The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-01-02

ltS olbChllDlutlS llltluNtN al uut
best business men of the town and a mum.
Der 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 Parkvile tue odd sheer
was Uncle Billy Edwards. Not once in q
year did anyone 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 fifty years old. He wassimple-
minded, lived with a 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 he
president. In spirit of fun the latter AZ =
pointed him "The First National Bank
Extraordinary Burglar Catcher" and prom
ised him salary of $40 per year.
They had lots of fun over Uncle Billy :,
stories of the suspicious characters he had
seen sneaking about, and of the bank bur-
glars 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 week Uncle Billy would slip
ont of his bed at midnight and wall; half Il
mile to knock on the front door Of the bank
and satisfy himself that the Waterman wa.
awake. He was chased away time after
time, with missils following him as he He'd,
but he reappeared after night or two and
was not to be got rid of.
AS in the case with most country banks
the bnilding was two stories high, with the
Sc 'ond story finished off for offices. There
we're six or seven rooms, and for the first
year were rented out to local lawyers At
the end of the year the party having the
rooms over the vaults moved out, and, they
had stood idle for two months, they were
| rented to White X Gregg, insurance and
real estate agent, who came to ParkviIlc,
from Philadelphia, well recommended
Both claimed 20 he married men, but
neither brought his family. They were
Going to try it tiIst for Il few months.
Their first move was to deposit $, 600 in
the hanl; and "A hox Of bonds and valuable
papers. Their next was to invest in ~
vacant city lots and to take $1,000 worth
OF stock in Il wooden mill then building
In these and other ways they made them
selves solid with the business men of IL.
toNr, and the public at large looked upon
them as valuable acquisitions to the coat
Juuuity. tncI, BLY, in addition to bcug
the extraordinary burglar Gctector. - cArris,,
mp the fuel and swept out the offices for
the Lawyers, and when White x Gregg
t,oE po>sgason he did Not lose his job.
rAlY soon cam. 70 understand him and he
vas allowed It. come aud 20 at will, though
he was never IN the way when not waited.
He was enthusiastic in their praise for the
first three nlnuths, as they paid him liher-
ally, bat one day in whispered tones and
With an air Of mystery ahoat him, he
asked for a private interview with the
i'IifANNIIL va tIlG 'aIlN. W Itll lillS Ild'
been laughingly granted, he sad:
MIR rayiS, am not sure about tho<,
men, White 4 Gregg. | SHOULDN'T wonder
il they intend to rob our bank"
GLOW will they do it, asked the
amused official.
by cutting through the floor and the
vault"
BAT the roo. OF the vault is of brick anu
two feet thick.
"Well, tank they are going to Try it
They have Il saw, a crowbar, slcdge ham
mer and other tools in a closet upstairs
| NJ going to keep an eye on en-"
He was encouraged to do SO, but Sc
trillng did the president consider the Incl
dent that he did not speak of it to anyone
and III half an hour had forgotten all about
it. On two occasions he was sent to tn,
express Office by White x Gregg, ant
brought them small, but heavy parcels
Two or three times, also, he saw Il stranger
in their Office whose looks he did not like
and whom he set down for Il conspirator
For the first two months the two men
VINO boarded at the hotel, never returned
to their office after supper After that they
were frequently there for an hour or two
aud as time passed Oh they stayed lttrl
| Uncle Billy watched all these thnes but
kept his own counsel for many weeks On,
day again he asked for private interview.
aud when the president began laughing
at him. said
at won't be long now before they VIII
try to rob the bank. They have got all the
tools they need, and today | found a
satchel to put the money in"
so You think they are bank robbcrs?'
was asked.
II am sure Of it, Lust night they wcrs
i'll the back room till i O'Clock, and they
would not let me 90 in there today. |
guess they have cut It hole in the floor
For three months after the bank opened
a Waterman had been kept inside. Then
some one growled at the expense and IL
was changed to the outside and given til,
To Cure
Tgrak soa,g'i. loss Of appetite, natui-nrc w-.t..'