The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-08-29
gon of the Uranium, both internally and ex-


ternally.
Arriving at his vessel Obadiah found Mr..
Pendegrast experimenting the discharging
of the potatoes. Calling him aft so that
their conversation should not be overheard,
he impaired to him the information he had
acquired, reading aloud the newspaper item
that had so affected him, and winding up
with the conclusions that he had reached in
regard to their involuntary proceedings of
the night before. Jake, greatly impressed,
heard him through without moving muscle
of his weather beaten visage; then, at the
conclusion, squirting forth miniature Mag
ara of tobacco juice, the accumulation of the
entire period of Obadah's discourse, his feel
ings found vent in the long drawn exclamation:
"Jerusalemw
Snow jake" said Obadiah; you know the
whole story. How are we to overhaul these
cussed pirates? I want you to set your wits
to work, and tell me how we are to catch
them, aud make our tetotal fortunes out of
their ill-gotten plumber, to say nothing of
getting square with the rascals for abusing
sit right down and think, and I'll look after
the potatoes"
Captain Skillins walked forward, and Jake,
seating himself on the rail, threw one leg
over the other, rested his elbow on his knee,
and, his chin reposing in the palm of his
hand, fell into deep study which lasted
until six O'Clock, when active labor ceased
on the Lively Turtle, and Captain Skllins
came att to learn the result of his cogitations.
A consultation of half an hour ended in the
evolution of settled plan of operations, the
success of which will be seen further on.
That evening, about half past eight oclock,
Colonel Sharpsey, one of the smartest detec.
tives in Baltimore, was enjoying the fragrance
OF mild Havana, in his private room in the
rear of his Office. His body 1eposed luxuriously
in the depths of smoking chair, and his feet
found comfortable resting place on the Ia
bic before him. But in spite of his bodily
comfort his mind was far from reposing. He
had difficult case to work up, one that in
volved his professional reputation; the same
n fact that was so perplexiDg that amateur
detective, Captain Skillins. In case of the for
mer, however, there was the powerful incen-
tive which was unfelt by Obadiah, that Of
knowing rival 10 be engaged in the same
pursuit Hookem, the only detective in Bal
timore who could in any sense be considered
rival, was as hot on the scent of Guacho
Jack as Colonel Sharspey, and the colonel had
an unpleasant premonition that he possessed
intelligence regarding the movements of this
cratic individual, superior to his own, which
would eliminate in finally capturing him and
| gaining for himself the attendant emoluments
| and professional credit. As he sat smoking,
and seeking methods by which to get ahead
| of the hated Hookem, his door suddenly
opened, and pair of nautical looking indi-
viduals entered without ceremony; one of
them was sturdy parsonage of medium
height, his head tied up in yellow handker-
chief; the other, long, spare man, with
preternaturally solemn yisage. An acquaint-
ance would have recognized in this couple
our old friend Obadiah Skillins and his faith
| full henchman, Jake Pendegarsst. The first
| act of Jake on his entrance, was to lock the
the apartment, looking into closets, and un-
der the bed; meanwhile, Obadiah walked up
| and confronted the colonel who was lat first)
too much astonished to expostulate at this
| unwarranted proceeding, and only gazed at
his strange vsitants in utter astonishment.
At length, he found words, aud broke out
with:
"What the devil do you mean, coming into
my room this way?"
There was no answer, Jake being too much
absorbed in his researches, to heed any inter-
ference, while Obadiah, man slow to think,
was laboriously coming over in his mind the
| best way to open the business which had
brought him hither. The colonel, an excita-
BILE man by nature, grew hot. He reached
| his hand into little drawer which stood
partly open in tie side Of the table; there
was sudden click, and Obadiah's eyes gazed
| into the capacious chamber of o derringer
| pistol, cooked, with nervous looking fore
| finger at the trigger. In the same motion
the colonel had risen, kicked his chair back,
and now stood so as to command the room.
you mean, I'll blow hole through both of
you."
"Put up yer shooter, cap'n," said Jake.
withdrawing his head from under the bed.
''If you kill us, you lose a job that'n make
the fortin' of the whole on us. We don't
| want nobody round overhearin' on us. We
are alone. You can perceed cap'n Skillins.'
'"Fm burned if Til talk with that weepin
pointed at me-" said Obadiah energetically.
easy with your forefnger, cap'n, that cussed
thing'll go off afore you know it. Come, put
it up, will you? want to talk business"
Colonel Sharpsey was an acute observer Of
human character, and was accustomed to
| read men from their faces and voices. The
moment he heard the tones of his extraordin-
| airy guests he diYined their nativity, and was
satisfied that there was no sinister purpose in
their visit. He lowered his pistol and mo
toned Obadiah to chair.
swell, what do you want?'
Obadiah gesticulated Jake to come closer,
hitched his chair into the neighborhood of
the Colonels, put his mouth close to that
gentleman ear, anu asked IN a hoarSe Whls-
per:
care you sure there amt nobody within
| hearin?,
"D-n it, no;' replied the Colonel sharply,
| getting irritable again at Obadiah's elaborate
preparations. "Say what you're going to,
quick. My times valuable''
Thus encouraged, Obadiah in stage whs-
per, and in his peculiar idiom, proceeded 10
pour into the Coloners ear minute account
| of the events we have narrated in the pre-
ceding chapter. AS he went on, the express
sion on the detectives face gradually became
one of intense interest, and, at the conclu-
sion, he asked a number of questions, wind
ing up by producing photograph represent
ing square face with angular features and
keen black eyes.
docs this look anything like Mr.. Baker Pr