Middletown transcript., 1891-06-11

tress which served him for a bed, bu
found in it only bits of shavings
straw, hay, rags, wool and other rub
bish that he had picked up in th,
streets. They ransacked every hol'
and corner of. the four small rooms O.
which the house consisted, but nj
money was to be found, nor any paper
which might lead to its discovery
With many savage execration they
found themselves compelled to aban-
don their enterprise, SO they put out
the light, removed the handkerchief
which might have betrayed them. and
loosening the cord which bound the
old miser's hands, they rushed down
stairs, and made their escape before
he could get his feet free to give the
alarm
The next day they were confirmed
in their belief that he had money on
the premises, by the astounding event
of his employing q carpenter to repair
the broken window. Nothing but
the safety of a considerable treasure
could, they were convinced, induce
the avaricious old man to expend
several shillings on an object, and ac-
cordingly they held a council upon
the affair, in which they were mater
tally assisted by Mikes wife, as de-
termined rufian as himself. By her
advice stratagem was resorted to
which seemed to promise the discovery
Of the whereabouts of the treasure.
After waiting several nights, that
their victim might be lulled by his
apparent security, they took advan-
tage of an interval of cloudy weather,
when the wind was rising in gusts and
promising to blow hard in a short
time, to pay him another visit. On
this occasion, however, they did not
go further than the window. To save
a trife of the expense, Barnet had in
sisted upon as much of the old wood
being used as could possibly hold the
nails, and this was now a great assis-
tance to the project OF his enemies,
which was nothing less than setting
fire to the old mans house, and
watching to see what he would carry
out with him, as that would certainly
contain his money. They broke open
the window, though with more diff
Guilty than before, thrust in a quanti-
ty Of shavings which they brought
with them, and setting them on fire,
beat hasty retreat to the den which
they occupied half way down the
street. They had not been many
moments On the watch when a dense
volume of smoke began to rise from
Barnet's house, and presently the
miser himself appeared at the window,
calling for help. A,crowd soon as
sembled, among the foremost of which
were our two rufians. 9d=
Fire ! murderl helpP' cried the
old man.
What has he got under his arm,
Bill ?" asked Mike, in a low voice.
It's a little box, I Think" said
Bill. "Och! sure, it'll be the money.
box |" - - col .s-isi &
Bill took his station,. accordingly,
and pretended to hold the ladder for
the miser to descend /; but when he
was within a few feet of the ground,
the treacherous help called out to the
crowd, "Stand back a bit. will YEP"
as if they were pressing upon him,
and at the same MON ent jerked up
the ladder, and threw the old man
off. The cause of his fall
ing SO completely and helplessly was
that when he felt the ladder turning
over he made no attempt to cling to
it, but devoted his whole strength to
hugglng closer to him the object
which he carried, and which his as
sailants now perceived to be an old
Bible with strong clasps
Though the old man was partially
stunned by the fall, it required a
strong effort to drag the book from his
tenacious grasp. One violent wrench,
however, effected it, and Mike passed
the book to his accomplice, who now
stood beside him, with a whispered
Injunction
Be off with it, Bill p' ne
"Don't hurry yourself-I'H take
charge Of that" said policeman, lay
ing hands upon the book.
With choice selection OF abusive
epithets, which we beg leave to be
excused repeating, the two robbers in
terposed this interference, and were
for a violent resistance to
legal authority. when the appearance
ot half dozen more blue-coats and
batons, worked wonderful change in
their opinions.
"Of course, Bill, give the peeler
The book. What should we want wild
an ould book Sure, we were only
goin' to take care iv it fur the ould
gintleman."
How did the house get on fire p
said the inspector, drily, and casting
significant glance upon Mike.
Sure, and how should l know ?"
ne replied, assuming an air of hope
less stupidity Il hearn the people
runin' and cryin" fire + SO / came
that's all about it.
"The inspector gave orders for the
removal of the old miser to the near
est hospital, and followed, with the
book under his arm. AS he passed
The gas-lights, when clear Of the
crowd, he began to feel curious to
know what the book contained, about
which old Barnet. whose avaricious
character was well-known to him,
could be so anxious so he stopped
and unfastened the clasps-they
moved easily, as from frequent use.
At first he found nothing unusual in
the appearance, but a closer view
showed him that many leaves were
cut out in the centre, and Bank of
notes fitted nicely into the.
vacant space, so that there was no
suspicious thinning of the margins.
The inspector smiled at the old mems
and bosfanod aftor AZ,