Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-11-01

every night and continuing the business
for the five days of the allotted week
Nothing transpired, however Not soul
came near the place. There were no rob-
berries in the district. Old Ben had evil
IDENTIFY been fooling me-
On the sixth night 1 was preparing to
go out, as usual, when of q sudden the
whole office was surprised by the appear
ance of Mr.. Bellweathcr himself, tall,
gentlemanly man, with an aristocratic
bearing and most polite air.
II am sorry to have to Nouble you at
this hour of the night, he said, "but l
have received letter from my man Will
liam saying that he fears a burglary at my
house.
Strange men have been watching about
it during the last four days. and yesterday
a man in the uniform of soldier endeav-
ored to get into conversation with William.
He wired to me at once, so have left my
wife and children at Dover and have hur.
ried home"
said that he had acted most wisely,
and as l gathered from his remarks Will
liam expected the burglary to be attempt
ed that night or perhaps the next. This
caused me to be prompt in my action.
I'm return with you, and We'll watch to-
gether, said. 1.-Two men will be enough,
for they will be well armed, and if we take
more we may disturb the gang and lose
them"
Quite so, said Mr. Belweather. at
would be as well once for all to rid the
neighborhood of these pests. l have my
French valet with me, and that will make
five Of us in all, for have sent William to
Dover to look after the luggage and to help
my wife. If you can come up to the house
at once, it would be safer"
Evidently there was not minute to I've
lost Calling two trusty men, l babe them
load their revolvers and instruct the police
on the beat to keep about the place. Then
we set out, and when we arrived at the
bankers house saw that supper was laid
in the dining room, and that there were
lights in the kitchen.
"Youve got too much gas about"
said But no Remarked:
"Wc can close the shutters when we get
in, and it is little early for them yet"
This WAS true, and so we entered being
careful to close the whole place up that
not a ray of light might shine outside.
Then Mr.. Bellweather invited us to sup
with him, and we sat down to good meal
admirably cooked by the French valet, a
silent, respectful servant who never open.
ed his lips, but seemed to anticipate our
every want.
Supper over, the watching began, and
we made nice little party, drawing round
a cozy fire on the great landing, an adj
Vantageous spot, as we could hear there
any noise or attempt on the house. AS
Tor myself, L knew that l was about to
make a fine haul, and, lighting big
cigar, said:
You old fool, Beul Whatever were you
thinking about to blab like that?"
1t was midnight, and all the lights in
the lower part of the house were out.
The French valet slept or pretended to
sleep, for we had told him to keep his ears
open in the buffers pantry by the kitchen.
The rest OF us huddled round the fire,
speaking in whispers, smoking like Chin
neys, listening to every sound, to every
moan of the wintry breeze.
They'll try the library window for a
certainty" whispered Mr.. Bellweather
to me as the clock struck the quarter past,
but l said: Hardly. The pantry win
dow is the more likely" And with that
we fell to listening again, and all was
silence.
AS waited and watched became anx-
ious and still more anxious about those
lower windows, and descended the stairs