Connecticut western news., 1874-10-23


 and his eyes naturally fell upon tn narrow runway which had been lei between the cotton and, the side of tn boat. Suddedly the unhandsome forn of the Parson appeared, and afte dropping a roll of bills, quickly van ished. r'
 The startled MT. Baker sprang t, his feet, ran softly along the pile o cotton, and reached the end in time t, hear the Parson say to Slim
 Wouldn't 9e like to hev yer nam' tattoed on yer arm, so if ye got los overheard, or got hurt ashore, folks 'ut know where ye b'longed ?"
 "Yes," replied the youth.
 7 "Go round behind the cotton then," said the Parson, "and I'll ge my traps and do the bizness."
 MT. Baker returned to his origina hiding-p1ace in time to see Slim star at sight of the roll, and quickly pick il appeared, saw the money, and ex claimed: -.... ... D "Hello Found somethin' ["
 ''Yes, ''said Slim, with eyelids wide apart. Wonder who lost it ?' ' "Don't trouble your head about that" exclaimed the Parson very roughly. Elf it's anybody aboard they'll growl soon 'nough. Jest keer yer mouth tight shet about it-that's all you've got to do. Then if nobody claims it ye ken send it home from Cairo or Shawneetown, am 'twould come in mighty handy to yer folks. How much is there ?"
 "Fifty dollars" replied Slim, who had been counting the money while the Parson talked ...- ....
 "Bullyl'' exclaimed the Parson. "Think of how 'twould make yel mothers eyes stick out-eh ?" -
 The tattooing operation commenced. and MT. Baker, doubting the accuracy of his own senses, speedily drank them into a state of utter quiescenoe. e .-t.+.
 Day by day the gallant little Helen Douglas struggled, up, the great river, and day by day increased the greatness of the mystery of the after-6 eek. In. stead of devoting their entire leisure to cards, the men gathered in little ex- citable groups, and discussed each new theory that was advanced to explain the Parsons conduct. So absorbed were the men in contemplation that on one occasion, while wooding-u up, Forkey was 50 impressed by an idea which sud. denly came to him that, with his shoul- der full of wood, he stepped upon the other plank and in front of MT. Baker. The shock of the collision carried the two gentlemen into the water, founder ing in which element MT. Forkey un. bosomed his mind to his companion. The excitement extended to the fire. men, and from them to the engineers. In the natural course of progression ii reached the mates, the pilots, and the clerk; and finally it was noticed that the Captain himself, whenever the roustabouts were busy forward, stared steadily at the'Parson and his pet.
 The Wabash river was finally reached, and found to be more than bank-full, for the boat might have sailed safely through the overfown bottom-lands wherever the timber had been cut away. The Captain was in the best of humor, for now he felt sure he could safely venture to the head of navigation, and thus get 8 cargo paying higher freight bills than one taken further down the river would do. Still another economic idea struck the Captain, and he hurried into the pilot-house.
 "Wabash is way up, Ben," said he to the pilot on duty. N
 Rather" replied the pilot, putting the beats head to the western shore to avoid the current of small creek com. ing in on the east.
 "Don't you believe we could run the Iovo o11n~7o MorDk No~voo1 on1 I0l oo lock charges ?"
 "shouldn't wonder" Ben answered, after scanning the trees on the bank proper.
 "What time'n we reach it?- 'twouldn't hardly do to try it at night. J
 "Not a,ay," replied Benjamin, with considerable emphasis. eff there's ever time man wants to see the water in front of him, it's when he's running 8 dam. We'll get to Mount Carmel about midnight"
 "Whose watch'll it be first thing in the morning ?'' asked the Captain.
 "Mine,"' said the pilot.
 "Ben,'' said the Captain, "I'll give you an extra twenty to run the dam.'
 "Done" exclaimed the pilot.
 "Bullyl" cried the Captain, skipping the pilot so hard upon the back as to make him lose half turn of the wheel. "Then we'll tie up at Mount Carmel until daylight, but we'll keep up an in- fernal whistling all night, so the lock- master will think we're coming, and be afraid to go to bed. Then, in the morn ing, we'll run the dam right under his nose. Lord, aOo'a't he jump and cuss P
 The pilot showed his teeth, and smiled in grim approval of the Cap tain's wicked mirth.
 From midnight until daylight the gentle Helen lay in front of one of the Mount Carmel warehouses, giving vent to dreadful shrieks and howls, which probably disturbed the sixteen hundred inhabitants of the holy mount as much as they did the detested lock-keeper. Toward daylight, however, the two en- gineers came on duty; both mates and the Captain were on deck, the roust- abouts were awakened, and Ben and his mate went to the wheel. As soon as it was fairly light, the lines were cast of, and, the whistle blowing her regular signal, which consisted of one shriek and four bellows, the gallant little boat started on her daring trip. TWO miles up the river the location of the dam was indicated by the look on one side of the stream, and the large mill on the other ; as the boat slowly decreased the distance, dark, troubled line ex- tending across the river showed that despite the depth of water on the dam, there was yet perceptible fall. The same fact was indicated by dull, steady roar.
 "All forrard l" shouted the Captain. "Greasers, hands, cooks, walters everybody Got to keep her head down all we can, and there's nothing but men to do 1t with. MT. Mate, rig a line aft the jackstaff for the boys to hold on to in case we ship any water. ''
 The rope was stretched, and the men hastened to hold it, the Parson crowd l. l. = L. o2o Al>n