Year: 1874

voices.
The chairman nodded acquiescence and Tom
Brown, without feeling it necessary 10 exhibit
any difidence, commenced relating how he and
fellow named Bundy had conceived the enter
prise of robbng a store at Rockford, kept by
man named Mckinney. 1t was expected that
he had two or three thousand dollars in cash
in trunk that sat under table at the back of
the store, and the plan was TO enter the store
at night by false keys and carry Off the trunk.
IN despite OF McKinney's brother who slept
there, or of a poor family who lived up stairs.
" ] expected to be obliged TO silence the clerk
in case he should wake" said Brown, and az
that was more in my line than Bundy's / in
tended to station him at the door, and tying
handkerchief over my face. with two holes cut
into it for my eyes, to go IN with my knife IN
hand and accomplish the job. We arrived in
the neighborhood OF the store at about half
past eight in the evening and commenced
reconnolterng But seeing that there was no
one IN the store at that time except the clerk,
and that he was asleep with hls head down up
on the counter, told Bundy we would not wait
TIL they closed up, but take the chance at once





that somebody might come IN, but shook him
off, and telling hln 70 stand hard by and cover
my retreat l entered. The fellow on the counter
slept like top until got nearly out with the
trunk on my shoulder, when he suddenly start
ed up and sung out, Who's there ."


''Oh, It's nobody but me said J. setting
the trunk on end in the doorway where Bundy
! - a,,I fIa o1o 7
he prepared for any emergency, " It's nobody
but me! "


WHO are you, and what are you dolng with
| that trunk ," said he.


Your brother wants it, answered notion
ing behind me to Bundy to snatch il away.


We'll, it can't CO." said the clerk, moving
towards me from behind the counter.


AT this moment Bundy snatched the trunk
away, and ! took out my knife and advanced
cody towards the Young man. lie shrunk at
he saw my bowie. but | caught him by the hand
and held him like vice. I then drew the edge
OF the blade lightly across his fingers and asked
him if that was sharp. lie trembled and ac-
knowledged that it was, whereupon told him
| that did not fear to use it that if lie would
|
events the trunk must co. 1 had no further
trouble with him, but, shaking my knife at him
as backed out, ! followed on the heels OF
Bundy who had made good headwsy with the
'swag.' We bursted it in the woods but got
from 1t only seven hundred dollars.


"By Cd, that was well done, said stephen
Hodges, filling up his glass.


/ navar baar Dppdv'g " mo l,+ [ ,bylx .
John Long, said Louther. "When Bundy was
in jail at Louisville and bound to 90 to the
State prison if nobody had helped him. John
Long was the man to give up a five thousand
dollar sight at Montrose and hurry down to
his rescue. All the boys but him were afraid
to go to Bundy's aid because he was caught so
foul, but John Long swore he would not sec
a friend suffer while he had tongue in his
head or could carry knife In his hand, go be
persuaded our friend Granville to go along with
him. and like staunch men and true they swore
him clear"


@ That is So" said Young modestly; the
proposal came from John, and he was at that
time about the only man whom ! would have
shared 30 desperate chance with. John Long
is trump and no mistake


:" wish he was here to testify at Dubuque
for Harris and Barton, said Bridges.


- Or to study out an escape said Jack Red
den. " In that line he has no equal, for he has
already broken out OF eleven ialls himself
Never mind" said the chairman 1--WE will
content ourselves at present with having Gran
vile as witness in his place. and if convic-
ton should follow it is very likely that Long,
Fox and Birch may all be in time for any meas
ures of the last resort"


The business for winch the party had been
convened being now thoroughly broached, il
was entered into with spirit and earnestness
that made the brigands for time forget theii
'ups. Every mind was ransacked for az ides
to place at the service OF their bloody comrades
and every pocket was assessed for means tC
hire legal confederates to swlndle them clear
At length the lawyers who we're to be entrusted
with the charge Of the case were indicated
witnesses to the extent OF fifteen or slxteeI
we're selected by name, not only from the com
pany present but from the various adherentl
/, OF the band, to hold themselves at the com
mand and tuition Of the lawyers, and com





of their duty and to see that they paid stnc
attention to the obligation which was thus i'm
posed. None we're expected to refuse; ndee,
it was a point of safety as we'll as honor tina
none should. for no man could tell what hou
would place him helpless at the dependence o
his comrades good will. Everything beiny
daily digested and arranged the council relaxet
from business once again, and welcoming tn
bottle with freer will sounded it more deel
than before. story telling, song singing, an,
gasconading followed, and many red exploi
was told over with az much gusto as if it wer
creditable deed. When they had done com
paring with each other what each had done
and we're plunged into the goblet they got 81
far az to communicate what designs each hat
IN store, and the dark condolences OF the mis-
creant circle were exchanged 30 freely as to un
veil a world of crime


4 Kilgore revealed to Louther at bis elbow thai
9 he had got sight" upon the premises Of {
g man named Mulford, in winnebago county, no
i many miles from the very cabin where they