South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1873-10-24

who WIS good for much else And. after
an obseryi'ion Of many years, | think his
e,steDient was not far from the truth
We made cur first port at TA!oabuane
after doubling Cape Horo, aud Joho and
|, being in the same watch, were much To.
gether on shore. Bat be would never stay
after dark, aud appeared utterly iusensibe
t. the fascinl,ous of the Gillian hrunet;es.
II would uot drink liquor, and his exam.
pie in this respect had good effect upon
myself
We sailed for cruise on the cnast Of Pc
RI. after short stay 10 pert Among the
men shipped to- ii.l vacancies was one known
as California Tn, fellow ofirliai,e gas,
10 whom John and both took an insiinc-
tive aversion at first acquaintance. But be
found soGie congeBidi spirits on board the
Amphion, "a such fellows will ia any ship
whore they cast their fortunes.
We mad not been long at sea before il
| appeared hat we had some one in our cir
Gle who disdainei tue uicc little distinction
of meum aud tuum. Several articles had
been mysterously missed by different par.
( ties, aud complaints were loud and clamor.
Gus.
y ships forecaste is as uuft place for
a thief as he cln well fiud his way into.
As much uneasness is caused by bis pres
ence es by the knowledge that a powder
magazine s located somewhere uuder the
deck, without knowing exactly where.
Woe 10 him if he is caught; for though
j acks standard Of morality is, in many re-
spects, no higher than it ought to be, be
has no mercy for pilfcring shipmate He
has, it may be sud, one code of morals to
regulate his dealings with his own com.
rades, and another more elastic for the great
barbarian world outside.
We became very unhappy family after
this discovery, for, of course mutual conf
jence was lost, until it should appear who
tie offender was. No one was exetn pit from
suspicion; though the weight Of it was e,
qualy divided between California Tom apd
my demure freud John Merrill. Each had
his frierd3, who believed the other guilty,
bet while the boy modestIy RETAINED from
sayiog anything about it, Tom did not
scruple to head bis own party.
'lt's easy enough to see who the thief is
! heard him say one night, as be occupied
the knot Of his cronies, ITS that sleek
faced byprocrite that is at the wheel now
COZ course It's, said Derby, one Of The
'cougtnials.' 'its enough to coudemn any
fellow TO know that he keeps bis donkey
always locked up
What business has one man ~ be allow
ed TO lock his donkey, anyhow 2 denaud-
ed Tom, loud enough for all to hear. Il
say, lets 60 aud kick the lid open aud see
whats in it
'Sit right DOWN said Frank Wightman,
from our side of the house for Tom had
rrsen as if TO carry his suggestion into cf-
feet. DInt undertake anything Of the
ki0d. John Merrill isn't here to speak foi
hims' K, and On man shall break open bis
chest while I'm by TO prevent it
DON'T you want to fad out who the thief
is q asked Dlby.
OF course | DO; and | don't think
should have to 20 far 20 10 that. lfthere' 5
to be a general search Of chests and hunks,
I'm ready to agree to it at any time and
perhaps The by will be wiling TO open bis,
10 such a case. But say il sha'nt be
kicked open 10 bis absence.
lis plain enough thu, be ia the guilty
one slid Tom, when his chest Is The only
one I0c<cd, and
j don't koow aboutihat, retoricd Frank,
with si-nid.an look. = thief might
ind other places for bi. punder besides in
bis chest Indeed, If hes az old hand at il
be would 81 likely TO-
This home thrust put an end 20 The die
cuss'on f1r Che m maut; for Tom, "a well
as DTby aud al The res, Of 3d.. gang, were
afraid OF WiGbimap, who aloue was match
Tor any oi them. But when John was re-
!lc7gi from tha wheel w. lud him what
had occurred aud how suspicion was thick
cning upon him. Frank ak d him if he
were wiling % open bic ohes', aud let Us
all ha7c look A. ifs contents.
'N', said lc, quickly, Il am not willing
Bus why H.f, 8. sou ore iuoocontY
j clnuu, ,.t vdy pot, bur can assure
you that kn.s uoihing about the stolen
thugs. llu must either take my word for
%, orit < neral search Is determined upon,
open w. chts. by force, for | shall not
consent % have 10 done
Il liave what you say, ohm said
Frank, 'aul 20 doe, Bil, here, that y.u
are entirely innocent. But they ore m luy
who don't, aud there will be still more, IT
you don't satisfy them. Perhaps u you
would Ic' me, alone, overhaul ~, or Bill, 10
that will suit you better, eh =
'N1, / cannot show the contents of 10,
even 90 Bill Il the matter IL pressed
hard, shall appeal to tho oil man for
protection, though don't know as that
would do any good.
None at ali, said Wightman and /,
both at once
What would be do, do you think p
Exercise bis authority, and demand the
key 90 once--oE open it bY f1rca He has