Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-07-17

walked briskly Mt and called:
"Captain Bryantr
"That's my name | said.
"Thcn you know what this means !
and he took the broken needle from the
lappcl of his coat. | told him rccog-
nized it and asked him what ! could do.
He said:
"If you have no objection, wish you
would get clear of this dock at once.
The sooner New York sees our heels
the better I'll like it.
every WELL ! said; but I'd like to
know some name to call you by
suppose you have one
90 My name is William Hunt
~ had the watch called up and we
east OFF from the wharf / singnalcd II
tug and was towcd out Of the dock and
down to Governors Island. There the
tug cast loose and we made sail There
was n brisk breeze going and wobowled
along mt good rate till we were about
midway between Fort Hamilton and
Murray Il Norton's Concy Island wharf
There Hunt told me tO run rs close into
the beach MS could and anchor.
Il ohcycd. Hunt was perfectly cool
and collected, rs If he had the whole pro-
gramme clearly made out. But he
watched every movement on the
schooner keenly When the anchor
touched ground asked him five should
fur he sails. lie said
"' Got much. Unless you want the
trouh.r If setting them again tonight. :
This time il was as dark as pitch
The men went to supper, and | took II
snack on deck, as Hunt had said he
might want meany minute. He sat on the
tatlrail, smoking one cigar after another.
humming n tune, and looking toward
the shore, without ever turning his head. .
even when hc occasionally spoke tn me-
My mate, who was eating supper in the
cabin, came on deck rs soon as he finished.
and said il was eight bells (nine o'clock.
" He had hardly spoken when bright
light Dashed out ashore. 1t looked like
one of the flash lights made by burning
resin, which we use to signal ships with
at night. 1t only flarcd out once. Hunt
jumped To the deck and threw his cigar
overheard. ! noticed that his voice
trembled with excitement when he said.
hurriedly: Lower boat. captain.
You and me will pull ashore by our
selves
" got n boat into the water ut once.
Hunt and myself got in. | noticed that
he rowcd ncrvously, but like n man who
knew his business. We ulicd straight
for whore the light had -howcd. and
beached the boat Just below Murray &
Norton's wharf. There were three pco-
pie there. One was Murray himself. an
other, young Mckay. the former owner
of the Atwood. He had lantern. keep
ing it partially under the wharf. rs if 10
keep the light from being seen.
The third party was n big, portly,
middlc-aged man, with n clean, shaved
face. He wore slouched hat, pulled
down over his eyes, rough blue wooden
shirt, and dark pantaloous. lie had no
coat on. There were three handsome
silver or nickcl-mountcd valiscs on the
beach at his feet.
Hunt landed and said something
could not hear, sitting in the boat.
Murray and Mckay shook hands with
the middle-aged man and with Hunt.
and wished them good bye and pleas
ant voyage. There was no other CON
versation, but such rs would pass be-
tween parting friends. Mckay put the
valiscs in the boat, and Hunt and the
other man got in. He sat in the stern,
and was so heavy that he almost
swamped the gig. When we pushed off
Murray called To me:
49, You know your orders, captain.
Don't make any mistake
"' He won't If ! know myself said
Hunt, and we rowcd off, leaving them
watching us. The man in the stern
never moved or said n word after we
started
- As soon rs we got on board Hunt
and the other passenger went into tho
cabin. ] ordered the anchor 10 be hove
short and followed them. The middle
aged man was sitting on the sofa. with
his hat on yet, mopping his face with n
blue silk handkerchief. Hunt said. Cap.
tain, let me introduce you Ia Uncle John
SccuT.'
I'VE shook hands. Uncle John say
ing, without rising. Glad TO meet YOU.
captain. and taking his hat off. knew
him IT glance, from his pictures in the
papers. II was Bill Tweed.
Ills face was thinner than the pic
lures made IL, and his beard was shaved
close off. but there was no mistakina
hinf. The sight sort of flabbcrgasted
me, and kept staring like BOBBY. lie
noticed me looking so intently ut him
and stopped down, so rs to hide his face
while pretending 10 tie his shoes. lie
was visibly nervous and his hand trem.
bled very much.
Il" hope you'll make yourself com
Portable, Uncle John. Anyhow you're
safe, | said, hardly knowing what I was
saying anyhow.
Then went on deck. The anchor
wasn't apcak yet, and I set some of the
crew to swaying up the sail. while
walked up and down, wondering what
would happen next. They were at 1t
when Hunt came out of the cabin. lie
was quite calm now. and smoking n
fresh cigar. What's the matter. now p
he asked. might rs well tell you,
Hunt ] said, that | know who Uncle
John Secor is. Don't you think ought
to have a stake out of this?'
"' Never fear he said. quite gayly.
putting his hand on my shoulder. II he
old man hasn't got much. Hes been
pretty well cleaned out, but we won't
forget you. He's not one of that sort.
Now get 20 sea rs quick rs you can
We were well out to sea by daylight.
Tweed began to be scasick the minute
we struck rough water. He was about
the sickest man | ever saw. and was as
helpless rs n baby. There was some
fltNss ,.sttul1n -. IL r n