The Van Buren press., 1900-06-30

crack or the door, showing tnHt lnere
was somebody at work in the old shoot.
/ ran noselessly across the room and
hid behind some old barrels which were
piled up in the farther corner of the
room. A moment later the old door
swung in and two men came into the
room.
"Now, amt this just the place to
hide 'em, Jack?" asked the first man
to enter the room.
Couldn't find better, Jim" said his
companion, looking around.
"rhen let's bring the things in. They
will be safe here, for don't believe
anyone has been in here for years en-
cept me. The place has The name Of
being haunted, but l guess I'm the
only haunt that ever was here" and
the man laughed at his own joke, but
his companion quickly held up the Ian
tern which he carried, and as it
flashed ON his own face could see
that he was rather white. He did not
say anything, however, and the two
men went out, leaving the door open.
In few minutes they came back,
bringing each u bag, which they put
down In the farther corner Of the room
and covered with rubbish, with which
the floor was covered Then they start
ed for the door again and the one who
answered to the name Of Jack said:
"Now we will go back to the boat,
float down the river and stay on Crow
island all night, and keep in the woods
all day. Then tomorrow night at IL
we viii come in the big boat and take
the swag and by daylight we will be
well on towards New York"
"rhats the plan, guess" said Jim,
"but | wish we had the big boat up
the river now so we could get away to-
night. They will be looking for us to-
morrow, and we may have some trouble
TO get away without being seen"
That's all right" said Jack; I'm
glad we didn't for they would have
seen the boat come In and then II 1t
had gone of the same night they
would have mlstrusted that she had
some connection with the robbery"
"Guess you are right, as usual, Jack
and your plan Is the best When the
boat comes up tomorrow they viii not
of course suspect anything"
"No, that's just 1t. have the plans
all laid, as told you before we cracked
the crib. johnson will sail up some
time tomorrow afternoon, go ashore
In the city and buy some provisions,
give out that he is fisherman just put
In for supplies, and say he will get
away early next morning. They will
suspect nothing there, and will be
watching the depots and roads leading
out of the city and this town. No one
will think OF our coming In boat, and
our leaving this side will throw of
every suspicion, Ipride myself that
this Is u well worked up job
fright you are, Jack" said Jim, and
they went out shutting the door tight
after them.
Z ran up the stairs and TO n window
looking out on the water, and watched
the boat ns II went slowly down the
river, | watched about half an hour,
then | went downstairs. lighted my
lantern, and pulled on the stun from
the bags and took them into the boiler
room, On opening them | found them
filled with watches, jcwelry and silver
ware, They had evidently been rob
blng jewelry store In the city, and
after examining some of the boxes |
found one with the mark of Paterson
4 Co., and | knew then that they had
robbed the largest jewelry store in
the city.
What TO do ! did not know, but ]
concluded TO hide the stuff where they
could not find II and then 20 home
and think II over. | opened the old
ash pit under the boiler and put both
the bags carefully In the hole, then
put out my lantern and went home.
got into the house just ns the. sun was
rising, and tumbled into bed, but