The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-09-07
THE POISONED PICKLE,
A THRILLING STORY.


throughout the subterranean hall ; and the
rude revelers, seated at numerous small
tables, teasted right merrily.
The storm ragged fearfully without, and
the houseless wanderer. cursing the ele-
ments and his impecuniosity, hied TO some
friendly station house for shelter.
But the banquet went on. From out
a polished reservoir of tin poured forth
rich streams of the eulivening fluid made
from burnt beans, while mounds Of but
tered cakes found their way down tie
gaping outlets of the hungry consumers.
Twas coffee and cake cellar in Mas
sua street.
The unkempt waiter, in saffron colored
linen and bad cold affected his speech
and made his nose run. rushed hither and
thither, responding TO numerous calls, al
most frantic; for some of those demands
were sarcastic-some even injuriousIy
abusive.
Say, Nosey, why don't yer go and LET
yerself TO a p>biler-s-a-y 2
Cup o coffee and nine doughnuts =
plate o beans, aud don't stop to count
bloody bean ?
Slice O bread cut with hammy knife
to gire it a flavor =
Three cent plate o. fIiad liver, wild six
knives and forks =
Large pair Of nippers to haul dis ere
cockroach out of my coffee =
With such ebullitious Of playful wit
did the jocund revelers beguile the mid
night hours. Most Of these facetous
| knayes were newsboys, waiting for the
morning editions bat here and there sat
jour printer in frowning silence, getting
away with his 'mudgeon,' or CHASTITY re-
porter or sub editor hung dreamily over
his repast, wishing himself abed. Per-
| chance, too, some hummer, booming IN q
remote corner, giared savagely upon the
viands he could not share, and endeav-
ored to escape the eagle eye Of the land
lord, who might have booted him from
that festaI hall had he seen the stampless
outcast.
Suddenly, there entered noble stran-
ger, who shook the rain-drops from HE
doublet and surveyed the scene with calm
disdain.
The scorn Of the man was terrible' it
withered, choked foored it bounded from
his lightning eyes kke a crushing curse.
All present quailed
Silence reigncd.
The stranger was attircd in the pictur~
usque costume of a Mulberry ST. bandit
-slouched hat, patched pants, soleless
boots and no shirt. A sardomic smile was
frozen on his lips-and both his eyes
were in mourning.
Flinging himself heavily into seat, he
smote the table thrice with his mailed
hands-for a rag covered bis knuckles,
after some street broil.
The waiter stood on his guard, and the
landlord counted his pewter spoons.
Slaves = cried ice stranger, IN a tone
, Of terrific ihunder-'dost thou know me z
; -Ha, ha! / am the SkuIking Pilferer
ofthe Sixth Ward, and my name is Ma
ginnis Go and ask the first policeman
you meet, and he will, with white lips, tell
of my deeds. Many fence have | scaled
to purloin damp linen from clothes line !;
many reclining snoozer have | gone
through: from many a crippled beggar
have | wrenched the last coin c shall
know me, and fear me, tool Yet L
ana but human, and would eat. Me
thinks, as my funds are low, l could
/ IlulICI anu a piShAS-
bestir yourselves, or with this knighlly
hand will l wipe you over the jaw =
The food was brought, and the strang-
er ate with voraeity, ever and anon look
ing at the door as if he designed to sneak
out without paying.
Thou art blower ! exclaimed a
hoarse voice. from unseen lips.
The stranger arose.
'And a fraud y
The stranger insane with fury, moved
toward the door.
'And a beatp
The stranger threw open the door and
looked wildly at the tempest, as if invok-
ing the powers of darkness to crush his
defamer.
And a gin head =
This was too much. The stranger,
with a maniac howl, rushed out of the
hall and was soon lost in the gloom OF
night.
"a put-up job muttered the landlord,
gazing ruefully at the empty Piaies-1t
was scurvy trick. No matter; he shall
pay for this. 7 suspected him, and Pus
pizen in the pickle
The landlord went on washing the dish
es with thoughtful face; and deep ST.
lence reigned.
WHAT relatives ought TO make the bess
Sfar sons