Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-01-15

et. AS soon as the ha door closes alter
him, the brute instincts OF secrecy and
invasion pull his Jelly bsg hat over his
eyes and send.him of at run.
Outside bar-room at the corner, con-
versing affably VI i h several noted thieves
OF his acquainta,c c., is a policeman. "Set
a thiei TO catch thief" is a maxim which
the powers that run" the New Orleans
constabulary put in practice, but the
thief is rarely caught The chiet duty
of the force is to catch votes for the poll
ticians. 10 whom they jointly and sever
ally owe their places. and TO be other
wise particularly useful. The policeman
st the corner has just done good stroke
of work. lie had arranged that row
should break out at hostile club that
night. and the predestiaed dis,urbers oi
the peace had pledged him once, twice.
thrice. In whiskey. He was al aglow
with Importance (srd whiskey) when he
saw our Rat coms out OF Mr.. Au-ten's
house and scuttle of. Here was victim
worthy of his steel, so be Immediately
gave chase, shouting stop thief" and
6red bis revolver at the lu- i,7o.
His first hot ruck coloroa girl who
was crossing the street about ien yards
from where Dick ran in the heel, and
his second went through tirst-sIory wiz
dow and smashed looking-glass. TIE
girl howled dismally. and the proprietor
If the starred mirror appeared in his oa!-
cony and discharged several rounds OF
profanity. And there il ended. II is
quite regular for policemen Cor. indeed.
lor any one) TO fire at persons who at
tempt to give justice leg-bail. though
they urge their wild career through the
most crowded thorougfares.
Our RA,-ignorant of the fact that a
New Orleans policeman has never yet
been known 10 bit AM thing that he act
ualIy aimed al-gave in at the second
shot, aud was walked of in triumph 10
the station.
Captain Gilbert spends the evening
with his agent. aud then returns 10 the
ship about II o'clock.
Sorry TO say. sir begins the chief Of
ticer. that most of the men arc on shore.
Without leayeH
A shrug Of the shoulders. is his answer.
Whose watch is il P
Mr.. Andrews
Send him here
'How's this, Mr. Andrews asks the
captain, sngrily.
Its not my fault, sir. They don't go
over the gsngwsy. They crawl over
the side and on 10 the beams Of the wharf.
It's impossible TO stop them
The captain knows New Orleans, and
being a Just man has no more to say. 1t
is very provoking. He is going TO sail
tomorrow. and these men will come on
board either drunk or stupid with tbs
effect of drink Some OF them, perhaps,
will net come at all.
The weather for the last few days has
been oppressively hot, and now there is
hone of rain Tue SKY is dark and low,
aud the faint evening breeze has gone
down. Toe captain has gone down to
his cabin, which is on deck. aud tries 10
read. out the mosquitoes won't let him,
so he gets into bed, tucks in hi: bar, and
sleeps the sleep OF tired man.
Something makes him conscious that
two bells, Gone o'clock are striking.
Then he hears a whisper, 'C.p'n, Csp'n I.
close by his side. Ia an instant he had
revolver ready. and in the act oi striking
A match. when the whisper says, Hush
Is me, Dick. Don't say word; don
hght q match. Hush Is there . man
named Phil Wood in your crowjP
Yes, fireman; but he deserted laoI
week The captain whispers, too.
Have you got any specious aboard
'Specious2 Oh, specie you mean
.Wot's that?'
Money
Il thought So. Well. Cap'n. Phil WoeC
and FIVE more are after that there speciods
and they re aboard now
Good God why didn't you tell me be
tore ?, gasps the captain.
.P'liceman chegiek me cos I'd got
bundle that the lady gave me-. He tool
it away, he did. and locked me up ex
planned Dick, but got out
On board now, do you say? asks The
captain.
Yes, and at work, too. Listen! i
What the captain hears sends him ou
of his berth with spring.
Fire that he says, thrusting q pisto
into Dicks hand, and run forward
shouting help as loud as you can scream.
Then he darts out on deck.
And no time 10 spare! The thieves
have overpowered and gagged the mar
on watch, have cut round the fastening
OF the hatch leading to the specie room
and already two boxes are out and readl
for spiriting away.
Dick does as he is told and then rushe'