Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-08-25

old fellow himself (pointing meaningly down
ward) at least one who is in his employ Th,
old gentleman will like the company of Span
ish captain of infantry and I'll send you along
Come, load again"
But the astonished Spaniard did not seen
inclined to do So A man who swallowed car
ving-knives as he would sardines, and wht
caught balls between his teeth, was not exact
ly the man for him to deal with. While he wa.
pondering upon what he had seen, Joe took 9
handful of bullets from his pocket, and begar
to toss them rapidly down his throat and wher
these were gone, he picked up half dozer
! good-siZed stones, and sent them after the bul
lets
Holy Santa Maria !" calculated the Span
lard, while his eyes seemed starting from their
! sockets. what a man! Bymy soul, tits the
devil I"
And as he thus spoke he turned on his heel
and hurried away from the place. After he
was gone, Joe beckoned for me to give him
| the knives. | did SO, and then saw him slip
| them up his coat sleeves When we returned
to the cafe he approached the keeper
You want your knives" he said
But the poor fellow dared not speak. Joe
put his hand to his right ear and pulled one of
the long knives Then from the left ear he
drew the other. The keeper crossed himself in
terror and shrank trembling away. But we
finished our wine, and having paid for it, turn
ed to 60
Here" said Joe, al haven't paid for the
use of the yard yet" and as be spoke he threw
down piece Of silver on the counter.
No mo mo I" shrieked the poor fellow.
Don't leave your money here-don't p
Joe picked it up and went away laughing
When we were alone, he explained to me the
secret of his pistols. They were pair he had
used in his legerdemain performances, and such
as all wizards use who perform tricks of catch
ing balls, &c The main barrel of the pistol
had no connection whatever with the nipple for
the cap, but what appeared to be a socket for
the rammer, was, in fact, second barrel-to-
be-sure, smaller than the other, but yet as large
as the bore of any rifie-pstol-and with this
secret barrel the priming tube connected So
the apparent barrel of the weapon might be
filled with powder and ball, and no harm could
be done. Wnen Joe first returned with his
pistols, of course he had both these secret bores
loaded with blank charges, and then the other
loading was for nothing but Eject in appear
ance. At the second loading Joe had charged
the second barrel of his own pistol while the
Spaniard had been filling up the main barrel
of his. Then, of course, it became necessary
to make an ex, hange else Bizar would have
never got his weapon off AS soon as Joe got
the other pistol into his possession, and made the
exchange which we spoke of at the time, he
had only to press smartly upon secret spring
Oh the side of the stock, and he had the whole
charge which the other had put in, emptied in
his hand So he had the marked ball to dis
pose Of as soon as he chose.
Ever after that while we remained in Ma
hon, Joe Lattit was an object of both curiosi-
ty and dread on shore, for an account, all col
ored to suit the exaggerated conceptions of the
cafe keeper, had been spread over the city, ,and
the pious Catholics there, wanted nothing to do
with such man, only to be sure and keep on
his good-humored side