Year: 1861

pose. The two windows of the room were


closed and secured by heavy shutters, but
| there was no lock on the door. l placed q
| chair against it. l then finished disrobing


myself, and having decided to put my pocket
| book between the mattresses of my bed, and


beneath my head, / had just placed it there
when a slight noise in the room caused me to
| turn. George Drew hadsentered so noiseless-


ly that he had nearly reached my side un-
! heard.


ssI beg your pardon,'' he said laughing at


my rightened face. 81 only came back to


inquire if you would like to be wakened in


the morning. You did not hear my Knock .


He was gone as soon as answered, and again


placing a chair against the door, and laying


something upon it, which l thought would
| fall with noise if the chair was disturbed,


extinguished my light and went to bed. 1t


seemed as if had but closed my eyes, though
| now know that | must have slept two or


three hours, when was suddenly wakened by
the sound of a door softly and cautiously shut,
| yet slightly creaking on reluctant hinges.
| sprung up. In the intense stiffness, L thought
| distinguished faint tread in the adjoining
| room. | thrust my hand beneath the pillow,


but though it touched my watch, which had


there, my pocket book gone. At the
| same instant distinguished another sound


the opening of the outer door. l sprang from


my bed and shouted for help. In the dark


ness could not at first find the door. But in


less than minute l stood in the parlor, faint
ly lighted by the embers of the expiring fire.
AT that instant the hall door closed, and steps


were heard upon the gravel outside. | shout


ed again, and In moment Martin Drew and


his younger son hurried in, and before my


story was finished, were joined by George.


The hall door was ajar. as the robber had LETT


it, but before we had time to put on the ne


cessary clothing, he had two or three minutes


the start of us. We all plunged out into the


pouring rain, and the darkness almost palpa-


bic but a search of fifteen minutes was with


out reward, as we could trace the robbers


steps only to the gate which led to the high
road. We then all returned to the house, ex-
cept George, who mounted his horse and rode
off to the village to give the alarm.


l remained two days longer at Tyndale, aid
ed by my relatives, in my attempts to regain
my money, with extreme kindness and inter-
est. Unfortunately for them, the very ex-
tremity of this kindess aroused. or more prop
erly strengthened suspicion that had COM
menced at the moment l discovered the alb
sence of my money. And thus all their en-
deavors TO assist me but provided ME with
fresh evidence against themselves, and [ left
them on the morning of the third day, as full
ly convinced that five thousand dollars had re-
turned to Martin Drew's hands, as if had
seen them there.


Itwas with great difficulty that found an
opportunity, on the morning after the rob-
berry, to write and enclose, and afterwards to
post, advertisements TO the county papers,
and notices to the banks, stopping payment
of the bills l bad received and secretly mark
ed. On my way homeward l went to the
county town and left such information with
the magistrates there as put them upon the
alert, and then, satisfied that had done all in
my power for the recovery of the money, |
pursued my course, and on the second even
ing entered the village, rode past the widow
Curtis house, and stopped at my office door.
tarried only to partake of my frugal supper,
before l bent my steps to the home of my di-
vinity, otherwise my Laura. She, dear girl,
gave me as warm welcome as il | had re-
turned with pockets as full as they were emp
ty. But the widow | will not repeat her
stunning abuse. | survived it all-the smoke
and roar of battle died away, and in the list of
wounded was but young man .sdamaged
in feelings.'' while Laura IS smile consoled me
in the endurance of my wounds. Two months
later l received a very different welcome from
the widow, when | came to announce the re-
covery of my money, and the indictment of
Martin Drew and his sons as the robbers. All
was smiles and praise then from the widow,
and Laura cried joyful tears upon my bosom,
and named the happy Gay.


Young Martin had attempted to pass, when
slightly intoxicated, one of the marked notes, |
and several others had been found in his pos
session. Search of the homestead, and the |
persons of his father and brother, had brought
to light the remainder, and my legacy was |
once more in my hands. Martin, the elder,
and his son George, were sent, for a long
term, to the State Prison. The younger Mar
tin went for shorter period, and as soon as
he was released, removed the family to the
West. There, probably, the father and BROTH
er joined them, when at liberty, for from that
period they never reappeared in their old
hauntS.


AS for me, l am tolerably rich and very
happy man, little past middle life. Laura
has been my wife for many year, and sons |
and daughters are growing up in health and |
beauty, and goodness around us. Ny legacy |
founded my prosperity, and my wife my hap |
piness.