suppose she ought to be
called and carrying, with much care, the
small black portmGutoau. Mr. Choop open
| ed it, and I perceived it TO be half full of
watches, rings, pins and jewclry Of various
| kinds The woman's veil, now thrown back
showed me the midnight traveller minus the
moustache a bold, forward-looking, good
! featured woman bearing her misfOrtunes
with a naughty indifference that excited Tim
| othy's admiration.
The landlord, kicking at his cellar door,
and calling TO be let out long before this, was
released by Timothy and very bland he
looked when he beheld how his guests had
suddenly come to grief. BY MIR. Choops
orders he brought out his horse and light
cart and we drove back through the darken-
ing afternoon to Fulwood.
Through Mr.. Choop's indefatigable exer-
tions, the whole gang of burglars was speedi-
| ly captured. One of them turned Queen 3
| evidence, and it then came out that Mr.. Riley
was the planner only of the burglRries in
which they had all been engaged for some
| time back, it being his duty to pick out the
| premises to be robbed, TO make plans of
| them, and arrange the details of the attack,
| leaving to others the merely mechanical part
| of the business and receiving q certain share
of the proceeds for his part of the labor.
Three days after Christmas day l received
a note from Mr.. Lancaster asking me to 90
over to Ironyille. as he wished particularly to
see me- He received me in his grave, quiet
way, looked me through and through, from
| under his bushy gray eyebrows, motiOned me
to a seat and then spoke:
II received yesterday morning from Mr..
| Choop, IN account of certain events relative
to the recent burglary on my premises"
THE burglary on your premises, sir 7"
''Yes We're you not aware of it p
II was, of course, aware that robbery had
been committed, but was not aware that you
were the sufferer"
''Such, however is the case" replied Mr..
| Lancaster. Mr.. Choop informs me that it
was through you he first obtained the clue
which enabled him to track and capture part
of the gang and recover portion Of the stol-
en- property, and that he was much indebted
TO your courage and activity in the capture of
Riley. Now, l am not an ungrateful man
you have had liking for my daughter, which,
| l believe, is returned by her but you are
not in a position TO marry. 1 will tell you
what I'll do for you. l will take you as an
assistant in my shop at moderate salary,
and if | find that you bring into your new
trade that amount of intelligence and actiyi-
ty which am told you possess, l will ad-
vance you accordingly; ; and providing you
and Cary remain in the same mind another
year will not object to your marriage Let
me have your decision in the morning You
will find Cary in the parlor."
need hardly say that both Cary and are
very glad to see Mr.. Choop whenever he ia
vors us with a call in our new home, and
brings us news of Lemonfngers, who, now
that Mr. Riley is working out his penal sery-
itude, is doing well as licensed hawker in
the hosiery and Nottingham line
A good country parson preached series