Connecticut western news., 1886-06-30
BAFFLED.

hair and oot Ike hats-the year 17s1.
 Of Philadelphia lay the twenty-gun ship Ariel, just arrived under command of Commodore Paul Jones.
 There were in the city many persons who had never seen that remarkable man, among them the subject of this sketch, Ben. Wilson-a trim, powerful young Jack-tar of twenty-five, who had lately married Susan Gray, humble but beau tiful damsel of eighteen. There had been another suitor, also sailor, named Thomas Wright, who hated Wilson be- cause Susan had preferred him, and who, being of a cruel malicious disposition, longed to do him some injury.
 Having finished his term aboard one of the vessels in the harbor, Ben shipped aboard the Ariel, thlt he might serve under the renowned hero who, with his craft, the Bon Homme Richard, had fought the English frigate Serapis.
 Learning that Ben. had shipped, Wright, who, like the former, had never seen Jones, also became one of the Ariel's crew. Neither, however, could yet get sight of the commodore, who was absent would not be back for a week.
 In few days Wright was chosen to act in the place of the boatswain's mate, who was at that time i'll. His duties besides blowing on the call, etc, were to punish with the colt-a coil of rope from two to three feet long-and also with the cat-o- nine-tails, usually termed the ''cat," such of the sailors as offended" against the rules of the ship, and he ardently hoped that he might yet have a chance to flog with his cruel lash the man he hated for winning pretty Susan.
 One day some of the crew were grant cd hberty-that is to say, permission to go ashore. They were ordered to return to the ship at nine o'clock. The boat swain's mate, Wright, and Ben. Wilson, were among them, the former on the watch for the coveted chance which might favor his evil designs. Unfortu- nately, Ben. drank, and in state of par tial intoxication he visited, few min- utes before nine o'clock, when he should have repaired to the boat, ''The Dol phin"-a tavern not twenty yards from the landing. Here the landlord accom- modated him with glass of brandy, which the young man lifted high, saying tt the same time, in loud voice:
 "A health to Commodore Paul Jones l''
 Then he left the place, not to go to the boat, but intending to seek some other tavern.
 It was dark night, but by the bright light streaming through the windows of the house, Ben, could see middling- sized, broad -shouldered man, enveloped in shaggy oyercoat, watching him with $ mingled expression of stern disapprova1 and amusement on his broad, weather. beaten face.
 ''Hold there, my man," said this per son, laying hand on his shoulder "What's your name, and what ship dc you belong to2"
 My name2 Why, now, my name i Ben. Wilson, and my ship is the Ariel but blast me if know what business it Ii of yours7''
 s.It is time you went to the boat. Yo, will get yourself into trouble if you don go in time Bear hand"
 "Aye, aye, all very we'll; but I aim ready yet, do you see9"
 "Come, you must go!" and the hand on Wilson's shoulder pressed it heavily
 ''Let go of mel" cried Ben. angrily but the other, half smiling, gripped hin yet more firmly.
 Then Ben. made blow at him, whicl the man parried, when struggle ensued Ben. fought his best, but the man a length succeeded in grasping him rounc the arms from behind, in which position Wilson was literally carried to within few fathoms of the boat, when, seeing number of the sailors approaching, tn stranger released his hold, and laughing made of in the darkness. Ere Der could pursue, the coxswain and sever' other seamen arrived on the spot an drew him to the boat.
 '.It's lucky you came when you did, said the coxswain. "We wouldn't hay waited for you many seconds longer.
 sI wouldn't have been here if ol Nick or somebody like him hatAa drought ne, wss tho rspiy.