St. Landry democrat., 1893-06-17

vaults; they were the only secure de.
posts in the camp. The store of r. l.
Furber sold everything from whiskey to
mining engines, besides accepting de,
posts and doing kind of banking bus.
mess.
found, as several days passed, that
was ridiculing the notion of becoming q
robber, and at times disguised VITA my
self for permitting the idea. Then
would think, "Where would have been
| my destination" During such specula-
| lions found myself figuring on railroad
connections and the number of hours
start | would have, wholly unconscious of
the accurate preparations was complet-
ing. When in my mind was lost to my
pursuers in India, must have expert
enced some of the true sensations of a
criminal had calculated minutely my
DISCUSSES, aliases and business enterprises
when far away.
| Toward the latter part of July, aftet
business hours one evening, I carefully
removed the contents of the grip that
had accompanied me to Goldtown and
with it in hand crept on tiptoe down
stairs. l felt that I was acting like a
sneak, and stepped more firmly; my
foot touched the broom, it fell
and 1 jumped. The noise of a mouse
gnawing made me pause and listen.
l crept back up stairs and looked out
of m window. The skiff was in its
place.
Five minutes later and the we'll hung
vault door swung noiselessly open. en-
tered, satchel in hand. | was nervous. I
turned the combination too far. I tried
again successfully. The match l held
burned my fingers. No matter. I knew
every hole and corner in the safe. and its
contents we're soon transferred to my
satchel. | locked the safe and closed the
vault door, thinking, ''The fewer signs
| leave behind the more start I'll have "
| put the now valuable satchel on the
floor and went to my room to take last
look out and see if the way was clear.
| [ heard sound below like breaking
in window. I stood frightened. Voices
were whispering. I staid niotionless at
the top of the stairs. / could hear foot
steps ascending the stairs. went to my
bed and sat on the edge. Two forms
were dimly visible passing my window;
then the light of dark lantern appeared
and was commanded to throw up my
hands. The CLEAN of pistol made me
obey. l was told to come down stairs
and open the door OF be shot. [ walked
in front, each arm firmly grasped and
the pistol at my head.
The meagre contents of the safe an
gered them; they swore and threatened
and finally bound me hand and foot,
leaving me on the office floor, where by
| painful contortions succeeded in getting
my knife from my pocket and releasing
myself. My first move after gaining my
feet was to place every grain Of gold and
coin back in the proper place. The fol
lowing morning the story | felt justified
in telling to hide my guilt made me
hero. simply related how I cleaned
out two burglars single handed.
In the hour of silent reflection after
the attempted burglary I awoke to the
awful crime | had nearly accomplished.
The next evening satmoodily thinking,
alone in my room, when Mr. Furber
knocked. He brought his chair beside
me and said: civilian, it was my fault
that you lost your money in Turkey
point, Induced you to go into it. Now I
want you to accept an interest in the
store. l will feel then that you have
been paid
My benefactor has not given much at
tcntion to business for some years. Gold
town has grown to q booming city and
has two railroads. The general store is
thing of the past. Furber s. Company
have developed into banking concern
The presidents work consists of driv.
ing down to the bank on pleasant after
Moons at about 40 with his daughter
she's my wife-nnd our children. lie
devotes considerable time telling his
grandchildren stories of early times in
the Rockies, one of which is how their
papa, all alone, kept two robbers from
stealing all grandpapa's mo-ey.-[Kate
Fields Washington.