Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-12-03
A NEAT TRAP.

1ue 4 lFSG NaGlOnal bank or Rarkv1ll6
was abe financial institution Of Park coun-
by. Its stockholders included all the best
business men of the town and number
OF leading farmers, and the standing of
the Institution was all that could be de-
sired. There is always an odd sheep in
every town, and in Parkville the odd sheep
was Uncle Billy Edwards. Not once in q
year did any one mention his last name.
1t was always Uncle Billy" and he was
everybody's friend and nobody's enemy
At the time the bank was organized he
was man so years old. He was simple
minded, lived with relative 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 spirit of fun the latter ap-
pointed him the First National bank ex-
traordinary burglar catcher and promised
him salary of $40 per year. The old man
was delighted, and the bank had not yet
opened for business when he armed him
self with club and paraded the streets for
several hours each night Every one
laughed at him, and yet he was SO good
natured and SO jealous that no one hurt
his feelings. After awhile he ceased to act
as night hawk, but he was 'on deck"
all day long and became sort of fixture
at the bank
They had lots of fun over Uncle Billys
stories of the suspicious characters he had
seen sneaking about and of the bank bur
glars who had tried to bluff him or run
him off, and no one was jealous of him
except the regular night watchman About
four nights week Uncle Billy would slip
out Of his bed at midnight and walk half a
mile to knock on the front door Of the bank
and satisfy himself that the watchman was
awake. He was chased away time after
time with missiles following him as he
fled, but he reappeared after night OF
two and was not to be got rid Of. One day
when the bank had been open about eight
months two strangers drove up in bug
gy at noon. Only the paying teller and
the bookkeepcr were in their places. The
teller was called out to talk to the man in
the buggy, while the second ono engaged
the bookkeeper In conversation. Then
third man sneaked in to rob the open safe
and he would surely have made big haul
but for the presence of Uncle Billy who
stuck close to his elbow and gave him no
chance. 1t was not known for a year that
the thing was put up job and that but
for the old man the $4,000 lying in the
safe would have been deftly distracted
Uncle Billy had dim suspicion that a.
plot had been Matched, but as nothing had
been taken his talk Of how he watched the
stranger was put down with the rest of his
vaporing.
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 were rented to White &
Gregg, insurance and real estate agents,
who came to Parkville from Philadelphia
well recommended. Both claimed to be
married men, but neither brought his
family. They were going to try it first for
few months. Their first move was to
deposit $4,000 in the bank and box of
bonds and valuable papers. Their next
was to invest in 20 vacant city lots and to
take $1,000 worth Of stock in wooden
MILL then building. In these and other
ways they made themselves solid with the
business men of the town, and tho public
at large looked upon them as valuable ac-
quisitions to the community.
Uncle Billy, in addition to being the
extraordinary burglar dctector, y carried
up the fuel and swept out the offices for
the lawyers, and when White & Gregg
took possession he did not lose his job.
They soon came to understand him, and
6n~ al 49, a
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 whis-
pered tones and with an air Of mystery
about him, he asked for private inter
view with tho president Of the bank. When
this had been laughingly granted, he said
Mr.. Davis, l am not sure about those
men, White & Gregg shouldn't wonder
II they intend to rob our bank.
How win they do itf" asked the amused
official.
by cutting through the floor and the
vault. /"
"But the roof Of the vault is Of brick
and two feet thick.
"Well, think they are going to try it.
They have saw, a crowber, q sledge ham
mer and other tools In closet up stairs.
I'm going to keep an eye on EN-"
He was encouraged to do so but 80 tri- 4
fling did the president consider the inci-
dent that he did not speak Of it to any one,
and in half an hour had forgotten all
about it. Not SO with Uncle Billy, how
sver. On two occasions he was sent to the
express office by White 8 Gregg and
brought them small but heavy parcels
Two or three times also he saw a stranger
in their Office whose looks he did not like
and whom he set down for q conspirator.
For the first two months the two men,
who boarded at the hotel, never returned |
to their Office after supper After that they |
were frequently there for an hour or two,
and as time passed on they staid later.
Uncle Billy watched all these things, but |
kept his own counsel for many weeks.
One day he again asked for q private in
terview, and when the president began
laughing at him he said:
ssIt won't be long now before they will I