Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1893-03-23

4 otaFtiHS 10 return We found that
we were none too soon, rs the tide
had already risen more than foot.
My friend spoke very little on our
return journey, and ] being some
what tired and very hungry from
the trip rarely started the conversa-
tion. On drawing near the hotel
my friend requested me to tell 10
me where we had been during the
morning. until mt least the next day.
granted his request. wondering
what his motive could be in keeping
the trip n secret. Dinner was served
10 soon as we arrived. and while at
the table / noticed tie landlord
sying first Dir. Wendell aud then
myself in a very suspicious manner.
did not see my companion OF
the morning at all during the after
noon, and of course kept perfectly
mum about the excursion. About
nine O'Clock in the evening | asked
my landlord if he had seen Mr.
Wendell, and he told me that Mr..
Wendell had taken horse and left
the hotel soon after dinner. Ire.
tired wondering at the absence Of
my friend.
1t seemed to me as If | had lust
fallen asleep when | was awakened
by low cries and SQUADS Of pistol
shots which were borne across the
water from the direction Of the cliff.
Dressing as hastily as possible |
was soon among the crowd of .ex-
cited hotel guests who were assem-
hled on the shore below. Every one
had a suggestion to offer about what
should be done. Some suggested
that we should go over to the cliff
TO see what was the matter. but |
Informed them of the gulf which
separated it from the mainland.
through which, it then being high
tide, the water must rush at fear
full rate.
The noise by this time had stop
ped, but soon we heard the pulling
pf engines and saw the lights of
boat bobbing up and down on the
waves at some distance from the
shore. / looked for nv friend in
the crowd on the shore. but he was
not there. We heard the rattling
Of chains, and soon after boat was
drawn through the surf by sailors
IN the uniform Of United States
revenue cutter. Aman sprang from
the boat and graspcd me by the
hand. 1t took little time for me
to recognize in this uniformed Of
ticer my companion Of the previous
day.
1t seems that gang Of smugglers
had successfully eyaded every at
tempt of the customs officers To-
capture them or discover their hid
Ing-place, and Captain Randolph.
U. ). X. s., for such was my friend S
real name and title. had taken it
upon himself to bring the
gang to justice. Many "a time had
he been over to the old house on
the cliff, before ! came. irving 10
find way successfully to raid the
smngglers' well protected den, but
never until the day ! told him about
seeing the smoke rising from the
chimney had the thought struck
him that he might gain entrance
by that way. So on the day Of our
visit to the old house. while | was
gazing out Of the window with my
back turned, he had made careful
examination Of the fireplace and
detected huge fiat stone, which on
being swung up formed continual
ton with the great chimney to a
fireplace below in the smuggIers'
den. Two men could easily drop
through this hole.
Leaving the hotel Immediately
after dinner, Captain Randolph had
driven to the neighboring seaport,
and boarding the cutter steamed
down the coast and surprised the
smugglers by way Of the chimney
hole, capturing the whole gang, but
not until after a sharp Gght, during
which two of the smuggIcrs had to
be wounded severely before they
would give in.
The landlord Of the hotel was ar
rested on suspicion Of being in
league with the smugglers. but was
afterward acquitted, as nothing
could be proved against him, save
his superstitious belief in the ghost
stories Of the Haunted Chimney.
Y. s. W.