The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-02-09

her on the stairs.
"And it's want yell meet with
thin; ye can watch for him as he goes
out in the mornin'."
"It's a matther Of life and death
I'm tellin' ye; and the mornin
wouldn't do at all, at all" )"
"Well, and what if it IS a matthel
of life and death? Sure, he isn't the
docthor."
I now thought proper to interfere
''If that is Mickey Mehafey," l said
''you may allow him to come up, Mrs.
M'Ketchup."
Every we'll, sor. Bad luck to the
dirthy boots o ye!' This last to Mick
ey in an undertone.
"Well, Micky, shut the door, and
let me hear what you have got to
say"
"I've learned it all, sor. Hugh's
Shan gave me all the news this morn
in afther chapel. He's wan Of the
smugglers, We know, from the island. u
"What news did he give you?"
"Why, about the landing of the
poteen for the fair. It's just as I
towld ye. They're to land tonight
about twelve o'clock, as the moon will
be dark by that time
"Where do they usually land it?"
[ asked.
swell, sor, there are only two pla-
ces where boat can put in with safe
ty; wan OF these, the Smugglers'
Pier, is just between the high rocks
fornist Ballyroughan; and the other
is about a quarter of a mile father
along the shore. It's not so safe in
the dark as the Smuggler's Pier, and
so they never land at it. !"
After. arranging with Mickey to
meet me at night at certain point, l
dismissed him, and proceeded to ma
ture my plan for trapping the SNUG
glers. 1t was this. | arranged with
the coastguard officer to meet me at
the Smuggler's Pier about eleven
o'clock. He was to bring two boats
and three boatmen with him, and row
up silently from the station to the
place appointed. Three constables Of
the Royal Irish were also detailed to
meet me at the same time and place.
Mickey, as previously stated, was to
go with myself and act as guide. The
rendezvous was about mile from the
town, so started off ABOUT half past
ten on my secret expedition. Forum
ately, Ballyroughan retires early to
rest, so not soul was to be seen as I
passed through the town. A subdued
cough at the outskirts told me that
Mickey was true to his appointment.
We walked in silence to the place
and found the "palers," as Mickey
called them, waiting. The coastguard
officer and his men had not yet ar
rived. They came, however, shortly
afterwards, and then gave my final
instructions. One boat, manned by
the coastguard officer, boatman, and
one of the constables, was to row
about four hundred yards out, and lie
on its oars, out of the track of the
smugglers, but ready to intercept them
on their return to the island, if they
escaped us. A shot from my revolver
was the signal for them to be on the
alert. The other boat, | directed to
be kept out Of sight between the rocks,
but ready for action at a moments
notice. These arrangements complet-
ed, every one waited quietly at his
post to watch the turn Of events. 1t
was now midnight; and though the
moon had been down almost half an
hour, there was no sign of the SNUG
glers. Could it be that Mickey was
playing US false? This thought had
Just occurred to ME, when my ear
caught the sound of distant oars.
did you hear anything, sir?" one
of the constables whispered.
Hush! Listen,'' 1 said.
Yes; there was no mistake. Nearer
and clearer came the plash Of the oars
and the creaking of the rowlocks; and
in few minutes afterward, the boat
grated on the gravel within few
yards Of where they were concealed.
| saw through the darkness that there
were only two men in the boat, with
boy to steer. The former proceeded
at once to land tbe goods. They put
keg ashore: but before I could give
the order for their capture, a ludricous
incident betrayed us. Mickey, no.
ticed, had been nodding with sleep for
some time, and at the most critical
moment began to spore so loudly. that
the men at once dropped the keg and
made rush for the boat.
ARREST them!' | shouted, and one
of the policemen succeeded in catch
ing hold of an oar just as the boat was
being pushed off; but the smuggler
was equal to the occasion. He drew
the oar towards the boat, then pushed
it rapidly back again, and the next
moment the unfortunate constable
was left sprawling in the water.
MAN the boat!'' l shouted, as l OBJ
served they were about to escape US.
"You," l said to the policeman who