Morris tribune., 1883-01-20

It was late that evening that Mrs.
Everett completed q garment which the
owner desired for the next days wear,
and that she might not be disappointed
| Ernest Immediately started out to deliv- |
or it. His destination was fully two
miles away, on the other side of the viii
lage, and on his return the whole town
seemed wrapped in slumber. Scarcely
q light was burning inthe houses that
he passed, and the way would have been
lonely enough, only that his thoughts
busy for Loneliness. He was
thinking of the days disappointment,
and with a boyish freak he resolved to
to 90 around by the bank, 'ijust to have
a look at it" as he mused to himself.
1t was somewhat farther that way, but.
what did a few minutes matter more or
less? aE1s3EH ~4.a' #t"" Et
He crossed a lot and came up ill the
shelter of a converging fence opposite,
where he stood for some time thinking
and gazing at the outlines of,the build
ing, dimly discernible through the faint
starlight.
Suddenly he became aware that two
persons were cautiously approaching,
and they finally halted just in front of
him and not four feet distant. They,
too, were intently regarding the bank.
At the first family spoken word be rec
ognized the voice of the butter mer-
| chant and from his position he could
not help hearing everything said, eau
tious as were the tones.
"All gone to bed!' n of the new
corners muttered. 1.-THE fates favor
those who mean TO favor themselves.
It's clouding fast, and in an hour twill
sure YOU have the horses here in season,
and ten rods above here will be a good
place for them. I'll have the window
ready for passage by that time, and the
! job will be q short one!" IS.
Then followed a few sentences III the
slang of the craft whose purport the list
ener could not catch, and the two stole
away in different directions. Ernest
.rept from his c~oncealmept trembling
with excitement and the chill OF the
~evening. He was sure that he had
lmade "a great discovery, and that the
two men intended to rob the bank.
Taken in connection with the peculiar
movements of the stranger which he
had observed during the day, the scene
Iust noticed left no room for doubt.
His first impulse was ito awaken Nh.
Parkman ard warn him of the danger;
but he shrank from disturbing the bank
er, who after all might not believe his
story. Then he recollected that there
was to be a harvest frolic at the house Of
a neighbor, not more than half a mile
away, and he determined to go there
for help. t.. .. :,
Creeping from the spot where he had
made the discovery he bounded away at
a keen run, regardless Of the darkness,
and ia a short time had secured the SER
vices Of half-doZen strong fellows, who
were not q little e1ated at the idea OF
capturing a brace of burglars. Two of
the party found shelter behind q onve-
nient clump of bushes but a few feet
from the threatened window, while the
others We're concealed within springipg
distance.
They had but a few minutes to wait,
for almost before they suspected his
presence a dark figure glided stealthily
up to the window and began an attack
upon the fastenings. In an instant he
was seized, bound and gagged, and
dragged away beneath a shed for safe
keeping, while one of his captors took
his place near the window, as adecoy for
the confederate. -
Some time elapsed, and fears began to-
be felt that the accomplice might have
escaped, when he too cautiously crept
up and whispered:-
ais all right?" t...
In answer he received blow that
knocked him senseless, and when he was
secured the neighborhood was aroused
to rejoice oVer the capture and devise
means for the safe keeping of the
desperadoes until they could be turned
over to the officers of the law.
Ernest waited only to assure himself
that the capture was safely made, and
then he fastened home to find his
mother, as he had feared, not a little
> l no-1 ~ P 11c rpnrnnafn cd oECn r.
In a few words he told what had hap
, pened, and the hearty words of praise
from his mother added not q little to
l his natural satisfaction over the
occurrence. n -.
, 1t wa well toward morning before the
, excited boy fell asleep, and then his
brain was full Of visions OF outlaws; aveD-
gers, and all manner of extraordinary
occurrences. He did not Waken till the
morning was well advanced, and then
his mother stood at the bedside, he1
; hand resting upon his brow. ,, nj
Come Ernest" she said, Fit is late
= and Mr.. ~Parkman has called to see you"
Theiyoung hero was prepared to meet
his early visitor, and as he entered the
. apartment the banker rose to greet him
! with a hearty grip of the hand.
! They tell mo that you were the
. IueailS o. capturing tioSo tasSS'o Aao'
night my boy. Tell me all about it,
! please!r' "|.f n.y.
: Ernest did So, relating not only the
events Of the evening, but the peculiar
+ actions of the pretended butter mer-
J chant which had not escaped his obser-
. yation during his visit to the bank. .
r.'When I heard him talking with his
+ chum," Ernest added. az knew thai
/ when he was pretending to be examining
his money he was really looking at the
! window ~fastenings, and making his
plans
= fa"Very good, my boy; very good! But
r [ want you to tell me honestly how you
> came to be at that particular place al
= that moment -,1 - .@ -
!, Had Ernest been less truthful be
! would not have gwen the answer which
a he. did, and this little story would never
have been written. Az it was, he hest
tated4a moment, and blushed somewhat
:. as he said - 4.., ..
, "You know, sir, | went to see you yes
terday, and was thinkingso muchabou'
a that, as I went over to take home some
O work for mother, that I thought l would
inst 90 around that way as | came back
t "And SO you were thinking about 8
place in the bank"
g "And you would still like a place
t there"? ''
9 ooh yes, STRIP Ia
f "Wen as l said yesterday, You must
=, have a good bondsman; but that will be
. no trouble, for / have arranged every.
thing with your mother, and ! will be
your bondsman. Come down by and
by, and l win put you to work. That's
3 all n~ow-good morning"
That was the way Ernest Everett be-
s came a banker, and to-day he is n o.
| the most trusted and respected young
business men in the city of---,for he
!, has outgrown the primitive village, and
is winning his way into broader circles
His mother and sisters live in comfor
f and responsibility, they are happy, and
i proud of the one to whom they owe SO
much.
, f~-r ---- Ea
y i - - e . 20