The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-06-06
CHAPTER VIII.


JARED CLARK IN NEW RoLE-PLoTTrNG.
The Travellers Rest" on Water Street,
would have presented to the average New
Yorker curious spectacle.
1t was the resort of mixed class seldom
seen in any other saloon in the metropolis
Pickpockets, corner statues, ex-convicts,
and such ilk, found here an abiding place
from the cares of the world, and often from
the watchful guardianship of detectives and
police.
The proprietor, an Irishman named Nc
Cormick, was himself man who had passed
half his life within the four walls of a prison.
This made him warm friend to those who
partook of his hospitality-execrable rum
and miserable, half-cooked food, prepared
by dirty, unkempt hag.
Ot these two necessaries, the liquids solo
most readily-a circumstance not entirely
confined to gentlemen of queer cast.
At the extreme end of the saloon was
raised platform, with row of footlights and
curtain, which served as a stage for the
performances of ''song and dance artists"
"serio-comic singers and "burnt-cork
comedians"
Many of these ''artists" afterward filled
responsible positions in the numerous wa
rlety' theatres scattered about the country.
The unsophisticated might imagine that all
such artists spring from some like source;
the sophisticated knows that the majority
do.
A jovial set of men were enjoying them
selves over well-flled glasses and applaud
ing the performers as occasion seemed to
require.
The night was wet and uncomfortable,
and had driven them indoors early.
Alta table in one corner were seated two
men, enjoying themselves like the rest, but
every now and then glancing furtively
toward the door.
These two were as roughly dressed as the
others, yet one presented q marked contrast
to any in the room.
He was lean and sallow, and bore on his
back distorted huneh. A club foot, and
small, snaky eyes, added to the repulsiye-
ness of his appearance.
His companion was peculiar only by
reason of shock Of red hair and o scar on
the left cheek
A few yards behind these two creatures,
sat, or, rather, rsclined q sailor, neatly
dressed, even TO the knot at the throat.
His dark brown hair curled closely about
his head, but his bushy beard marred the
otherwise happy expression of his face.
With his feet resting on stool, and his
head in bis hand, he quietly slipped his
liquor.
After the clamor Of applause over the
singing of 'serio-comic artist" angel in
green tights was subsidized the red-haired
man pulled from his pocket an old silver
watch and consulted it.
Eight o'clock. Grabbed Joe," he said to
the hunchback. Expected to see the cap
tain tonight, but its gettin' late for him.
lie allus has so much to tend to-"
Grabbed Joe viudicated his right to the
title by a growl.
Yes" he snapped Tots of excuses for
keepin away till he wants us. Haint div
We'd up on that last haul yet
"Why, you aint afraid he isn't goin' to,
are your asked the other. "Hen pay
plump enough, you bet, or my names not
Cipsy Jack.
"s1ost generally has, growled the hunch-
back "But things is bad-struck hard
luck; captain wants all the filthy"
Don't blieve any sich nonsense. The
caps no fool. If he kept it, the band would
@ back on him, and he cant afford that"
Grabbed Joe wriggled closer.
"Tricky, Jack-tricky! I'm spider;
you know, Jack: and worm, worm-crawl
crawl into all sorts of places and hear all
sorts of things. Wouldn't trust the captain
too far!'
Gipsy Jack evidently did not relish the
Spiders remarks, and was about to reply,
when the neatly dressed sailor came forward
and placed himself in chair beside him.
40 at ha int lar W / la ba
himself glass and raised it to his lips with
out speaking. As he was about to drink,
he stopped and set the glass down, exclaim-
ing:
"Why, Jack and Joe, how dye dol
Didn't see ye afore!"
His voice was gruf, but pleasant, and his
manner jovial.
1--WE doesn't have the honor" returned
Jack. "Who are youi"
"A man"
Jack glanced covertly at Joe, and whis.
pered:
"wonder if he overheard usf"
"No whisperin', jack" said the inter
| loper. 'It's imperlite in company
Gipsy Jack loled back in his chair, stucl
his feet up on table, jammed his thumbi
into the armholes of his vest, and gave ut
terance to short whistle.
"Well, if that aint cheek! How do yor
know our names? I'll swear 1 don't know
you"
eyes you do; only you've forgot me- d'y'
see? But I've no rejections to tellin' wht
l am; my names Tom Black, and I'm {
cove what's on the lay; that's my htt
game!'
Civil anyhow nodded Jack to tn
Spider.
"What do you want with us?" snappe'
he.
The stranger eyed the cripple from heat
| to foot, in an amused way then gave him
slap on the back that nearly sent him TO tn
floor.
"Thats right, Grabbed Joe, the crawling
spider! Glad to hear you speak; yer voic
is so musical jest like rusty door hinge
Let's take drink
He filled the only two glasses on the tabl
and pushed them toward Jack and Joe lift
ing the bottle to his own lips.
He did not swallow any of its vile con
tents merely letting the stuff touch
"Did hear our talk, bet fver" whis
pered Joe to Jack, then, turning to Tom
be asked: "How dye know us-why don
you answer!
The stranger laughed.
Don't be aggrawacious, fellers, caus
Sam Nevins gang never took back talk. !"
"Sam Nevinsp' cried both men, simulta
neously.
Used to be one of his right hand mer
don't yer remember"
Jacks face broke into grin.
"Begs yer pardon, Toni" said he. "Tak
another drink"
"No more, thanky. Got to go soon, and
want you to find me suthin to do. Our gang
busted, cause the leaders dead, and II