Year: 1870




neighborhood, and whom we don't suspect
But we shall catch him with the rest Tht
fact is, Mr.. Houghton. the Blue River Ma
tional Bank is to be robbed tonight. The
plot is laid, and l have got every thread
af it in my hand"


Foster Houghton was one of class in
the village who were habitually incredu-
lous as to Silas Bixby's achievements, as
announced by himself; but there was a
positiveness and assurance about the con-
stables manner which carried conviction
with it, and he did not conceal the shock
which the news gave him.


Just you keep very COOL sir, and I'll
tell you the whole story in very few words,
for l have got one or two things to do be-
fore | catch the burglars, and have pro-
missed to look into Parson Pettengill's barn
and doctor his sick horse. There Is two men
in the job, beside somebody in the village
here that is working with them secretly
You needn't ask me how managed to over
hear their plans, for I sha'n't tell you
will read it all in the Tinborough "Trum-
pet" of the day after tomorrow. They
are regular New York cracksmen, and
they have been stopping at the hotel at
the Falls, pretending to be looking at the
water-power They come here on purpose
to clean out the Blue River Bank"


"Do they mean to blow open the safe 2"
inquired Mr. Houghton, who was pacing
the room.


"Just have patience, Squire" said ST.
las Bixby, 81 thought it best to prepare
you, and so led you up kind O. gradual.
They have got false keys to your house
door and your bedroom door. They are
going to come in at midnight or an hour
after, and gag you and your wife, and
force you at the mouth of the revolver to
go over to the bank and open the combi-
nation lock. Your help, they say, has
gone off; and they seemed not to be afraid
of Henry"


Henry has gone to Tinborough," said
Mr.. Houghton, mechanically.


81 presume they knew that too, then"
said the constable, "They calculate on
forty thousand dollars in the safe, govern
ment bonds and all Their team is to be
ready on the Tinborough road, and they
mean to catch the owl train. You they
calculate to leave, tied hand and foot, on
the bank floor, till you are found there in
the morning"


Foster Houghton stopped in his rapid
walk up and down the little room, and
took his boots from the closet.


"Fair play, Squire" said Bixby, lay
ing hand on the cashiers arm as he sat
down and kicked off his slippers. 1--we
told you the whole story, when l might
have carried out my plan without telling
IA word. Now what are you going to do?"


Going to order a stout bolt put on my
front door at once, and to deposit the bank
keys in the safe at Felton's store"


"Going to order a stout bolt put on my
front door at once. and to deposit the bank
keys in the safe at Felton's store"


"You will think better of it if you will
just sit still and hear me throu gh,' re-
piled the visitor. Don't you see that
will just show our hand to the gang who
are on the watch, and they will only leave
Elm6eld and rob some other bank and
make no sensation at all in print. No,
Mr.. Houghton, you are cashier of the
bank, and it is your business to protect
the property. l am constable at Elmfeld,
and it is my duty to capture the burglars.
| propose to do it in such way that the
whole State shall ring with my brilliant
management of the matter, and yours, too,
of course so far as your part goes. The
programme is all complete, and you have
only to fall in."


"Well, Mr.. Bixby," said the elder gen.
tleman, again surrcndering to his compan-
ions superior force and determination of
character; land what is the programmed"


Gas far as you are concerned, simply
to remain passive" said the rural consta-
BILE. "You are to show no knowledge of
expecting a visit, and after proper dis
play of reluctance you are to 60 with the
burglars, with your keys in your hand.
If were to arrest the rascals now, I'd
have nothing to charge them with, and
could only frightcn them out of town.
When the bank is entered. the crime is
complete. | shall be on the watch, with
two strong fellows to help me-men who
served in my company, stout, afraid of
nothing, and not smart enough to claim
the whole credit when the job is done
When you are fairly inside the bank we
shall pop out from behind the bowling
alley, guard the door, flash our lanterns
in their faces, and overpowcr them at once.
1t sounds very short now, but it will easily
fill a olumn in the city papers"


a Mr. Bixby," said Foster Houghton,
with good deal of deliberate emphasis,
"I have always thought you a man of
sense. l think so now. Do you suppose
am going to stand quietly by and see
couple of rufians tie a gag in the mouth
of my wife, at her age, when know and
can prevent 1t beforehand"


" No sir, I expect no such thing" said
Bixby, not at all embarrassed. II expec-
ted like as not you would bring up some
such objection. so 1 have provided for it
in advance. John Fletcher's little girl is
very sick; they have gone the rounds of
all the folks on our street, taking turns
watching there; tonight they came to me
and said, "Rixby, cant you find US some
| body to watch ?" and said I knew lust