The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-07-15
THE POISONED PICKLE.
"A Thrilling Tale of Misplaced Conf.
dence.

| Q0nC0.
| Loud mirth and wassail resouuded throuosou
the subterranean hall, and the rude jewellers
seated at numerous small tables, feasted riRh
merrily.
| The storm ragged fearfully without, and thu
houseless wanderer. cursiug the elements and
his own impecuniosity, hied to some friendly
station-house for shelter.
But the banquet went on. From out polish
ed reservoir of tin poured forth rich streams Of
| the enlivening fluid made from burnt beans
while mounds Of buttered cakes found their way
down the gaping outlets of the hungry con.
sumers
Twas q coffee and cake cellar IN Nassau
street.
The unkempt waiter, in saffron. colored linen
and bad cold which affected his speech and
made his nose run, rushed hither and thither.
responding to numerous calls, almost frantic
for some of those demands were sarcastic-some
even injuriously abusive.
"Say, Nosey, why don't yer 20 and let yerself
to soap.biler-s.a-y ?"
coup of coffee and nine doughnuts!"
"flate o beans, and don't stop to count
bloody beam"
give it favorp'
"Three cent plate o fried liver, wild six kn,ve,
Large pair of nippers to haul dis ere cock.
roach out of my coffee!
With such ebullitions of playful wit the 10.
cnnd jewellers beguile the midnight hours. Most
OF these facetious knaves were shows waiting
Tor the morning editions; but here and there a
Jour. printer sat in frowning silence getting away
with his "mudgeon," or a CHASTITY reporter or
sub'editor hung dreamlly over his repast, wish.
Ing himself abed. Perchance, too some bum.
mer looming in remote corner glares savagely
upon the viands he could not share and endeay.
ored to escape the eagle eye of the landlord, who
might have booted him from the festal hall, had
he seen the Samples outcast.
Suddenly there entered noble stranger. who
shook the rain drops from his doublet and sur.
veyed the scene with calm dsdain.
The scorn of this man was terrible it with.
cred, choked and foored it bounded from his
lightning eyes like crushing curse!
Al! present quailed.
Silence regned.
Ihe stranger was attired in the picturesque
costume OF Mulberry street bandit-slouched
hat, patched pants, soleless boots and no shirt.
a sardonic smile was frozen on his lips-and
both his eyes were in mourning.
Flinging himself into seat, he .mote the
table thrice with his mailed hand-for a rag GOV.
cred his knuckles, after some street broil.
The waiter stood on his guard, and the land.
lord counted his pewter spoons
Slaves ]! cried the stranger, in tone of ter.
rifle thunder-"Dost thou know me? Hal hal
am the Skulking Pilferer of the Fifth Ward
ana my names FiGhames! Go and ask the first
policeman ye meet, and he will, with white lips.
tell ye of my deeds. Many u fence have scaled
70 purloin damp linen from clothesline manv
reclining snoozer have gone through; from
many crippled beggar have wrenched the last
coin. Ie shall know me, and fear me too! Yet
1 am but human, and would eat. Meth,nks. a,
my funds are low, could MUNICH cracker and
a pickle. Laggards, bestir yourselves. or with
this knightly hand will wipe you over the
jaw" WV '"'
Ihs food WAS brought and the stranger ate
with voracity, ever and anon looking At the
door, as it he designed to sneak out without
paying.
Thou art blower'" exclaimed a hoar.e
voice, from unseen lips
The stranger arose.
sand fraud I"
the door
"And u beat !"
Inc stranger threw open the door, and looking
wildly at the tempest, as if invoking the mower
OF darkness to crush his defamer
"And gin head!"
This was too much. The stranger, with a
maniac howl, rushed cut of the hall. and v.s
soon lost in the gloom of night.
"A put up job" nuttered the landlord, gazing
rueiully at the empty plates lit was a scuryy
trick. No matter; he shall pay for this. Isus.
pected him, and put pizen in the pickle"
!he landlord went on washing the dishes with
thoughtful face. aud deep silence reignsd.