Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-04-09
CHAPTER XIII.
"LET ME SAIL. UNDER A NEW NAME" SAID
THE CAPTAIN OF THE RANGER.


morning of the 1st of June that Pilot
Piver, of Smithville, stated that the
Clara Belle, bearing Angus Bruce, passed
out the inlet at break of day, and not
withstanding the reward that Lathrop
offered for the apprehension of Bruce,
and the further fact that many officers
were searching for him on land and sea
no trace of the Clara Belle, or of her
captain had been found. 1t was now
conceded that they had left the Caro-
lima coast.
On the evening of the 18th of August
there passed into the mouth of the
Ashley river, and anchored Off Charles
ton, two-lnast schooner, of apparently
the same tonnage as the Clara Belle, and
she seemed to ride the waters, as she lay
at anchor there, as lightly. There was
evidently small cargo, if any, aboard.
The Clara Belle, when last seen plying
the waters of Cape Fear wore a. coat
of white paint, and her master took
pride in seeing that it should be kept
so clean that her sides should glisten in
the sunlight.
This schooner was painted dark
green, and her name as painted in bold
letters on her stern was "The Rang
en-"
The Ranger then had ridden at anchor
something like an hour, and it was pos
sibly eight o'clock, when a man of more
than ordinary stature and of athletic
build, stepped from the cabin. He wore
pair of dark blue trousers, which were
sustained around the waist by heavy
leathern belt, and within two pockets
of the belt, on either side, protruded the
stocks of pistols, while within its
sheath at the back rested the sheath
knife.
His blue wooden shirt was open at
the neck, and soft felt hat was on
his head. His features it was hard to
covered his face almost entirely, ex-
tending fully 10 inches below his chin.
| His large, expressive eyes were of q
dark blue cast. and his every movement
seemed to speak of great energy.
AS he stepped out of the cabin, he
was wiping his long, black beard with
a red bandana, as though he had just
partal<en of his evening meal.
"Mate," he sang out, clover yawl,
and send Hendricks and Bullion ashore
with me-"
"Aye, aye, sirl but who's Bull
lion?"
"Why, he that eats so much soup. One
of the men we shipped at Port au
Prince"
The yawl was soon lowered, and tho
| captain, who had donned his coat, &C
companied by the two sailors, descended
into it.
| A few minutes pull at the oars, AND
they drew up ut the wharf.
4. "Now, my lads" said the captain
Ego aboard and wait my signal-the
whistle three times; remember now
bear an ear, and don't both get foggy
at once-there may be action before
morning"
aye, aye, sir!" and the yawl dis
appeared in the gathering darkness
while the captain passed from the
wharf to the opposite side of the street
Here he turned to the left and pro
ceeded south along the quay.
He entered several saloons, and along
here nearly every building was {
saloon.
In each place he stepped to the bal
and took n drink OF a cigar, and threw
down a silver dollar, and while waiting
for his change scanned every face and
without remark, took his departure.
He was evidently looking for SOM
one. He had traversed fully thre,
blocks, when he entered a saloon mid
way of the block, and bearing on TIN
sign above the door the words: "Sail
. ors' Rest; Jim Holland, Proprietor
'This should be the place; old jim
won't know me-"
He entered the door. A pock-marke,
man of middle age was standing benin,
the bar; he was blind of the left eye
and had q long, deep scar on his lef
cheek, which even his stubby bear
/ failed to conceal.
The captain walked up to the bal
leaned over it, and gazed intently a
the others features, which seemed t
annoy him.
"Well, Black Beard, when you'v
looked your fill, order your drinks"
Then give us two straight whiskie
here! hold here your head, Watts
Bill Watts! two stiff ones, do you hear?
The others hand dropped to his hi
pocket on the instant.
easy, pard! Easy, San Domingo!
Thunder! had never knowed you
thought you'd croaked long ag'
\ Where did you cultivate that beard? ?"
That's one, shipmate, that I cult
waited in an hour"
II thought as much; but where
you hail from, Tom?"
"From everywhere; my schooner lie
at anchor in the river"
ooh, no! then you're equipped again
Y What is it, the same old lay?"
well, rather, rather. Any old shi]
mates around?"
eyes, Doud and Batson are here, as
Plunkctt and Cobb; but they're in jai
, Plunkett and Cobb are"
For what?"
"Why, I believe they called it murdt
here. They wuz relievin' planter {
|, his roll one night and he resisted, an
made such fuss that Plunkett an
Cobb wuZ surrounded, and they e.
v jagged. They stretches hemp next Fr
] day lessen we get them hought;an' the
I'm gettin' tired of shore. I'm skcere
I'm gettin' suspicioned here. 1t was
: bad day for us when the Nancy fou
dered; but what kind of n craft have yc
. got now?"
4 ~ two-mast schooner, and clipp
she is, too; with fair wind she CO
show any crnft in YOUR port Il clean pa