The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1875-02-11
Almost an Adventure.


her meadows are green, all her window
curtains are white, all her mutton-chops
are tender, all her chambermaids are beauti-
ful. The idea of war with such coun-
try is simply absurd
AS continued my walk along the
crowded Strand, low pleasant voice, al
most in my ear, said, ''Don't look behind,
sir"
IF anything was likely to make me look
behind, it was just that. But didn't. |
kept my course without turning my head,
Presently again: 'If you want some very
fine cigars, very cheep, follow me-
| did want some very fine cigars, and
though l was bearer of dispatches their be-
ing very cheap was no objection. 1 also
wanted another thing, as the reader no
doubt has begun to suspect. My excuse
is, was great deal younger then than I
am now,
In few moments square-shouldered
decently- dressed man passed before me and
crossed the street so did l. Presently he
turned corner, so did I. He crossed
again: so did |. He walked onward
considerable distance so did l. He entered
narrow dark alley: so did [. After a
variety of turnings and windings toward
the very worst part of the town, through
a region of squaild misery and pestilential
air, he turned Into gin palace so did |.
There were a number of rowdy looking
ladies and gentlemen with red noses stand
ing at the counter, but no notice was taken
of us My silent pilot, always without
turning his head, crossed the gin palace
and passed out of it In the rear, made his
way rapidly along a gloomy, solitary court,
entered dirty, dismal-looking, unfurnish-
ed room, and out of that into another: so
did l. We were now in small dark
chamber, with only one window, about two
feet square and ten or twelve feet from the
floor, SO that nobody could look in or out.
Strange as it may seem, not till this
moment did l think what foolish thing |
was doing.
"Now, sir /" said my new friend who,
as | found when he turned his head, was
anything but a handsome fellow He un-
locked a 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
lowest prices. Seven and half pounds
Seven pounds Six pounds. Ye can't get
| them cigars anywhere in the whole United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
without paying twice as much. Mr.. So
and-so" (naming a son of one of the leading
members of the British House Of Com
mons) ''has just bought for fifty pounds" "
Fifty pounds p exclaimed l. My
good fellow, | don't want fifty pounds
worth of cigars l am going in few days
where l can get cigars as cheap as these.
| I'll take hundred, or, if you like, two
hundred, but sha'n't take any more,
The man looked at me with very
curions expression on his bad, ugly face,
and pressed his lips hard together like one
who has difficulty to control fierce gust
of passion. Then he answered aye don t
think brought ye here, and exposed my
self and my den to yc (for, We must know,
we're smugglers only to sell We shllin S
worth of cigars, do ye? If ye'er gentle
man, as | supposed We was, yell take
enough to pay for troupie and risk.
| 1nere was a pause
"If yc don't like cigars, said he, ''per-
haps yell take some other goods.
AS be spoke, with sudden energetic
movement he threw open trapdoor at my
feet l looked intoit. Black as midnight
! \ most cheerful object under the circum-
stances. He stepped down and instantly
rose again with an armful Of articles
b" Camel-hair shawls," said hc-'real
cashmere India shawls, both sides alike
Brussels lace, velvets, jewelry. Ye can sell
any o them articles for three times what
charge"
Magnificent" exclaimed with affected
admiration, for | was not contemplating
the elegant articles, but my own elegant
position. / perceived | was not only in {
smuggler's den, but in robbers cave
Not only robbery, but murder was writer
in every lincament of the rufiian' face anc
sounded in every tone of his voice. Wha
was / to do2 Whatever / did must be
done-quickly. While he arranged tue
wares for my inspection | measured lii
proportions He was far more than a mattel
for me. Besides, had been strong enough
and bold enough to spring-upoh hiln or tt
attempt to knock him down that trap door
with any chance of success, cry OF whistle
would no doubt bring to his assistance ac
completes as irresistible it not as numerou
as the army of Roderick Dhu; and even
bearer of dispatches in that case would b.
handled rather roughly, ] saw but ON
course, and that doubtful and dangerous
but the only one my imprudenee had LET
me.
"WelI, old Fellow said with faIniliu
air, Il tell you what, sneh a chance doe
not come every day. II you'll give me ON
of those articles cheap enough to make
real profit, I'll take something.
''0h, said he, "yc shall have 'em JUS
as eheapas dirt only yc must pay befor
We leave the room. sa VI 1aE ass