Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-12-22
MOSES 0RAN;
OR
THE BURGLARS nest
By eEo. oLktENcE HLANcHkHp.
CHAPTER I.
oHAPTER 1


BF aEo. eLllEnsI lLlNoILhB.

Near the close Of cold day In October a tray,
eltf dlsmouRted from his lhded horse and entered
little hostelfyi o. tavern, situated b the theT
widest regioa o. Psnnsyiyanla. The stranger
who vas q large ssoui-iooklng man, heavily
bearded, paused beforr the door ghsi led Into ths
barroom, End peeped lnquisi;ively IN; seeing :
alhau group sitting around the table, be walked
I very ieisurtly toward them, introduced himself
IN q lrankl ealy style, .f
"A good evening, gonflemeh 20 you alp
The c6mpany, wAo were earnestly engaged IN
oCnvesing, hardly noticed bis entrance, but when
be spoke, they instanfly paused and greeted the
neW-comcr with q leck plainly expensive Of sur
who had more sinister and snrly hee lhan the
sest, graYely advanced toward him, eyeing hiul
sharply .. be said
''NOu wish lOdgings, my mani,
wCertaiHly do, Mr.. Beg (Wh0 at the meutlon
ofhil own name visibly started) what else should
stop here for THERE'S my pony wants the same
ihlng attend o him 1lstl and In the meanwhile
I vii make myself 50 hame.p t.Jar...
30 saying, the stranger, scarcely heeding the
general ac1Wl which greeted him - be said this
c0olly Tic hn cigar and forthwith stretohcd him
self In an easy posture in Tim Begs fbvorite arm
chair, much % the astonishment Of that gentle
man, who slowly moved towards the door, wink
ing slyly % his companions ~ he did 90.
The siFunreF couma need % smoke. eyelng the
company with nonchalance and familiarity that
took them completely BY surprise.
'stot yer doing here tOri groWled dark
Yisegedi usiy'looking scoundrel' whose pox-
marked nee was half obscuFed BY q dirty cap.
/ He ross Rs he spoke, and drew out sharp
| knife aft
WOh, hol' laughed the stranger, sending up
long spiral column of smoke and regarding The
other with a half sneer = Don't attempt to
fhghten me; aiut yolf name Dick HAttonlp
Scarcely had be asked the Qnesion, before the
whole party gprang rnstantaneously % their feet,
and confronted him with the rage Of hgers-and
amore precious crew Of eutGhrOats could hardly
have been found. '
sKill iIimi H. him l'' was the general ory.-
Pistols and bowie-knives were promtseuously
dTaEn and 0ns could see they lOnged 70 lap the
blood Of the unfortunate man, ss they crowd
round their victim. Dick hRttoni win an ugly
grin inteFposed.
ohisa I'm afOre he's made mince-meat Of Come,
now, who are yef't s
During the tunault Oecasioned By his remark,
the stranger had kept his easy, half-reeumbent
position, regardless Of the menaeing group con
linuing 70 smoke with the most astonishing cool
ness, and cycling them all with sort Of sancy
smile that was absolutely provoking
"COme, now, who are yen repeated DICK
Hatton, tightening his grasp on his bowie
knife
The rulians pressed nearer, dozen knives
were raised but still the stranger manifested not
the slightest symptom Of alarm. Carelessly di-
yeEting himself of his beard, he proceeded in the
same quiet way % displaoe q black curling wig
IN one second more, the gang had burst into
"Blow my eyesl" exclaimed he, letting his pipe
fan from his mouth, in his anazsment "Why,
it's the TOmtitii'
had not changed his position, but was putting
vigorously at his cigar you're bright people
all Of you, i'pOn my word now, Beg, see IL you
can trOt backto the stable, and put my horse In
better quarters than you at inst intended and
hearken, lad, tell that sp0pny Of wife OF yours
70 tx up something hot, Em blasted hungry. :
Now then, what are you all gaping at me for -
added the Iomtit, surveying TIE group with
decisive smile aDidnit know me, when I've
cheated you Sc oftenf Nice fellows r.
The gang indeed looked very foolish at the IN
expected denOument their weapons were once
more returned to their hiding places, and they
stood staring at their chief, scarcely believing
their oHn eyes.
