The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-04-11

each took his own way with bold eX-
!, terror, but with certain vague misgiv-
ings in his heart. In few minutes
johnson and Williams were safe in
their homes with the doors securely
bolted, but Oliphant was hailed by q
friend soon after he left them and
went to have pipe and glass, in ac-
cordancc with long established and
genial custom. His friends wife re-
manned to take part in the "confab"
until the men became immersed in the
tariff bill, when she retired, admonish-
ing them not to make the session too
late.
The pipes and glasses were refillcd,
and it seemed that the whole financial
trouble was on the eve of being settled
when Oliphant referred to his watch
and discovered that it was within n
few minutes of o'clock. He then
took 4 hasty leave, and creepy feel
ing stole over him as he closed tho
garden gate. He had not gone two
blocks along the grassy, densely
shaded lane when two short, stubby
men, wearing white masks and hand
ling brace of huge pistols with awful
recklessness, seemed to rise out of the
cdrIil III lrOuU OF MIN.
"Jerusalem Boys" exclaimed Oil
plant, in u subdued voice, raising his
hands as high as he could, "how you
scared mel 1 took you for the police
Don't you know me, boys? I'm Dandy
Jack"
well, I'm bowed" said one of the
men, going nearer to Oliphant and
lowering his guns, $50 it is; but where
is yer toys and tools?"
I've had n terrible tight squeeze to-
night, boys"
Oliphant was going on with his tale
of woe, but the other robber, who was
not as docile and complacent as his
companion, broke in:
stop this CUFF! whosumevcr We be,
we want yer swag, sce?"
"Ain't got n thing on inc now, Bill"
continued Oliphant tentatively. Bill
happened to be the name the robber
went by. SO he was ut once somewhat
Modified. Pcrcciving which, Oliphant
went on with an air of most touching
confidence: but if you'll both go into
little enterprise with me-
fla, ha!' laughed the nameless rob
Der, 'enterprise;' like that; that's
Dandy Jacks talk, sure enough"
well, all right" growled Bill, shut
fling about in an ugly way sLet i'm
spit out lis scheme. But don't like
'im he's too fine duck fer me-" And
as Bill said this he prudently kept one
gun ready for an emergency.
''In few words can give you the
whole thing"-Oliphant knew the mo-
ment had come to get in his fine work,
and his tone was mellow and sweet as
the SIRENS. 1T was like this: Yester-
day planned for a big haul-you must
have heard about the big entertain
ment at Squire Davis country seat?"
YES" said Bill, gruflly, 1--WE hccr'n
of it, but dey was three Pinks on guard
derc"
That's what done me up" replied
Oliphant, dropping into lSnightly colo
quail. Sat ten o'clock l was coclssure
of two sinner outfits and n pot of good
cash as well, but at midnight the Pinks
had me on the run. If hadn't dropped
my tools and taken to the woods they'd
had me sure. But luck came my way
just the same. l was coming along the
block below here when / see n man
thought L recognized"
The robbers glanced around furtivcly
and leaned toward Oliphant to catch
each syllable.
Sure enough, it was the cashier of
the bank. Having no gun, 1 made up
my mind to work bluff on him; so
picked up stick and cooled him from
behind tree. lie hadn't a thing on
him but this watch and this string of
keys the keys of the bank. There's
1nn1 1nolc nf
the open sesame"
"Sny, Dandy Jack" said the more
complacent robber, with beaming
frankncss, I'm Pete Murphy, the
Bowcry terror; L CESS you've heern O.
me? I'm wild ye right tro'; want to
be in on this racket"
"Stop yer blow, We blamed duffer,"
interrupted Bill, again drawing both
guns; "how dye know we amt bein'
trapped by de Pinks? Eff dis ycre t'ing's
done jos ez dis yer alleged Dandy
Jack SEE, dc hui town'll be on dc trail
an we can't light out amy too soon"
II like Bills cautious disposition, !"
said Oliphant, drawing them a little
farther into the foliage. Nobody can
succeed III the profession without it..
But you'll both admit that if 1 had
been overcautious l couldn't n made
that twenty thousand dollar haul Mt
Berkeley in the spring. The town has
not been alarmed because the cashier
is bound and gagged in that vacant
barn over there. Ye see, boys, know'd
l couldn't handle this job alone. That's
why I'm so glad met you. I see by
the movements of the lights at the
CASHIERS house over yonder that they're
getting uneasy about him, and we must
work quick if we want anything that's
in that bank. I expect the thing to