The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-09-03
Srlert Misrellang,
AN ADVENTURE.
[From LlppIncott,s Magazlne.l

The first time | visited England, under
the influence of few days impress
sions wrote to friend: "Englsnd is a
picture Of happiness and dream OF
beauty. All her meadows are green, all
her window curtains are white, all her
mutton-chops are tender, all her cham
bermaids are beautiful. The idea Of a
war with such q country is simply abb
surdP ..g.~ ~. n
AsI continued my walk along the
crowded Strand, a low, pleasant voice,
almost in my ear, said:
Don't look behind, sir"
IL anything was likely to make me
look behind, il was just that! But |
didn't. ! kept my course without turn
ing my head.
Presently again:
"If you want some very fine cigars,
very cheap, follow me-"
did want some very fine cigars, and
though | was bearer of dispatches, their
being very cheap was no objection. /
also wanted smother thing, as the reader
no doubt has already begun to suspect.
My excuse Is, I was . great deal younger
then than | am now.
In few moments square shouldered
decentiy dressed man passed before me
and crossed the street; SO did l. Pres
emily he turned corner; 80 did 1, He
crossed again; so did /. He walked on
ward considerable distance; SO did L.
He entered narrow dark alley; 50 did
|. After . variety Of turnings and wind
ings towards the very worst part of the
town, through a region Of squalid mis-
cry and presidential air, he turned into
gin-palaGe; 50 did |. There were a
number Of rowdy-looking ladies' and
gentlemen with red noses standing ut
the counter, but no notice was taken of
rs. My silent pilot, always without
turning his head, crossed the gin-palace
and passed out of IL in the rear, made
his way rapidly along gloomy, solitary
court, entered a dirty, dismal-looking,
unfinished room, and out of that into
another; 80 did /. We were now in Il
small dark chamber, with only one win
dow, about two feet square and ten or
twelve from the floor, so that nobody
could look Ia or out.
Strange as IL may seem, not till this
moment did think what foolish thing
[ WAS doing. -
"Now, sir!" said my new friend, who,
AZ found when he turned bis head, was
anything but O handsome fellow. He
unlocked large closet crammed with
an ample provision Of cigar boxes.
? "Just look at them cigars! They're
the best in the whole world, and at the
very lowest prices. Seven and a half
pounds. Seven pounds, Six pounds
We can't get them cigars anywhere in the
whole United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Irelsnd without paying twice as
much. Mr. SO-and-So," manning son
of one Of the leading members of the
British House Of COmmons), "has Just
bought for City pounds"
FIFTY pounds!" exclaimed 1. "My
good fellow, don't'want pounds worth
Of cigars. I'm going in few days
where can get cigars as cheap as these,
III take q hundred, OF, if you like, two
hundred, but shan't take any more.p
The man looked at me with very GU
tiouS expression in his bad, ugly face,
and pressed bis lips hard together ike
one who has difficulty to control fierce
gust of passion. Then he answered:
aye don't think | brought ye here, and
exposed myself and my trade to ye, (for
We must know, we're smugglers), only TO
sell ye shilliii's worth Of cigars, do We :?
If ye're q gentleman, as | supposed ye
was, yen take enough To pay for trouble
and risk N ~ wy 'l' wy
There was a pause.
"If ye don't like cigars" said he,
"perhaps.yc'll take some other goods"
As be spoke, with a sudden energetic
movement, he threw open trap door at
my feet. | looked into it.. Black as
midnight. A most cheerful object under
the circumstances. He stepped down
and instantly rose again with an arJnful
Of articles. "C.imel-hair shawls," said
he-"real Cashmere India shayls, both
sides alike. Brussels lace, yelyets, Jew
-elry. Ye can sell any o them articles
foT three times what charge"
Z" Magnificent" exclaimed ! with
affected admiration, for was not con
iempl,siing the elegant articles, but my
own elegant position. perceived / was
not only ia smuggler's den, but in a
robbers cave. Not only robbery, but
murder, was written in every lineament
of the niiiian's face and sounded IN eve
ry tone fhis voice What was to do?
Whatever. did. must do quickly.
While he'fyTauged the ware for my in
spectionf hleasurcd his proportion. He
was Cir NOE thin match for me. Be
sides, haR / been strong enough and
bold en0dgh 10 gpfipg upon him, or to
attempt TO kiiocs HIN down that trap
dcarwith any chance Of success, a cry
or whistle would no doubt bring to
his sssistaHfe saet5mplices as irresistible
II not as Biimerons iiszfbeaSmy Of Rod
erick Dhvsi,sDAIettnno bearer Of dis