The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-18
THE MOUNTAIN R0BBER.
PENNsYLVASI4's HANDs0ME AND
WICKED MIIEFICTOR



READING, Pa, June 16-"O. yes you
can see him" said the Warden "just walk this
way" As tho oHical bit tho end Of half
smoked cigar and hmpod along. be continued. ,
Jacks great Jack and he's in mood to tell
you, why you'll hear a story worth listening to-
The heavy iron door swung open, and into n
narrow, white walled cell the writer entered.
Reclining on cot was a man apparently thirty
i've years OF age. He had black hair dark
sparkling eyes, high forehead, well shaped nose.
smooth cheeks, whose original whiteness
seemed TO be struggling out from beneath tho
traces OF a once sun-browned skin. He Is nvo
feet ten inches high, has broad shoulders.
weighs probably lis pounds, aud may bo called
ahandsome fellow. Ha half rose up. lnid aside
abook. and seemed to wonder at the visit.
Jack, I've come TO soc YOU and have a talk
with you. If you see no objection l would like
to know something Of your life and career"
lie replied with n stern look that was followed
bya smile, land then he spoke; Newspaper
man, suppose2 sit down, I know there's no
use tr, in to cit rid o YOU or to shake you, go I
might as well DO civil "a possible. Now, what
do YOU want to know2'
whatever you choose to tell me-" was the
reply
wei, can't tell you anything bout this
case OF ours You know why I'm here. was
Swallowed doing it'll work In this town aud
| they lodged me here for It. II was only abouta
hundred dollars worth Of hides that was
transferring for another party The member
| who was on tins run got sick. and undertuok
70, % The JOB. was a little too bold and tho
officers fell on 70 me in good earnest, and that's
| why I'm in here out OF the sun reading Bun
vans Pilgrim Progress.
The conversation continued for some time
and a. Jack measured his length on the cot
there was opportunity for studying his make
! no. He wore white shirt that seemed to have
been lnundtied for special purpose; a pink
scarf was fastened at his throat; dark panta-
! looms, white stockings. and dainty glipperg He
was born In =; Louis. where he has relatives
s snu sort ~ taa 1oS d ID was W1 hc
grew fond Of adventure, and paid less attention
to school. lie was set adult at sixteen, aud
| large part OF the North and south.
" was worth $4,000 when was twenty-nv
years OF age he said, but cnsy come eusy 20.
shot IT on, and II meindered away like
dream. was quite a sight waen the war broke
nc. know there would be pie Tor somebody,
and went log piece Of It; No, 10, never
! killed. but put my maine down to get back Just
when l got tired Of it,. Well Washington, Pc
ville aud lot of other towns give us plenty Of
room to work In, ana we got through hne,
! When the war closed things quoted down, and
instead of me goin' nome, out West, hung IN
70 pal o. mice aud settied here ia THIS state.
and they put us away awhile. You will excuse
me II SKID some o these parts. II might not
be interesting TO me"
STORIES TO LAUen ABOUT.
JdNh Nd- tNlltHlil AHAiVu@ ~ ulue Hucu Dt
his lifes story. \ moment later he cOrrODOrated
| It by saying Now. II YOU were not an ink
Singer I'd give you enough to laugh about for a
week; nut don't want to be nv own convlcior.
60 ia better say nothing at oil. miss the boys,
II Is true. but have the salts faction Of know
| Inc tLat theyil all BRING w with round turn
! before the seasons over. Come soon again." no
continued; stay longer the next time, and tell
| Us the work the CO.'S Is DON with that fine
! Young mob OF thieves down In the mountains
l heard Of the murder OF the old man down
/ see II they don't. All they want Is another
Jimmy kerrisan. the same as the young fellow
gang Is ever rightly given away. there Ii be thirty
| of them at least that will either have TO skip
| the country or tumble into hook, one way or tho
Jack Is or has been a bold, daring man q
done any quantity Of time The last bust.
