The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-10

the Grand Central Depot and looked thought
Fully up and down Forty second street. To the
east he saw In the uncertaio light the retreating
form OF policeman. To the west he heard the
rattle OF a milkman's wagon. "Ohi am OBJ
served" he whispered, through his cIenched
teeth. Then turning up the collar OF his ulster
and pulling his slouched hat well over his face,
he started at a rapid gait down through the tun-
mel. What was In the black carpet bag All,
there are myst cries OF which we ust not even
speak
III.
The sun was quite high in the heavens and was
bathing the chlmneys and cobble stones Of
Jersey City with rosy llRht when three men
jumped from an incoming train that was rapidly
approaching the Pennsylvania Railroad station.
Two alighted simultaneously upon their hands
and knees, whilo the third found himself sitting
uneasiy upon the ragged edge OF a curbstono.
Although tho commissions inflicted by contact
with the cruel pavement were severe, no cry Of
pain ESCAPED their lirs, and no sign OF recogni-
ton passed between them. They scrambled to
their feet and peered anxiously in every dlteo-
tion. IN the distance n dray was rumbline along
with load Of empty lager beer KEYS.
"Hstl We are observed" exclaimed one, 10
tone inaudible except to his CON panlons.
"Observedi abaw whispered back the othor
two. The FIRST darted behind lamppost. The
second crouched 10 the shadow Of an ash barrel.
The third sauntered carelessly along, hummiue
an air. The dray passed out Of sight and the
danger was over.
Again tho three came together and hastily
conferred. "Is IL still safer" whispered one,
eagerly.
Are you sure" easped the second" sure
that you have n"
The third tapped with his hand the right, inner
he said, In II low, significant whisper, and
safe !"
The three cast meaning Qlances, each at tho
Others. Then, with q strange, unearthly laugh,
they separated.
One OF these mysterious persons, his face con-
cealed by bis slouched hat. and bis form mufIied
In gray shawl, walked boldly through the
streets, and by means OF a detour through Staten
Island, East New York, wilamsbureh, and
hunters Point, reached the city without excit-
ing suspicion. Another came by the way OF
HooOken, Spuyten Duyvel, and Harlem. The
third, bribing a Jersey gardener, who was
bringing load to market, penetrated to the
heart of the city concealed In a mass OF early
vegetables.
That very night four men stood together in the
centre OF a retired apartment in a nrst-class
hotel. There was no need now for mystery, for
concealment, for disguise, for stealth. Every
man knew that the hearts OF the Others were
true. The long ulsters were piled upon a sofa,
slouched hats were on the floor. The black
carpet bag was on the table As they stood
together IN the middle Of the room, hands
clasped across and across. a holy enthusiasm
shone from every countenance. and the com
bined holy enthusiasm Of the four quite dimme d
the light Of the gas burners above the group.
Then there came a knock upon the door
loud, stern, and abrupt. Hush" exclaimed
the four, i've must dissemble."
And they all dissembled. In an instant the
glow OF holy enthusiasm was gone from ever,
face But It was only boy with pitcher Of
Ice water.
When he had departed, the conspirators SO.
cured themselves against further intrusion by
moving a heavy wardrobe against the door
Holy enthusiasm again lit every countenance.
"shall we do iti' at length asked one who was
standing in deep thought little apart. "The
country must be saved"
"rhe country must be ssvedl" echoed his
three companions, and every man placed his
forennger alongside his nose and wnked-sol-
smnly, significantly, mysteriously winked, 1.-THE
country must be saved u
"And submit added one excitedly, ~ sub
"Dowles, Re calm !" whispered another. You
need the full command ~ s'eIy nerve"
LET us hear from Halsiead," said a third.
"Ho hos over two hundred valuable ideas on the
subject"
~ have" said Halstead; "and will proceed
to-"
Let that be anon" urged the nrst speaker.
This Is a time for action, not for Halstead's
two hundred valuable ideas. The question now
IL, shall we do III"
ave shall We shall y came from every lip.
At last they had committed themselves.
Again they clasped hands In silence. All felt
the solemnlty OF tho moment. What though
four hearts thumped loudly Just then7 Was
emotion dscreditaole at such a crisis2
Perhaps they gained courage from each other
eyes. Finally spoke one: III done, 1t must be
done at once"
1T must be done at once !" repeated the 9TH
ers firmly.
Then" said the senior OF the group, PRO
duce the para hernalia, Samuel"
And the rest echoed, samuel, produce the
paraphernalial"
From his black carpet bag the gentleman ad-
dressed as Samuel drew forth a bundle OF
Springfield Republicans, clean collar, a package
Of rutabaga seeds from the Agricultural Bureau,
paper collar slightly crumpled, an ambrotype of
Charles Francis Adams, another collar of linen.
and a bottle OF hair dye. These he threw care
'essly aside except the last, which he replaced
~ith rather nervous haste. Then from the bot
tom OF the bag he produced nfty-two cards with
Ivory counters, red, white, and yellow.
Hal" he whispered hoarsely, red is the
color Of blood, white the hue OF death, and yell
low the shade OF biiousness. Wstterson, mast
thou done thy part T"
II haste" said watterson, and from the
pocket Of bis ulster, while his fellow conspra-
tors stood IN breathless silence. he brought
forth a mysterious black bottle bearing across
Its Nat side this cabalstc legend
BOURBON CoUSTY-ls5s.
"rhe country shall be saved" he said reso-
lutely, III It takes every drop in the bottlsl"
v.
Then, placing the nfy-two cards. the chips
red, white, and yellow, and the mysterious bot
tie upon the table, the conspirators drew their
chairs close together, and conspired far into the
small hours Of the night.
How Grnntism Plumbers the People. cz1