The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-08-25


telling IN out and out falsehood
81 guess net, mister,' said Ames, who
did not care to be recognized, II just
struck this town from a whalin' voyage.
Yer see, took q notion to get away from
salt water" he added with chuckle.
"Theres money in whalin', my friend" !"
said tile bartender, seating himself by tho
table, after supplying the brandy and ci-
gars. "Ive wished many time that I'd
gone inter that myself"
/. "Its hard, though" said Ames, resolved
to keep up the deception, eff there is money
on the water there amt anything to drink
worth mentioning, and I'm chap as likes
my toddy." . ....-,s
"Goin' out agin, I 'spose p. 81 !. ~,
eyes; but I'm in for a resplsrold blewss
out, before ship, yersb bet e,
you sailors be Jolly chaps 2 said the
bartender, -
aJes 60, said Ames; ss'have drink ?"
=: nnDon't mind if I do. seein' it's you,"
said the other, pouring out full glass of
the brandy. at amt often you get such
r. liker as this. -
Thus the two men chatted and drank to.
gether, until Ames was too drunk to talk
more and his head sank heavily upon the
table.
Seeing this, the bartender hastened to
an inner room and shook man roughly
by the shoulder who was sleeping on
wretched bed.
"Mart! Mart! Wake up" he cried.
"Here's high-toned job for yer -
"What's wanted ?" demanded the other,
starting up and rubbing his eyes. Cant
yer let a feller sleep q second without
humping him about in that way5 What's
wanted, say?"
Owe worked up job for you," said the
bartender giving the man another shake.
"Hallo, Steve, is that Jou7 Something
new in the windY" said tho man, now fully
aroused.
He WAS sccdy looking man, and his
bloated fuce and matted hair told Of habit
uni intemperance.
"Get up" said the bartender grufly,
"and don't be snoozing here when there's
work to be done. Cool yerself OF in this
bucket of water and then come out and
get drink. "rhat'll brace yer up, Pm
thinkin'.'
The man sprang to his feet with a1acrity,
and, after swashing his head and face in
pail of clear, cool water, made his appear
uuCC Ill luC Uul-lOUIuS NhSke - 6AIsSS "a 44SA y
whskcy was handed him.
"Now what's up, Steve?' he demanded,
after swallowing the wbiskey. oyer don't
set out sech drinks as them fer nothin'."
EYER sees that chap a-snoozin' on the
table? Well, yer wants ter brush up re-
spectacle like and keep track of him ter
day. He's got pile Of cash in them pock-
cts O his ~
"Uew much "a hundred"
"a hundred" said the other contemptu-
ously, cts nearer thousand!"
GOOD enough said Mart. "That's
H., enough for one day. How shall I try
him ?" sud the m,n, laughing at his own
joke.
"Why-the old way. Keep him in tow
till night, and then 'spose yer knows what
to 10 - sud the bartender, significantly.
"Dousci'
"Does yer want ter swing, yer fool ?
eave him in some mighty dark place drunk,
an for fear some bloak will 60 through
him, lust take his cash for safe keepin' y
And the villain laughed heartily at his way
of putting the case.
"All right said Mart, sitting down, to
Eait for Ames to recover from the effect
of the liquor he had already taken.
It was some time before he regained con-
sciousness, and when he did so he was i'm.
mediutey persuaded to drink more by the
worthy couple, and so he was kept in a
drunken stupor until night-fal, when
Mart succ eeded in enticing him out for
walk, leading him in the direction OF
lonely street near the river bank. Here
the two seated themselves on box little
f a,
from q rocket of his cont.
"There's nothin' like this ere stuff for
kerpin' out the cold" he said, passing the
bottle to Ames, "take a smile, an then
we'll 90 back to town."
Amcs took the bottle and drank heartily.
at amt like that brandy, though" he
said, corking the bottle. "it tastes queer
like after takin' in the gcnuine.''
Ames, conversant as he was with all the
ways of villainy, was thrown completely off
his guard by the seeming frankness of his
companion. He had often practiced the
same game that was now being played up.
on him, but his brain was so befogged by
drink tlla. he could not Comprehend his po.
sition.
After drinking from the bottle O second
and third time, strange feeling Of
drowsincss crept over him and he gave
himself 80 completely up to it that he was
soon unconscious.
"Wake up! Wake up!" said his compan-
ion, with seeming effort to arouse him.
"You mustn't snooze here"
Ames made no reply, and his heavy
breathing fully attested the power Of tho
drug which the bartender had mingled
with the liquor he had imbbed.
Being satisfied with Ames' condition
Mart coolly proceeded to search the sleep
ing mans pockets, and was oyerioycd as
the large amount thus secured. 1t was too
dark to see the denomination Of the bills,
but there were enough Of them to mako q
goolly sum even if they were small.
eyer pouches pan out well, my sleeping
beauty" he muttercn with chuckle as he
left his victim and hastened in the direc-
ton Of the saloon.
About nine o'clock Ames awoke and stag
gercd to his feet. lie was nervous and
dizzy from the effects of the drug and the
liquor, and stepped into the first saloon he
came to md ordered o drink of brandy.
After drninins tho glass he called for
more and felt in his porkct for the money
TO pay for it, and, Of course, found it
empty.
He was sober in minute and began
thorough examination Of his pockets for
any change the robbcr had overlooked.
At last he found small tangle of currency
in pocket which Mart had passed by
without searching and paid for the brandy.
lie did not mention the fact of his being
robbed, for he was cautious enough to avoid
any publicity in the matter. When he
reached the street again, however, he ours
cd himself heartily for his lack of prudence
in getting into such muss.
''I'll have ter strike my old pard for moro
cash ter-morrcr,' he muttered, "an' dare
not sec him until 1'vo made everything
snug with the old lady; SO I'll have to pay
her visit this very night"
Thinking that it WAS already late enough
for the proposed visit, Amcs hastened along
the river road until within q short distance
Of Wallingford house, when he turned
sharply to the left and entered m open