The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-03

joe" said !, shaking hin, for when got
home ne was Still sleeping, Joe, think that &c
| day wen have them.n
"Them!" he asked rubbing his eyes, why,
how many of them we're there in il, pray 30
Z" Two, | think, i" said 81 for the present let me
have it all to myself. You shall proba bly, know
| il all Tomorrow
So be bid me good night then aud there, aud
myself, dismissing the subject for a while, very
speed thereafter bid the whole world the
| same.
CHAPTER THIRD.
Ny morning paper was left quite regularly by
the carrier as indeed for two successive New Year
| days last past that perpatetic juvenile had most
| prsctici u reminded me. Mrs. Snugley always
brought II to my door betimes 10 the morning, aud
on rainy days even took the trouble OF holding il
before the kitchen fire TO dry before throwing il in
through the transom light. To read il before rising
was an invarisbe and TO me a delightful habit.
Ard SO II was ibst on the morning following the
event recorded IN the preceding chapter. even be-
! fore my reconectons of them dispersed by sleep
had fairly returned, found my attention attracted
by the following paragraph
! =" Jack ashore About ten o'clock last evening
the denizens OF the quiet neghborhood of Chip
| psway and Churchst' eIls streets we're thrown
lnto state OF unwoDted excitement by loud cries
| OF ship hoy-oy oy,' accompanied by series of
| yellines, described as all but demoniac. The
| sffrighted housewives, rushing to the doors or
window and peepiDg out into the moonlight, were
| surprised at finding that the cries came from the
vicinity of the church on the neighboring corner,
itself. Two CT three of the male residents of that
| vicinity hurried TO the spot, and, upon coming
nearer, found to their infinite amusement. an in
dlyidual perched upon a ledge of the bell tower,
only six or eight feet from the ground, clinging
fast TO an abutment with one hand, and with the
other waving his hat and pea jacket as he cheered
yoeiierously Send us boat, won't YEP A
ladder was brought. and the drunken man. for
such he was having been, with no little Difficulty,
safely landed on terra 6rma, was conducted in
state OF the utmost amiabity and hilarious good
humor TO the guard house, where he refused to
give his name or occupation. HIS dress, CONVEX
sauon and general appearance indicate, however,
unmistakably that he is one of those who go down
to The sea in ships" m
on earth was be doing in such position! IL lad
been about O'Clock in the evening when saw
him dodge into the loeksmith's shop. There were
then three hours ia which he might have managed
TO get himself sufficiently inebriated to attempt at
ten The feat of scaling the belry. But then there
were plenty Of seafaring men beside himself ia
town. Yet do they all wear eajsckets? Mr..
Mate, said |. mentally, your conduct for the last
twenty four hours has been just little suspicious.
Now, should it prove that you are the individual
referred 10 in this paragraph, those suspicious of
you will be decidedly increased in my own mind.
1 dressed and walked out, telling Mrs Snuglev
that would be back by o'clock to breakfast.
II was foggy, disagreeabe morning, and found
the sidewalks slippery with mud as picked my
way toward the police station, which was half a
mile away from my lodgings. The old station
clerk was dezBg in his armchair when | entered.
bui 4 banging Of the door made him lump TO his
feet lerhaps in anticipation of the arrival of an.
otter prisoner; He rubbed his eyes and said, me-
cbsnically, Good morning."
Good morning to you, Mr.. Clerk, - ans wered,
" see by the paper this morning that you have |
among your prisoners a sailor"
And right jolly one, too, sir" he answered |
bursting into a merry laugh. He wanted to |
treat the turnkey and me and all the prisoners and
free dodgers TO champagne last night"
laughed too. :" called to ascertain" said l. |
hail kfn "A G-NT
man with whom / am somewhat acquainted and |
whose release, if it be he, / desire 10 procure"
= He's asleep, now, sir. was in there five
minutes ago. and saw him lying on the floor, with
OF The ulls of Basan. But you can 90 in and see
Jim, let this gentleman look in at cell No. g."
jim ratified the key in the rusty lock, peeped
In through the grating within. There he was
sure enough-the man TO whom lad hsuded the
TWO bags OF gold, my gold ; the man who had
vented 10 catch the train the man whom / had
seen in the cab, bad seen enter the locksmith's,
and now saw, with his unkempt hair over his
forehead, spraying on the prison floor. In an
olher moment was back in the station office.
That's my man, Mr. CleTk,' said, "how can
procure his release -
The magistrates fine will be five dollars.
Always is in cases of drunkenness Leave that
amount for payment when the case is called and
the prisoner can CO."
An right" | answered, handing him five
dollar note. Now, desire that you say nothing
70 this man concerning the manner of his release
Wsbe him up, and tell him he can go-fhat ia as
soon as have time TO get out of the building"
and suitlDg the action 10 the word. l thanked the
clerk for his civility, and departed. Turning the
DelghDorlng corner / stopped aud waited.
Presently the mate came out with his head hung
Gown, end passing me, turned his steps toward
the church, where the ludcrous scene reported
followed.
The tower formed the corner of the two streets
and en- was constructed of rough hswn granite.
There was an old tradition that the builder being
an Hreligious scoler. had at regular intervals in
the Structure on its front side inserted stones
fashioned as the aces Of diamonds clubs spades |
and hesrts. and pointing TO them as the edifce
rose, rudey called them the imprints of the DEVILS
hand. Certain it was that the aces were there.
and were invariably pointed out to visitors with
the additional statement that from the summit of !
that very tower on the day the church was COM
peted the builder had fallen to the pavement be.
low and thereby met his death.
before this tower the pea jacket stopped and
here stopped too, although had noticed it
hundred times before, and apparently ulcon. !
'cous OF the others presence, looked up mechan.
caly st the ace of hearts which was the nearest ,
base, and thence let my eyes wander to the led. ,
2es and pinnsc jutting out at intervals from
he soe. / observed that uDon the fOur corners |
Of each ledge (there were eight lodges az the !
oWer tapered from the base to the summit) stood :
OF stone, some what resembling an urn I
u faiber perhaps basin, and each set of them .
mailer Than the ones on the ledge below Those I
IN tie corners Of the first ledge WERE | Judged q
light or ten inches in diameter, and about twice s.
hat IN depth. As looked, white string. dang. "
ing over the edge Of one of them, futtered In the
Wind aud caught my attention. .
up early this morning. mister" said he rather I,
curly, thought. He was looking very dirty -
Do sleepy. His eyes were bioodshot, his step
nsteady, bis glance nervous and uneasy; and vet 81
e was perfectly sober, could see. 81
=, why" said /, you didn't catch the train, fC
He started and appeared to remember the fact
lst ne was to be supposed to have gone off on Ell
10 previous morning. NO." he answered with al
oath, I'm going to day, though, or tomorrow ri
la thest; since I've had TO stay why day more =,
: less don't mske much difference. you know" ~
"And have you any friends or acquaintance in N
'Wn with whom you lodge mean While ~ te
Not one" he answered. In
and where did you manage to End com. 4.
riable bed last nightr' 80 hs
AT lodging house down by the water" was ic
e reply. - ar
: Umph, " thought /, che can lie without blink. vi
9. And" added aloud, "you have risen early
"a IKE morning view Of the city nnder fog 1 pi