The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-05-21

the coast was clear, he walked rapidly
toward the empty water-cask. on
which he was accustomed to manufac-
ture his model of the "Janet's Pride >.
Once more glancing cautiously about
him, he then applied his hands to the
top OF the cask. and, with rapid
movement lifted half of the top bodily
off
My establishment and my excitement
were intense. Another hasty glance
around. and he put his hand down into
the cask. then quickly withdrew it.
holding in his grasp a small bag, which
he rapidly concealed in the breast of
his coat Again he took hasty sur
vey, and was about making another
dive into the strange receptacle for
hidden goods, when he suddenly with.
drew, having with astonishing rapidity
replaced the lid on the cask. In an
other moment the cause OF his alarm
was made known, as a couple Of sailors
passed him on their way to relieve the
man at the wheel.
When all was again quiet, for an in
slant he seemed determined to return
at once to the cask, and no doubt with
draw something more than the inter
ruption had prevented him from taking
in the first place. But suddenly chang
ing his mind, he went down the stairs
| that led from the deck to the sleeping
cabins.
Scarcely had he disappeared when
another figure stcalthily crossing the
deck met my anxious observation. 1t
was the boatswain.
I saw him glance toward the stairs
down which Mr.. Reginald Moore had
taken his departure. He then made
directly for the water-cask. It was now
obvious to me that the old boatswain
had been watching the pleasant pas
senger.
just as he reached the water-cask, .
heavy green sea struck the ship to wind.
ward, necessitating the boatswain to
hold on by ropes SO rs to keep his foot
ing. and precisely at tho same moment
Reginald Moore appeared at the top OF
the cabin stairs. shall never forget
the scene.
The instant the ship had steadied her.
self. the boatswain commenced his ex-
animation of the water-casls. For .
moment only Moore stood looking at
him with as evil an expression on his
face as ever beheld. With one bound
he was upon the boatswain before he
could protect himself. ! waited no
longer, but flung open the door of my
cabin in an instant. and in another
was to the rescue. and in few minutes
| we had our pleasant passenger in irons.
So, you see. he was the Sflicf, after
all, hiding his knavery under the pleas
ATTEST exterior that ever knew man
| to possess. The manner in which he
had manufactured the top of that water
| cask was the most finished and ingen-
ious piece of carpentry have ever be-
| held.
In the interior Of the side of the cask
he had driven several nails. about two
feet from the top. on which he had sus-
pended, in wash-leather bags. the jew
elry he had stolen.
Yon may easily imagine the surprise
| cvinced by our passengers on board. on
| discovering that the thief was the man
for whom each and every one of them
entertained such regard.
At the expiration of three days from
the date of the pleasant passengers de-
lection we landed in Melbourne, where
duty compelled me to hand him over to
| the police; but AS no one cared to re-
main in that town for thu purpose of
prosecuting him, he was summarily
dealt with. The presiding magistrate
sentenced him to six months imprison
ment with hard labor.-Yankee Blade.