Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1892-10-13
two man having a hard struggle in the
other part of the oil l huilding

into that room; however, he FINAL,
came to the conclusion that, like him
self they had sought refuge there from
the storm. The hail had drowned wha
little noise he had m ,de in gettins
through the window. and so he had es
capped their observation.
Dick learned afterwards that they hat
been hiding there all day, and were
sound asleep at the time of mis- entrance
Amid horrible oaths, the men pounded
each other in lively manner. At last
as Dick, too thoroughly frightened t.
move, gazed on at the combatants, hi
saw that one of them had struck his heaG
against projection and had fallen back
half stunned
Now was the others chance, and Dick
expected every moment to zee him
plunge knife into the heart of his pros
trate foe. But he did not. Instead, he
drew stout cord from his pocket and
bound the other securely.
| Course ye!" he gritted between his
teeth, 81 could kill yer right now, Bob
Bugg, but mean as | am, hain't never
killed nobody, an won't till am driv'
ter it,
Then while the bound man hurled
every curse in the swearer's vocabulary
at his foe. he proceeded to rifle the
others pockets.
"Hang yer for a sneakin' liar !" he ex-
claimed vengefully. eyer gin yer word
as yer'd share the sponduliX eff I'd help
yer blow up ole McIntire's safe, am,
plame yer, yer meant ter cheat me outer
my share. Now I'll take Their whole
swag, ole chap"
With great, start, and eyes which
showed iptapca
watched the rascal remove from the per-
son of his hated ally in crime, large
roll of crisp notes together with several
gold pieces. These he quickly stored
away on his own person, and returned
the cursing which the bound robber was
showering upon him.
Dicks feelings can better be imagined
than described.
Just the other side of that board parti-
ton, were the two thieves for whose
arrest the McIntires of Paxton had of
fered five hundred dollars.
However, it was not the thought of
the reward so much as desire to al the
law to deal with those vii aims that
stirred the feelings of the boy.
The clouds had passed from the west.
ern horizon, revealing the sun setting
In splendor. A few scattering drops of
rain still struck the roof from the broken
clouds overhead.
What could he do to effect the arrest
OF the robbers? The nearest farmhouse
was fully mile distant, and even if he
could steal out unobserved to summon
help, one of the Williams would be gone
before he could hope to return with any
one.
AS he debated the question, he heard
the triumphant robber saying
YES, durn yer cussed hide, Bobb
Bugg, I'm goin' ter leave yer tied right
hyer. Eff yer'd acted ther man with me,
would shot your friend, but yer tried
ter keep me outer every cent o. my share |
so III leave yer tied hyer for Their rats to
nlbble. I'm goin' to gag yer fore |
leave yer, then I'll skip the country
when it's dark enough ter be safe''
Mad with rage at his bound condition,
the robber addressed as Bobb Bugg,
strove to free himself, but fell back
striking one of the broad boards at the
bottom of the partition with such force
as to knock it loose.
With an oath, the other robber threw
on Bugg's breast and prepared |
to gag him, which was not such an easy
matter after all.
The opening made by the fallen board |
was large one and Dick was in great |
danger OF being discovered by the thief
But the back of the man preparing the
gag was towards Dick and 50 near him
that ne might easily have touched him.
when ne had finished the gag, the boy |
was satisfied that he could not escape
discovery.
Immediate flight seemed to be the only
nfnt NIo
would know that the boy had overheard
all and would show him no mercy.
CHANGING toward the opening once more
in strong apprehension, Dicks eyes be-
held new object.
A coil of stout rope lay on the floor
only three feet from him.
The rope suggested an idea and with
catlike swiftness, Dick had secured the
coil and was soon making reliable
moose.
His heart beat wildly with the thought
of his daring purpose but nothing
daunted, he placed himself in good
position behind the robber, whose own
shuff1ing about in gagging Bugg drowned |
the slight noise made by Dick.
Quicker than is required to tell it, the
surprised robber felt himself jerked back
by strong rope, which had
been cleverly slipped over his head, pin
loning his arms tightly to his sides.
Stunned by the sudden jerk backward.
The robber was powerless to resist his
young captor, who drew the body of his
man through the opening and soon had
him securely bound hand and foot.
Satisfying himself that his own captive
was unable to free himself when he re-
covered, Dick took the precaution to ex-
anime the robber on the other side.
Assuring himself that Bugg was still
nightly bound and gagged, the boy
;rawled out of the old house and started
across the fields in the direction of the
nearest farmhouse, where he hoped to
ma help to carry the robbers to Paxton.
1t was now dark and Dick fastened on.
He had not gone far till he came to
;reek, now swollen very much by the
lard rain. But full of courage he was
about to plunge in, when a loud voice
rom the opposite bank, shouted =
Halt, therer
Dick was fam to obey, for the ominous
click of pistol fell on his ear.
lie remained on the bank. a prev to
strange apprehensions, while three horse