Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-03-09

asked Gray.
Gimme little start and | reckon
I'll fetch it. It's uphill part of the
way and he may lose his wind, for it's
good half-mile. You must make n
row with him at the gang. plank, er do
somethin' to kinder hold him back.
The winds down stream to-day, and
the boats shore to swing in little aft.
I'll jump for it and you keep him
back"
To this, Gray assented.
As the shabby young fellow had
predicted, the boat did swing around
in the wind, and have some trouble in
bringing her bow to the wharf boat.
The captain stood on the hurricane
deck calling to the pilot to back her"
"go ahead on her." ego ahead on yer
labberd," and "back on yer stabberd." ="
Now, just Us the captain was backing
the starboard wheel and going ahead
on his larboard, so as to bring the boat
around right, Mr.. Gray turned on
Jack.
what are you treading on my toes
for, you impudent young rascal p 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 ifritate him,-he saw that the
well-known "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 wharfboat was
still firmly grasped by the deck hands,
and the farther end of ii was six feet
from the wharf, and much above it..
1t would be ten minutes before any
one could leave the boat in the regular
way. There was only one chance to
defeat the rascalIy Gray. Jack con-
cluded to take it.
He ran out upon the plank amidst
the harsh cries of the deck.hands, who
tried 70 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 a little under Jacks 5
weight, and Jack made the leap to the
wharf, hearing the confused cries,
orders, oaihs and shouts from behind
him, as he pushed through the crowd.
"Stop that thief" 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 aud heads
went out. Small boys joined the pur.
suing crowd, and dogs barked indis.
criminately aud uncertainty at the
heels of everybody. There were cries
of "Hurrah for Long Ben - and
"Hurrah for Hoosier Jack I" Some of
Jacks old school.mates essayed to stop
him TO find out what it was all about,
but he would not relax n muscle, and
he had no time TO answer any qucs-
tons. He saw the faces of the people
dimly; he heard the crowd crying
after him, "Stop, thief" he caught a
glimpse OF his old teacher Mr.. Miles,
regarding him with curiosity as he
darted by; he saw au anxious look in
Judge kane's face as he passed him
on n street corner. But Jack held his
eyes on Long Ben, whom he pursued
as n dog does fox. lie had steadily
gained on the fellow, but Ben bad 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 re.
membered 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 deprive 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 at any rate he would by this
turn shake off 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,
al. u