Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1905-03-06


folks has got the password into en-
Now, good, stout key that shoVes
steel bolt into good, strong socket Is
hard to beat"
I'm the only one about here that
knows this combination" Buckley eX-
planned politely. I'VE change it quite
often too. Even Mr.. Hillyer doesnt
keep up with it unless I'm going away
"Oh. well, | reckon it will be sale
enough an I'll tell the squire about II
when / 20 back"
The man turned out of the ware
louise. crossed the railway tracks ana
walked on till he was in the woods Oh
The edge of the village. Here he was
met by two other men who. CHANGING
about furtiycly. came ont into the open
to meet him.
George had considerable work to do
that night in the Office The safe was
alr"ady closed and the front and rear
doors of tie building were locked ana
barred. Countrymen often came about
the warehouse early in the evening,
and, as he wished to be undisturbed, he
closed the door to keep them from
knowing he was there. He also closeu
the heavy wooden shutters Of the front
windows that the light of his lamp
might not show through to the street
He worked on UNCONSCIOUS OF tie pas
sage of time from O'Clock until near
midnight. Suddenly lie detected
sound like tie clunchiTg Of Il grain Oh
wheat under foot. and. locking founu'
he saw three men standing behind MN
with leveled revOlvers.
"What does this mean he ASKED
his eyes fixed on the rigid face OF the
man whom he recognized as his visitor
| of that afternoon is this a trap!
That's about the size of it, young
man." was the cool reply. Now, you
keep yore seat on that stool an don't
bat yore eye. The fool on my letts
| got a gun that's powerful easy on trlS
ger, an it's all he kin do to keep MS
finger up. Don't shoot i'm, Bill I'LL
I've give i'm a chance"
"What is it you wantF' George asked.
He was not frightened, but the situa-
ton certainly was a grave one, and
he felt that he had little, if any, chance
| for his life.
1--WE are mountain hOosiers,' said the
leader of the men, "but we haln't TOOLS
by a long shot We know our business
as well as you know yore'n, an, thar
no need tellin' you eff you don't git a
move on yoreself an open that safe
you'll never open it ag'in.'
That's it, them"
Eyes, that's it. This is one time when
you've got to knuckle III git the Wust
of it."
George glanced toward the front
| door.
You needn't be lookin' fer a way
out" said the mountaineer, IAN you
needn't expect the night Waterman to
be pacin' along by here. He's dead
drunk. 1 know, kase / furnished the
liquor an seed it take effect"
80 you think you can force me into
this thing" said George. 'Do yor
know, I'd rather die right here thar
let YOU rob that safe while it is in my
carer"
| y ANOAs
lev. Open the safe. We are not her
to palaver At least say positiv
whether you will or not. I'll jest Civ
YOU sixty seconds by that clock u
thar. Boys, eff he don't open the SAT
in one minute from now pull down o.
i'm an don't miss fer all you do. You
ruther die, had you, Buckley? Wei
hot
chin Off'n the old block, boys. Hi
daddy couldn't keep his hands Off
other folks things, an his life WASH
at stake. He'll wilt, all right"
$50 that's the reason you thought L
give in," said George, now quite pal
his lips quivering.
"Well, that's one reason" said til
man. but what's the use O talkin
Time is passin'. Jest another half NIL
ute, boys. Git ready. He may be TO
enough to want to defy u.s.
Hundreds of thoughts flashed throug
George BuckIey's brain. There wa
: indeed, a large amount of money
!, the safe, and thousands of dollars
it belonged to poor people who ha
|
lutte faith as to its security. Could
: give up their money to save his oN
:. life, and
!, "Another quarter" said the leader
the men. III count six, and eff
. don't move when l say six, pull dow
together. Listen! That's the II o'clo'
= train. Fire jest as its passin', boy
. We won't take no resk on the soul
reachin' outside
, George heard the coming train. II
rumble of it was felt in the walls
the building. The mountaineer w
measuring its approach by countil
slowly: Observation-Disclosures
< Put down your guns" said Geor
/ Buckley. mo man can expect anOth
to sacrifice his life for a little none
I've done the best 1 can. Put dow
1t your guns
That's the talk, young Teller Y
IL are no fool. For a minute you tn
this thing so durn cool I thought 7,