The Morning herald., 1878-12-05

CHAPTER XVIII.
THE PRISONER ESCAPES SUSPICIOUS GRABBED
JOE GETS PUNISHED.
Had Tom Black known what course
things were taking at the Travellers
Rest" he would have been less sure Of his
asserted victory.
Gipsy Jack and Grabbed Joe suspected
something illegal in their pals accusation
against their leader, and set themselves
the task Of circumyenting him.
Toms failure to get away with the plum
der, dis unwarrantable interference in the
captains business by rescuing Cecil Clayton
from their clutches, and, lastly, his charge
Of treachery, were far too indigestible for
these watchful thieves
Jack, 10th to believe the jolly Tom traitor
or spy, at first would not incline to the al"
ways suspicious Spiders views, but, after
finding "Bob" immured by his order, and
being morally certain that the charge was
trumped up. he, to use one of his own ex-
pressions, "gracefully caved." Thereafter,
the mysterious Mr.. Blacks movements were
watched. .... ,..
Yet he was too spry to be trapped, and
lodged every effort made.
Instead of returning to the Water Street
den after his interview with Mrs. Weeks, he
took lodgings that night in cheap uptown
hostelry.
While he was resting, his pals were ct
work.
After the Travellers Rest" was closed,
and while the inmates were sleeping oil
heavy potations, these two worthless dupli-
Gated Toms trick Of paying the incarcerated
man o midnight visit, and then assembled
again 10 their apartment and let themselves
down, by rope, from the window to the
street, being the easiest mode of egress, and
less calculated to disturb the tired roysterers.
Reaching terra firma, Jack gave o low,
peculiar whistle. -.
The bar-room door opened, and Jared
Clark stood in the open air.
No chains clung to his feet, but manacles
still fettered his wrists.
Grabbed Joe had managed to get to him a
file and two keys; with the file be had liberated
his ankles, and with the keys unlocked the
doors of his prison and the bar-room.
Joe quickly opened the handouts, and set
the villain entirely free.
(Which way?" asked Jack.
"To the uptown ranch!" replied CLARK,
excitedly.
They reached the brown-stone front be-
fore daylight. :,
"How are we to git in, CAPT." inquired
Jack. Haven't any keys, have you?
"No; the cursed thief stole every one!'
"And you say you don't know who done
iR"
'IfI did, I'd 1 couldn't get look at
him; he held me down"
81 know snarled the Spider. 'Tell you
when we get inside"
Muttering imprecations on the head OF
the despoiler, he noiselessly smashed in the
area side-ight, slid his arm through the
aperture made, and pushed back the bolt
which secured the door.
Leaving Jack to refasten it, he bounded
ND the stairs and into the second-story back
room. -, :, a.,
The door communicating with the ball
was open, as he had left it. And the closet
which contained many of his most precious
valuables was safely locked.
Shut in by unusually thick wooden
panels, doubly padlocked, it would have
resisted the heaviest blows.
The sight relieved the owner.
"My storehouse is safe" he said to Jack,
| who came in at the moment and helped
himself to chair.
"That We don't know, begin yer pardon,
Bob" answered Jack, obviously; "and ye
can't find out till ye git keys"
"What robber would take the pains 10
replace things as he found them? said the
leader "Still, it's as well to be sure.
Spruce up, that you may not be too partie,
| uiarly noticed, and get q locksmlth; youl
| find one on the next avenue. Be speedy,
for don't care to stay here any longer than
I can avoid"
He flung open the shutter, to tighten the
apartment, and lay YEARLY down on SET
tee between the windows.
The house was handsomely furnished and
had all the comforts which make COM
plete habitation.
Elegant paintings and engravings adorned
the walls. and curtains of richest fabric
darkened the windows from any struggling
rays of sunlight penetrating the crevices IN
| the blinds.
The parlors were of the most elaborate
description, the ceilings being OF delicate
tints. with medallion portraits OF eminent
persons at the four corners; portraits were
also painted in the walls.
All ill.gotten gain; not one honest penny
IN tbe whole structure -flched from the
nnsonbisticated card-player and the wealthy
with a proclivity for play, and added 10 by
nroceeds from burglaries concocted by the
rhief. carried out by his hirelings.
Here CLARK generally slept, but never ate.
ro his hired rooms OF the hotel all letters
were directed and there he got his meals.
Cstenaihlv. the hotel was and had been, for
many years, his home. In reality ne knew
| MT what home meant.
Gipsy Jack soon returnea t%a wssn nod1onk and and
smith, who fitted keys TO tne paolocA an'
| awnno omen the heavy door. -,