The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1850-06-26

the knicknacks-one could think the good
people had never seen that sor, Of thing before
they we're ia such unprecedented cemand.-
All manner of small merchs ndze In the hands
OF biushing aud beautiful girls went oil IN no
time, at an extraordinary advance. But Mfs.
Mosss ndeaiigsbls ingenuity had proved II
self equal 10 supplying every body With every
thing they could possibly be prevailed on TO
buy and store after store OF articles rep!en.
lshcd The tables, closets. shelves and counters
as tas, as they were cleared. Party after
party came and wen, al! the afternoon and
evening; and it would have proved a mos.
brilliant aud satisfactory affair had no. Mrs.
Moss, the primdm mobile, in the plenl,ude
and pride OF her success-in the inoxication
which too lavish encomiums and praises are
! apt 10 produce, lost sight, as she was prone
TO do, Of few very impor,an. social prinei'
pies; on the paipabe violation Of which hinges
the sequel Of cur tale.
For some hours 8 very unaccountabie per.
sonage had been noticed gliding about the
vessel, saying nothing to any one, and giving
heed to no questions asked, OF remarks made
TO himself. He appeared some a ha, in years,
bent, and very shabby attlred, While his face,
wha, could be seen Of it, under broad brlm-
med bat, slouched so as to shade his physiog.
nomy to q great extent, had stublcuEd aspect,
which readily suggested the idea that he might
have seen stronger po,ations than lemonade
or soda water. Nobod, knew how or when
lie came on boa d. nor for hat purpose, as he
was no, seen to make any purchases or take
a personal interest IN any Thing, but seemed
90 the contrary, s:udous Of nothing so much
as how to keep out Of every bodys way
Now, although there was no one who could
affi IN ythins to the strangers positive dis
advantage, it by and by began to be whisper.
ed iha, in all pods bih,y he vas one Of The
gang OF pifer ng oafers ~ho are often found
about wharyes and neqnented thofoushiates,
and ,ha, he had smuggled himself on board
with sinister designs on some OF the small
merchandise which was in plentiful csrcu'a'
ton or de Josi,. The idea gained currency
rapidly, aud was mol long ir reaching The ears
; Of Mrs, Moss, tho very readily entertained
its likelihood, ard the propIleiy Of strlc. espl.
! ousse on all his movements. For herself,
she Was ready as usual, to take the lead in
0 bringing out the mlscfeaht, If such he really
) was; of which, presently, she had no doubt
as she saw bin silly stealing away from the
3 res,auran, munching the rind Of 40 orange,
the balance Of which he held partially con-
!. ceaied lr bis hand. Mrs. Moss made straight
d up to him and lnerrogaled bin 10 very IA
, cerenonous manner
b ~ say, old ced-er. what did sou give TO-
, that orange :" The oian 10, ked up for an
instant in Der face, as if doubtful whether he
we're the one sddfessed and then withou, a
word disappeared among The throng which
occupied the main deck. I" Where IS be =
I " here is h. :" yocIfeta'ed The fooled nterro
GATOR, starting in pu,sut. You'll not GET
off quite so easy, my old knavt y Aud the
s crow d made way, while she STROBE along VIII
IS flushed ace and fishing eye.
At THIS vas be sigma for a general onset b.
> The needless and uuthiuk'ns paIt OF the CON
y paay /; and "thief," "knaye," rogue an
u "plck pocket" instantly became synany me
for the ncognlto IT The stranger, whose gut
+. every one seemed TO take for grantt d, II OH
nigh. judke by The expressions of dublou
re courtesy which saluted his euts from ever
q quarter, till the old man regarding every on
e with a petple xed al d ,oubi, d air, was hunit
le into a corner, from which he could make u
escape II was near The door OF The Captain
lie state room, where Elizabeth WatdselI hs
iP all he afternoon and evening been acting W
II, ~ successfully III the capacity OF L. ". e.
Sc She now left her posi- tor moment, TO asee
u tam The occasion OF the rush TO that spot K
Sc ali had followed the indignant Amazon, cage
s. 10 see her con(ron, the odd codger," "ho
III she had nos fairly caught.
CHAPTER "
" "G.vo an account OF yourself, sir, orr sc
de- shall leave The vessel this lnstsn'," spoke I
Mrs. Mos. +" " e are not gong 10 allow
u, your snesklug about any longer IN this So
Ms picious way. How dad YOU get here VIII
III did you come fOf E! Where do sou elong
~ with a d, zen other similar questions se
o. discharged at the victim 10 less time than
y takcs to record ore Of them. Still he VI
90 speechess, aud drawing his hat farther oy
in his face seemed suddenly resigned TO his II
ell perding fate.
= "W hal has he done = ,aquired Eiizlbei
y, stepping little nearer to him than beior
MS and trying TO get lance at his face.
In "DJpel Why, ve cau'l fad oui yet, b
= are 10 a far way to, replied one Ct the cor
me panv, cosrsely. lie can't stand such
cross questioning long III xartan, him"
ed :" Has he done any hing wrongl lie h
,e, been 10 the posi.ofil,e ssvefsi times, aud
i'm have seen noh,ng smiss" SAID Eltzabei
en- earnestly. . 1t seems TO me that We ous
IL, to take ones innocence instead oil guilt
m. granted I'LL we have some proof.
why don' he speak aud clear himself
~ screamed Mrs. Moss, whose good temper v
= evidently on the ware.
ok g May be he's deaf and dun b" suggest
de Eltz4be,h smiling aud her pretty huge
i, we're brought into a range with the old MAJ
The eyes, i~Hling themselves 'h'o me "oin'