The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-03-24

to kinder hold him back. The winds
down stream to-day, and boats shore to
swing in little aft. Ill jump for it and
you keep him back"
To this Gray assented.
As the shabby young fellow had pre-
dicted, the boat did swing around in the
wind, and have some trouble in bring
ing her bow to the wharf-boat. The
Captain stood on the hurricane-deck
calling to the pilot to "back her,"
"stop her." ego ahead on her." ego
ahead on yer labberd," and "back on
yer stabberd." Now, just as the Cap
tain was backing the starboard wheel
and going ahead on his larboard, 80 as
to bring the boat around right, Mr.. Gray
turned ON Jack.
"What are you tTeading on my toes
for, you impudent young rascal ?" he
broke out.
Jack colored and was about to reply
sharply, when he caught sight of the
shabby young fellow, who just then
leaped from the gunwale of the boat
amidships and barely reached the wharf.
Jack guessed why Gray had tried to ir-
ritate him,-he saw that the well-kn own
"wharf-rat was to be his competitor.
But what could he do? The wind held
the bow of the boat out, the gang-plank
which had been pushed out ready to
reach the wharf-boat was still firmly
grasped by the deck-hands, and the
farther end of it was six feet from the
wharf, and much above it. It would be
ten minutes before any one could leave
the boat in the regular way. There was
only one chance to defeat the rascally
Gray. Jack concluded to take it.
He ran out upon the plank amid the
harsh cries of the deck hands, who tried
to stop him, and the oaths of the mate,
who Numbered at him, with the stern
order of the Captain from the upper deck,
who called out to him to go back.
But, luckily, the steady pulling ahead
of the larboard engine, and the backing
of the starboard, began just then to
bring the boat around, the plank sank
down little under Jacks weight, and
Jack made the leap to the wharf, hear
ing the confused cries, orders, oaths and
shouts from behind him, as he pushed
through the crowd.
"Stop that thief I" cried Francis Gray
to the people on the wharf boat, but in
vain. Jack glided swiftly through the
people, and got on shore before anybody
could check him. He charged up the
hill after the shabby young fellow, who
had decided lead, while some of the
men on the wharf boat pursued them
both, uncertain which was the thief.
Such another pell-mell race Port William
had never seen. Windows flew up and
heads went out. Small boys joined the
pursuing crowd, and dogs barked ir4is-
criminately and uncertainty the heels
of everybody. There were cries of
"Hurrah for Long Ben !" and, "Hur-
rah for Hoosier Jack u Some of Jacks
old schoolmates essayed to stop him to
find out what it was all about, but he
would not relax muscle, and he had no
time to answer any questions. He saw
the faces of the people dimly he heard
the crowd crying after him, "Stop,
thief" he caught glimpse of his old
teacher. Mr.. Niles, regarding him with
curiosity as he darted by he saw an
anxious look in Judge Kane's face
as he passed him on q street
corner. But Jack held his eyes
on Long Ben, whom he pursued as a
dog does fox. He had steadily gained
on the fellow, but Ben had too much the
start, and, unless he should give out,
there would be little chance for Jack to
overtake him. One thinks quickly in
such moments. Jack remembered that
there were two ways of reaching the
County Clerks office. To keep the
street around the block was the natural
way-to take an alley through the square
was neither longer nor shorter. But by
running down the alley he would de-
prive Long Ben of the spur OF seeing his
pursuer, and he might even make him
think that Jack had given out. Jack
had played this trick when playing
hound and fox, and OF any rate he would
by this turn shake Of the crowd. So into
the alley he darted, and the bewildered
pursuers kept on crying "stop thief "
after Long Ben, whose reputation was
none of the best. Somebody ahead
tried to catch the shabby young fellow,
and this forced Ben to make slight
curve, which gave Jack the advantage,
so that just as Ben neared the office,
Jack rounded corner out of an alley,
and entered ahead of him, dashed up to
the Clerks desk and deposited the judg-
ment.
"For record" he gasped.
The next instant the shabby young
fellow pushed forward the mortgage.
"Mine first ! cried Long Ben.
"1'll take yours when 1 get this en-
tered" said the clerk, quietly, as became
public officer.
81 got here first" said Long Ben.
But the clerk looked at the clock and
entered the date on the back of Jacks
paper, putting tone o'clock and eighteen
minutes after the date. Then he
wrote zone o'clock and nineteen min
utes 5" on the paper which Long Ben
handed him. The Office was soon
crowded with people discussing the re-
suit of the race, and part of them were
even now in favor of Selling one or the
other of the runners for theft, which
some said had been committed on the
packet, and others declared was COM
mitted on the wharf-boat. Francis Gray
came in, and could not conceal his
chagrin.
CT meant to do the fair thing by
you" he said to Jack, severely, "but
now you'll never get a cent out of me. y
ed rather have the law on men like
you than have thousand of your sort
of fair promises" said Jack.
,,o.n1 tA tr,ly oot5