/. ..Ther devil himself would hnd It ard to tell
ye,n observed Dick, sulkily. Ivy, Beg a. knows
everybody, with Won eye gets taken IN out,
Iomtit vots the neWsf"
Never you trouble your head for that It'll come
In good time q replied the Tomtit draining glass
ale, 0ficlOusly placed before him. "ESerything
just rs suspected the police were on our track
ct CANDLES, but I fixed 'em.H With this brief
synopsis Of news, the TOmtit leaned back IN his
chair and continued 70 smoke in q thoughtful,
In about iiffeen minutes. Ms Beg, a portly,
red haired lsdy, GnnOunced that supper was ready
and the gang adjourned 70 small apartI1ent N y
the rear part of the building, where rude meal
was served up a roast pig forming the princi pal
feature OF the entertainment, which was quickly
washed down with liberal supply Of Whiskey
NUMs AlElf hlll AOllllAs AlAeA A- AAA at-AAa
led his hunger, and was stirring the eomponenta
/ Of second glassful Of punch nov. then, boys,
I'm ready 20 tell the news. In the INST place,
CRIB has been nabbed-"
"What p Calculated the gang with one voice,
l'Crib Is eribbed, aud that's the long and short
of il, observed the Tonltit, gloomily. "onee
was the time the trade could be carried on, and
none Of as nan the least bit Of risk; even a
Nest wasn't necessary; now the thing gets every
/ day more dangerous, and the profits grow
i smaller .
u B6t hhat about Cribs' inquired several Of the
j gang anIciOusly-
/ : i1Cri6 n continued the Tomtit, aacted ike a
! precious fool / told him all the boys had left
/ him but he was 20 blasted confident he kept lag
| ging, and putting OF, till he got cTibDed He
i would just close his pcepers, aud walk into the
/ pit without any one helping him in confound
HIM, he nearly dragged ne win 9im. =. =.
The company now pressed the Iomtit Tor more
detailed inlOunatiOn, from which II appeared
that that unlueEy Individual had indulged in a
( spree, and having boasted pretty freely Of bis
/ achievements in the burglary line, was iDconti-
nently pOunced upon By ihe Philadelphia police,
| who had long been on the Lookout
aHeEOn't peach ] 'Ope," observed Dick Hat
t2n "ls would os 9 very bad blow np artsr all
I the trOuble Of 'o1seEeeping, not sayiug nothing
about aYing no private conyenieneesi and 3
Mace for 70 3ide when ther Wind blows Ugh"
ssHe amt going 70 peach, !" said Mr.. Beg, al
thOritatively, mot he, know him 70 Be bully
so do I, 50 do II exclaimed several voices at
Il .
81 Is IN the matter Of that, p remarked Tom tit,
4lhs IL keep things dark, and may be set them on
tSe wrong sent--let him alone for that But blast
rne.g continued the gentleman, "that hn't me
thing; we can't spare Cribs Why the 'Eho,e tNeIss
Of Is are wanted for next weeks job, and Crib
was snch loezsmith thas his services were next
70 gold, but it is lust our confounded luck
The TOmtit, With this brief reference 70 the
valuable qualifications Of Mr.. Glib, preceded 70
mix q third glass Of whisky punch and TO sWal,
| low the same with look Of becoming sorToW ana
resignRtion- - u =. -.
! IL, suppose It's best to ny different plan;
III Won 5hat boys i have great I1Irc % post
/ uOne the visit 70 old Ean CIeekers lor Fortnight
at least ytll can get one Of us IN some way con
ueeted with the house; AheaFd the othee day that
the Old gentleman wanted . eOachmans and IL
j had somebody 70 persou4te one, Why Il would Be
/ Z Tery rum thing 70 get him In there, and hen
don't you see, there would be no need ot lock
NV don't gon 20, Tomtit, yer would make q
f7n slachee, yer would ~ suggested Dick vita
aJrI,,, a. to that suppose might suit the old
old gentleman to-a yhair," returned the TOmtii
ieom5iTeeutly; 9but I have something more in
I Dortsnt toinanage; no, I'ii tel you what boys
! rye good mind g ssna I'is one 81
~ know b continued the TOmtit, 'all about thu
horpe as fer Is that goes f9f have VISITED ever
/ 100 I'D s8snef myself, bnt still L would b
VeTy eoi,t ,qnient 10 have somebody 70 let US IN
49, .,fI !, sYe opened the back door easily, bu
~ SISle Ss's % WsIIhaVs 70 give up getting il
Histf suddenly sEelaiilnea -; seg, esseE1
bing with his finger brrSIo = f-s5 sT,i
rection Of the window Ths Sit3,f 80 - s5 - -,
sound on a. appEuaohing VehitJs y - -. ~. {os
| wheeling up before the tavern, -, -. ts
who had been sent 10 FecOnnOter, gu. ~ ~. ~ = =
ed to report to the ANXIOUS gang that q " Z. On.
traveller Who had lost his way and vi -1eo . = :,
stay over nfght ssHes 3 Jolly looking u +l'
I has abig carpet bag p whispered Mr. Beg
us f1i8 inteillggnge caused q momentaIy excite
I EparklinR with CEgef delight, but nesting the
/ gaze Of their chief they suilenly resumed theii
seats.
IIlIs It very comfortable looking bagih en-,
quired Dick, rubbing hh hands In expectation o.
pluuflsT thi-iil ui- t.oi
ffVefy promising Iooki1g I should say,'' re