Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-05-23
CHE Sturp Teller.
TN A BAD LINE.

Tn A BAD LINE.
a1t's big haul Well have tonight,
boys"
The speaker was heavily-built, sinister
looking man of thirty or thereabouts.
He leaned his elbow on the pine table,
and snufed the candle, while an ominous
silence followed his remark.
twas an oddly-grouped company in an
odd, retreat. Savage-l looking men OF all
nationalities, in an uncomfortaDle gro
tesuue apartment constructed under pier
in New York harbor.
Above could be heard>the tramp, tramp
of those who swarmed around the DOCKS,
and below the restless tapping of the dark
waters. ;,
The "Pirates' Retreat" as they had ro-
mantically named their miserable shelter,
was made Of old planks and driftwood,
and furnished simply with boxes and kegs
for seats beside the pine table and talloW
candle before mentioned.
Three of the men had been engaged in a
game of cards around this table, at the
conclusion of which one of them made the
opening remark
"Whst do YOU propose toNdo?" asked
the youngest of the three, not over twenty.
"lt's land game we're after tonight. In
fact, we want to crack crib-We three"
tsI'm no BURGLAR" asserted the young
man, rising haughtily. / Joined you TOR
q little adventure cruising around Vesseis
and landing smuggled supplies. You call
yourselves pirates. The pirates nave
read of wele at least brave, and attacked
70 foHinr fhafr
chances like honest soldiers, didn't hide
like wharf.rats, never willing to face foe,
but always ready to stab in the back"
The countenance of the first speaker un-
derwent a curious change during this
speech, and at its close he clapped his
hands three times.
INSTANTLY the hum of voices ceased, and
twenty pairs of eyes regarded him expee-
tantly.
"Men, listen! Our young bantam here
is trying to cackle, but we'll have no chick
en- hearts here. Harkee, youngster! you
20 with me and Jim Hany tonight. Fol.
low my lead and do as / tell you, or we'll
chuck you in the harbor with this 'ere
round your purity neck"'
He lifted, as he spoke, a heavy iron
chain, with fifty pound weight attached.
ssYou lined US to do as yer bid. Now,
which will ye hsve?"
The Young man looked at the evil faces
around him and knew he dared not dis
obey.
ouietly reseating himself II will obey
orders"
"That sounds sensible-like," said the
first speaker, who was called the ''captaln," !"
replacing the weight in the box on which
he was sitting and taking out q lantern.
''It's about time to start, and III give you
a few pointers. It's an old chap as
counts his money by the ethousands-counts
it in stone closet in the cellar, where he
old an bent, and scarcely worth knockin'
IN the head. We're all ready to take the
swag. We know whar it is, an if the old
chap stays sensibly in bed, thar'u be little
trouble. If he don't, it's his lookout, not
ourn. Bein' as it's yer first venture, Bill
an NELL give you the soft snap--,Jest to
stand outside, keep an eye for the cops
and other interferers. Come on now, it's
time to start"
Not another word was spoken during
the stealthy midnight march, until they
paused in front of an old tenement house
fronting the harbor.
"Here's the crib. All serene! Stand
thar, you! Come on, Bill"
AnO CEo CWO uISappSdIou, leaving 'oA,i.
Newcomb standing stiff1y against an old
shed, that shielded him from observation.
He saw one fash of the lantern in the
cellar, and then white figure leaped
through an open window and would have
disappeared, but he spraDg forward and
caught it in his arms.
There was'a weak sort of struggle, and
then it lay limp in his arms. 1t seemed
more spirit than mortal-so rneagre and
frail.
He lighted a match, carefully shading it,
and saw, during the momentary flash, the
thin, white face, jetty brows and stream
ing black hair of q young girl glimmering
ghost-like in the Pickering light.
He laid her flat on the ground, and di-
vesting himself of his coat, threw it oyer
ments, Just as the burly form of the cap
tain filled the window.
"Hang it," he said, in frightened
whisper; ''did you see the ghost?"
s'No, I saw no ghost"
"Well, I did, and so did Bill an the
ould devil himself there, too, ready tc
holler for the cops. Had to give him 8
sore throat to get at the stone closet, and
found the chist guarded by great, starin
ghost. Fiends and furies"
The white figure had risen suddenly
as though come out of the ground, the
long spectral like arms extended.
With cry of terror, the captain disap.
peared. Close at his heels followed Bill,
and John Newcomb was left alone with
his mysterious charge.
"Oh, sir, pity me! save mel" she cried:
And tottering forward she again fell
fainting in his arms.
He heard strange gurgling sound issu.
ing from the cellar-like human tones
choked and cut off in their utterance.
John was as brave as lion. He knew
the danger of entering the house at this
moment, but hesitated not an instant.
Still holding the light figure in his arms,
he sprang through the cellar window
The lantern stood on the floor.
The window through which he had en-.
tered was the only outside opening, and
closing it's solid wooden shutters behind
him he was alone with midnight horror
An old, white-haired man lay upon the
which life blood was swiftly flowing.
John gently deposited his unconscious
burden on the floor, and just as he did sc
the old mans struggling breath ceased
forever.
The helpless girl now claimed all his
attention, and as he looked down at the
white face it almost seemed that death haC
done its work there also.
Taking flask of brandy from his pock
ct. he forced few drops of it between the
pale lips, chafed the little cold hands, and
soon the jetty fringes disentangled them
selves, and pair of soft, black eyes looked
inouiringly, but trustingly, into his. ..
.iWhere am I? What has happened
Who are you?" she asked, attempting tt
rise. ...,.