St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-08-02
avail. The hiding place remained a

events that subsequently led up to a
remarkable denouement. The cap.
tain had daughter, very hand.
some girl, bordering on eighteen
years OF age. Mary Skinner was a
iavorite with every member of the
rough band, and, for her part, ap-
peared to treat all the band impair.
italy. If she had any preference, it
was given to Will Blake, fair-haired
young lrishman, who had Joined
Skinner on his last cruise and had
remained with him when he gave up
sea'faring lite. Will made no Sc
cret OF his admiration of Mary, and
thereby incurred the en- nifty OF Jack
son, the lieutenant, who, as he
boosted to his boon companions,
mad sworn to make the girl his wife.
Mary coutented herself with treat
ing Jackson with indifference or pass.
ing off his many compliments in
laughing manner.
There had been an apparent ces-
satlon OF vigilance on the part OF the
customs officers for some time, and
this somewhat emboldened the
smugglers, and a very large consign-
ment of goods had been arriving at
the store tor few days. The Gus
toms officers had, however, simply
changed their tactics. Disgusting
themselves, they mixed with the
members of Skinner's band, drank
with them, went on fishing excur-
with them, and endeavored by all
secret means to worm their secret
from them. One part of Skinner's
store was devoted to a bar, and it
was there that all the rough charac-
tiers in the neighborhood were wont
to congregate.
The chief of the customs officers
was a man named O'Brien, a wide
awake, keen-witted young fellow.
He also had fallen victim to the
charms of Mary, but his advances
met with no better success than did
those of Jackson. He was con-
slant visitor at Skinner's place. 1t
happened that he was there on GER
tain night, but thoroughly disguised.
While conversing with some of his
companions, he thought he saw
glimmer OF light coming through the
floor at his feet, and at the same
time he imagined he heard the MUIR
muir OF voices, one of which he
thought he recognized as that of
Mary. On the alert in a moment,
he stopped down as if to adjust his
shoe-string, when his suggestions
were conhrmed-a faint light was
visible through the crack and the
hum of voices was distinctly heard.
Keeping his own counsel, he soon
after LETT the place, reckoning to
trusty companion to follow him.
When they were out OF earshot he
told him of his discovery, which was
the more astounding from the fact
that it had always been supposed
that SINNERS house had neither Gel
lar or basement. Determined to
profit by the discovery, o. Brien and
his companion waited Tor later
hour before proceeding any further.
Then, still further Disgusting them
selves, they proceeded to reconnoitre
SINNERS place. Not light was to
be seen from any of the windows,
nor was there a sign of any human
being stirring. Cautiously ap-
preaching the door, O'Brien tried
the latch, but it was locked, and it
resisted all his efforts to force it.
Meanwhile his companion had gone
to the rear of the house, trying viii
dows and doors in succession, but
without success until he came to the
last window, which gave way after
a vigorous push, making a Slight
noise, Crouching down in the dark
ness, he listened Tor any movement
from within, but, hearing none. he
returned to o Brien and told him OF
his success. The Two with dark lam
terms, entered the room and eau
tionSly looked around. 1t was the |
room adjoining the bar, the door of
which was open. The two men
peered in, but all was still, They
then in silence made a tour of the
house, but found it utterly deserted.
Returning to the bar, they began
examining the floor carefully on the
spot pointed out by O'Brien as the
place where he had seen the light.
There was no sign OF trap.door
there, but the boards, on being tap
ped lightly, gave out a hollow
sound, proving that there was a
chamber OF some sort underneath.
They next went behind the bar, and
made minute search, and they
were at length rewarded. At the
back OF the bar was a sort OF side
board, upon which the bottles OF
liquor were set out. There was a
cupboard underneath, and it was in
this cupboard that O'Brien found
what he was looking for.
There were several panels set in
the wall at the back, studded with
brass nails. In examining these
nails the sharp eyes of the officers de-
tected two that appeared to be larg-
er than the Others. Pressing one OF
these caused the panel to swing in
but the space was not large
to admit a mans body.
, Brien pressed the other one, when
a second panel opened, the two
together forming narrow passage.
HhrnStinn hiS La nterr, intc thn n ,,n,--