The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-12-03

bf the institution was all that could be
desired. There is always an odd sheep
in every town, and in Parkville the odd
sheep was Uncle Billy Edwards. Not
once in a year did anyone mention his
East name. 1t was always Uncle Billy"
and he was everybody's friend and no.
oody's enemy. At the time the bank
was organized he was a man 50years old.
He was simple-minded, lived with a rel
alive, and picked up a quarter now and
then by doing an odd job. Some one told
Uncle Billy about the bank, and he
straightway sought an interview with
the man who was to be president. In a
spirit of fun the latter appointed him
''The First National Bank Extraordin-
airy Burglar Catcher" and promised
MIN salary of $40 per year.
They had lots of fun over Uncle
Billy's stories of the suspicious char
acters he had seen snealling about, and
IF the bank burglars who had tried to
bluff him and run him off, and no one
was Jealous of him. except the regular
night Waterman. About four nights a
'weeh Uncle Billy would slip out of his
bed at midnight and walk half a mile
90 knock on the front door of the bank
and satisfy himself that the Waterman
was awake. He was chased away time
after time, with missiles following him
as he fed, but he reappeared after a
night or two and was not to be got rid
of
As is the case with most country
banks the building was two stories
high. with the second story finished off
for offices. There were six or seven
rooms, and for the first year these were
rented out to local lawyers. At the end
OF the year the party having the rooms
over the vaults moved out, and, after
they had stood idle for two months, they
We're rented to White & Gregg, insur-
1nce and real estate agents. who came
20 Parllville from Philadelphia well
recommended. Both claimed to be mar
ried men, but neither brought his
family. They were going to try it first
for a few months. Their first move was
30 deposit $4,000 in the bank and a box
of bonds and valuable papers. Their
next was to invest in 90 vacant city lots
and to take 1000 worth of stock in a
wooden mill then building In these
ar Their ways they made themselves
50. with the business men of the
town, and the public at large looked
upon them as valuable acquisitions to
the community. Uncle Billy, in addi-
ton to being the extraordinary bur
gIar detectOr," carried up the fuel and
swept out the offices for the lawyers
sion he did not lose his job. They soon
came to understand him, and he was al
lowed to come and go at will, though he
was never in the way when not wanted
He was enthusiastic in their praise for
the first three months, as they paid
him literally, but one day, in whispered
tones and with an air of mystery about
him, he asked for private interview
with the president of the bank. When
this had been laughingly granted, he
said:
Mr.. Davis, am not sure about those
men, White & Gregg. l shouldn't won.
der if they intend to rob our bank"
''How will they do it?" asked the
amused official
by cutting through the floor and the
vault"
''But the roof of the vault is of bricl
and two feet thick"
well, think they are going to try it
They have a saw, a crowbar, a sledge
hammer and other tools in closet up