The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1865-11-18

dollar pieces, and the woman packing the
finished coins into rolls.
| had seen enough, and was about to re-
turn to nv apartment, when suddenly felt
heavy hand placed on my shoulder, and
turning my head around, to my horror found
myself in the grasp of is Unlocking scoun-
drel as ever escaped the gallows.
"What are you doing here, my good fell
low p he exclaimed, giving me a shake.
Taking stroll by moonlight" replied,
endeavoring to retain my composure.
Well. perhaps you will just take stroll
inside, will your returned the ruiian,
pushing open the door, and dragging me i'll
after him. AL the inmates of the barn i'm
mediaeiv quit work and rushed toward US
when they saw me.
"Why, what all this ?" they exclaimed.
"A loarer found, peepn outside" said
my captor.
He IA traveller that came to the tavern
last nj n, "ui asked for lodging; the last |
saw q. ..p ~ Nn- safe in bed, said the
l., diolo ,,rr lnru Withdrew to a corner of
tlt Ht,irt .IyiI,, !tdtllig one 10 We y SuiIu
over me. | soon saw they were in earnest
consultation. and We're evidently debating
some i'm portanl question. The man keep
ing guard over me said nothing, but scowled
tiercely | had not said Il single word dur
ing all the time had been in the barn. |
was aware that whatever might say would
in all probability do more harm than good,
and ii has always been II maxim of mine to
linld my tongue when in douot. At last the
discussion seemed to be ended, for the lack
est Of the Whole came forward, and WI bout
any Introduction exclaimed: say, s,rnn.
ger, look hefe, you mast de- | lid MOI
move a muscle er utter word. " wa
have found out our secret, aud dead men
tell no tales was silent.
ave will give y"" ten minutes to say your
prayers, and also aio" you the privilege OF
being shot or hung " Suddenly Il" idea
struck me. remembered something that
might save my life. burSt into violent
fit Of laughter. N fac, ii was hyStericaI, but
they did not know it. They Looked at one
another in amaz"ment'
Well, he takes 1t mighty cool, anyhow,
said one.
Suppose he don't ti'hk we are IN earn
est, said another.
Come, stranger, you had better say your
prayers, said the man who had first spoken.
'time flies My only reply was " hit OF
laughter more violent than the first.
The man mad, they exclaimed.
d" Or drunk, said some.
"Wel!, boys, cried /. speaking for the
first time, Z" this is the best joke have ever
seen. Wha., hang pal p
A pal-you pal -
81 amt nothin' else, was my elegant
rcioinder.
What is you name?'
"Did you ever hear 81 Ned Willett?' ]
replied
" You may be certain Of that Amt he
the head ct our profession ~
"Well, then, I'm Ned
Yen Ned Wilett?' they all exclaimed.
" u gu may bet your life on that | re
turned, staggering up TO the counter wnere
had seen the old woman counting and
packing the counterfeit half dollars. For,
tune favored me. None of the men present
had ever Seen Ned Wilett, although his
reputation was well known to them, and my
staggering, insolent manner had somewhat
thrown them off their guard. yet | could
plainly see that their doubts were not all
removed.
"And You call these things well done, do
you?" asked, taking up roll of the
money "Well, all L have to say IS that if
vera can't do better than this. Won had better
sh,tt IN shop. that's all"
.'Can YOU show US anv better?' asked
oue of the men,
II rathcy think can. If couldn't. IL
hang myseif"
",n, :. see il" thew all cried. This was
NV l,.f .,,.,,. and Que On which nv lf. de.
u.ul.i
"L.o.. ..-, -,n!!.men." exclaimed
takfn. on. ,I IN. counterfeit halfdollars
l.o,, "a, ,.,clai an, nai been rejected al
tn. uamn, here /, ~, last Job, what do YOU
,hink of 1t Ii vas handed from hand +,
hand. some saving il was no counterfeit n,
all. and some say,ns it was.