The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1888-05-12
IN A BAD LINE.

& n
slz.E III .tr.,, .r -. l.s +. ..f
"I,Ss a big haul we'll have tonight.
ooys.''
The speaker was a heayily.built, sin.
'ster-looking man OF thirty or there
s'NSufs. .
ifs teamed his elbow on the pine
,saEls, aud snuffed the candle, while al
oninors silence followed his remark.
1t was an Oddly grouped company In
AZ. sid retreat. Savage-looking mon OF
sAt aationalities, In an uncomfortable
Srotpsque apartment constructed un-
ter u pier in New York harbor.
Above could be heard the tramp,
tramp of those who swarmed around
:Ga docks. and below the restless lap
,;,Ng Of the dark waters.
Ihe 'tPIrates' Retreat" as they had
dramatically named their miserable
shelter, was made OF old. planks and
Griftwood. and furnished simply with
Ioses sand kegs for seats beside the
psne cable and tallow candle before
Gsud2ned. !
Three of the men had been engaged
tn d game Of cards around this table,
It the conclusion OF which one OF them
.nYte the opening: remark
What do you propose to do?" asked
:rs, yo1ngest,of the three, not over
-wenI3. ,,.#
''It's land game we're after tonight.
q, fact, we want to crack a crib--we
! Ss,ree.''
I "'.'n no ,J,Q Jb,pQrgllarE9 asserted a6ss.ssfa ..sa
- joined
4 you for q little adventure--c cruising
.cound vessels and landing smuggled
,lpYiiie5. Iou cali yourselves pirates.
She pirates l have read of were at
.sa.,j lMave, and attacked vessels in
'tlsn warfare. taking their chances
,iko Honest soldiers. didn't hide like
Nharf.rats, never willing to face foe,
Dat always ready to stab In the back. -
The countenance Of the first speaker
underwent a curious change during
vA,s speech, and at its close he clapped
kie hands three times. &tS' .aa@ >'
Instantly the hum Of voices ceased.
shN oWohVy PsA' Va oyCo AcSdIQGu nun
sxpecUantly. ,,
''Men. listeni Our young bantam
><sS 's trying to cackle, but we'n
oaEe 10 chicken hearts here. Harkee,
Sonngster! you go with me and jim
aany tonight. Follow my lead and
DO rs tell you, or we'll chuck you In
tho harbor with this 'ere round your
agcSy neckl''
rs lifted, as he spoke, heavy iron
3hain, with a fifty pound weight at.
.ached.
"You jined us to do as yer bid.
:1Ow, which will ye have?"
EIa young man looked at the evil
S.Ges around him and knew he dared
0ot disobey.
"You leave mo no chance,'' he said,
quietly reseating himself. "I will obey
Masrs."
:FThat sounds sensible-likk,'' said
iSs first speaker, who was called
'captain,'' replacing the weight In the
COX on which he was sitting and TAX
Ing out lantern. ''It's about time to
Sfsrt, and I'll give you few pointers.
;sso an old chap as counts his money
fy the thousands counts it in stone
sloges tD the cellar, where ne keeps 1t.
Hes a rniser Of the first water, old an,
bant, an sca'cely wuth knockln' In the
mead: We're all ready to take the
swa3s We know whar 1t Is, am If the
DO chap stays sensibly in bed, thar'll
TO little trouble. If he don't, it's his
lookout, not ourn. Bein' as it's yer
arat venture, Bill am neil give you
tbe soft snap--jest to stand outside,
tesl an eye for The cops and other in-.
tssfornTf. Come on now. it's time to
start"
Not another word was spoken dur.
.ce the stealtly midnight march, until
ije7 paused In front Of an old tcne.
nens house fronting Che harbor.
'Rere's the crib. ALI serenel Stand
char, youl Come on, Billln
And the two disappeared, leaving
iona Newcomb standing stiliy yainst
An olo ehed, that shielded him from
observation,
Rs cav one dash Of the lantern ii,
'ns cellar. and then a white figure