Year: 1868

One soft summer morning few
years since, the little village of
Liston walked up with a sublime
Tor, at least, within a step of it)
that something wonderful had
happened. The bank had been
broken open and robbed of all its
treasure.


A few weeks before a travelling
elocutionist had entered the vii.
lage, accompanied by couple of
well dressed gentlemen, who turn
ed out to be on a sporting excur-
sion. The quiet visitors excited
no improper suspicious among the
envious villagers, who were usu-
ally quite wiling to dissect ev.
cry new conner in the most un-
merciful manner.


The professor ofelocutien gave
a series of lectures, to the marvel
GUS edifcation of incipient Ciceros
and beau-loving ladies; and then
went on his way rejoicing But
his companions remained, ramb-
ling about the woods and river
for several days afterwards, when
they suddenly departed to parts
unknown.


For several mornings after their
disappearance the gentleman who
occupied apartments Immediately
over the bank found his rooms in
a slight state of disorder. The
chairs which, on leaving the office
at night, he had arranged with
systematic care, appeared to have
been performing some marvellous
feasts of somnambulism; the ta-
BILE in the center of the room had
evidently been used as a medium
of spiritual rappings, and several
articles seemed to have been exc
cutting some eXtemporlsed polka
in the absence of their owner.


After making a few inquiries
and little unsuccessful investiga-
ton to ascertain the cause of
these unnatural phenomena, the
matter was allowed to pass with.
out further notice.


But the robbery of the bank at
once aroused suspicion. In eX-
amining the office floor it was dis
covered that a large piece of the
flooring had been cut out with the
utmost nicely; and the burglars
had made an unsuccessful effort
to break a large stone that covered
the vault, and thus obtain access
to the treasure.


But, undaunted by their failure,
they only waited for a favorable
night to commence operations in
another quarter.


For several days after the first
attempt the weather continued
pleasant; but at last the scowling
skies gave token of the approach
of heavy storm of rain and thun
der. AS the deep, black night
came down upon the village, large
drops of rain pattered on the roofs
and windows, and ftful gusts of
wind shrieked around the corners
of the deserted streets, and made
the trees ghostly with unearthly
groanings.


Soon after midnight the storm
set in with all possible fury. Ev
cry unfastened easement and shut
ter trembled and clattered; through
every loose splinter of the fences
the wet wind whistled; and the
rain dashed against the windows
asif, indeed, "the windows of heav
en- were opened"


In the midst of the storm the
burglars crept out of a low, darl
dwelling in Loan street; and oh
tanning a chisel and hammer. from
a neighboring workshop, they
cautiously hurried to the rear OF
the bank-building. By means OF
a plank, one end of which wa
placed upon the ground and th'
other upon the easement, they
quickly ascended to the window
which was easily forced open.
The particular manner in which
the robbery was performed is still
a matter of much speculation
and it is only definitely known
that when the morning dawnet
the vault and the safe had beer
most successfully opened, thell
contents stolep and the thieves
,uara more than fifteen miles away