ness Of his was 10 20 down INTO the country
o ons ho ,S 70 , snd .q ana
Is hard TO tell how many gangs OF bad men
running half dozen ilhct whiskey distiilcfies
IN half-dozen cellar. down In the mountains.
kinds OF bad WORK. He drew up a code Of sis-
nals TO Do used at night signs, passwords, grips,
party PINNED, tho other carried It into eject,
! and the other took tue stolen property aud
ibunn n'rket iir H. JACK was me brains OF
! ing drive, and knowing no fear he was littlo
| too reckless, and Just by merest accident he was
caught. have mad dealings with nianYh crooked
/ man, bu, he beats them al lie not only gpt
! had men interested. but SO worked II that the
/
! IN their secret orgauizatiOn, aud thus the work
/ went on. Inc sons would rob and deliver the
| goods from their own futhers' farms parties
/ would whip IL IL IN the ueId OF the nj ght and
/ Get IN into other hands, who would hurry It to
! market. There Is no doubt but That stureks ep-
tre hhu mere an were IA J!ch lcAsue. len
/ followed a dlvY OF sugar when the 'swng
was sold. I've got a list OF large number of
men that belonged to the gang that are to be
/ arrested ana convicted upon tho testimony OF
! TINS man Dent. He gives his nlme as John
| curtis Bent Sometimes lie writes 1t simply
| John Curtis. lie had n fine batch OF letters on
| bis pers ION when clptured. some OF them were
He cuts quite n dash when he, liked up IN bis
store clothes. lie had no difficulty IN passing Oh
About once a month ned appear on the streets
! OF either New Yor, or Phiiadeiphld. His high
polished, and his clothes OF the latest cut
! lie Is an eKpo.t shot with tho revolver, nne
/ helps TO make hi;ua crack poker player. Hts
female ac4nanipn-es were many ana embraced
| dlstlict where ne was committing his worst
corporations.
700 sNAR9 To he IDLE
"You see. Jack was too SIN n 20 be WINS
round idle. For TIC past year lie mas been pass
INK III a., painter. lie would .yl,.t farmer and
! very pletty Young LADY he might have married
down me ooun,iry II nc mad not eeel caught III
Jack went there and asked tor the job oi PAINT
INK the inside Of the house said no was poor.
! ana willing 70 work his board. In that way
he could best SEQ now the land laid. lie was =
smooth talAor. pleasant aud agreeable, and
I cohlu ten very straight STORY ITO worked
/ there week, and ono SUNDAY no took tla
daughter to church. On the saturday previous
the farmer loaned him a horse and wagon tc
/ drive down six miles to get his clothts; ~
! Jack had a pretty good SUIT to Weir. II e. wa.
! making hne IMPRESSION, and the young usn.
! ter ENCOURAGED him. Hat JacK consented to do
friend ; WORK in wuIhiIg away ,una stolen
| hides, and that was tue last of his romantic
/ cOurtshlp. lie was nabbod and jailed
He told ne that he had often made aoquAin,.
ances OF th.t Kind, but had never bcfofs
j met young lady for:wnOm no had So great re.
spect. lie slept IN their house, and many timcd
/ had ch noes To roo and plumber, ont nsyor uid
! II. hat his ultimate design was cannot LAY
laccused him Of planning an clupeueut aud then
returning the old mans daughter for 50 m lch
/ solid wealth. lie smiied At the notion, aud tOiu
me of another love conquest au had m tdo II a
country landlord daug er inrf had gone
! there to do some bad work, ana Ok eyes tel
| upon lovely blonde waiting Oh the guests =
| the supper table. That ni-ht he entertained del
| IN the pdrlOT found out tho fanny secrets, auC
| learned what the gang desired TO kuON. lie - o
Tine guitar player, and ~ thvro happened 10 Oa
at instrument OF that klnu IA the house, he s. "a.
and played until the entire family was charmei
! Tho next day he was among the missing, and
/ siTanEtst " all, the daughter refused To nt Il yt
/ him guilty, and answered his letters she utNaI
/ breathing To her father that she had heard ilnu
! him, HIS core spDuueuCe WAS uDus Ia. ,tt. ..4.