The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-06-17
A BURGLARS YARN.

linen n9 peered out OF the window
into the chill London mists and moodily
watched the rain .pattering against the
panes.
ga vera nice placei This weather
makes one think on 'em," he exclaimed
in o minute or two, without turning
round
fancy I heard him sigh.
There is n grim practicality about
Archie though. Down dropped from
the clouds in one swift second.
"Yaller Jack vera busy when paid
my first visit" he said shortly and
pumped himself down into his chair
before the fire.
"Ohp'
"Aye; took off many on u.s."
"And you?"
INC. Oh, howere vera guild friend
to me, We're Yaller jack. Aye, I've
nowt but kind words for him "
Never before had I heard the praises
of yellow foyer sung. But Archie is
original if ne is anything ut ALL
ut were i'll this way:
'As usual, were nearly always in
hot water with my obstinate temper
anu MY Willlul ways.
1.-The cat and me was well acquainted,
likewise the dark cell, likewise cheens
and rings, likewise bread and water.
Things was gettin to vera bad
pass when Jack come to my rescue.
But it were vera hard for man to
keep out o. difficulties.
"I'll tell you about Nat the stock
man, fro Leicester, who were dom sew
en- year for settin fire to his house. Him
and me was diggin the foundations of q
cookhouse. Nat vera down j. the hole
and were atop wheelin tho muck away.
One day it were pipin hot, and Nat
were takin speel-o. Comes up war
der-an old slave driver he were-and
looks down at Nat. Now, then, get OH
with your work. he sings out. Nat
looks up and never moves. Now, then,
stir, or I'll come down and make We,
cries the warder.
But old Nat only laughs. Then in
goes MIR. Warder, and Nat knocks him
down-silly-for meddlin-wi' his lang
handed shovel.
And would We believe me? don t say
nothin about Nat-he was bit short i
his temper they gives mo go days
bread and water for not interferin!
And you stood by, Sloss, and see
him do it, says the governor.
DO We think I'm fuil?' I cries,
ito meddle in other folks affairs? Not
me. I'll tell you what it is, sir. I've
moro business o. my own nor can man
age. They was man for man-and let
'em fight it out
But it were no good argufyin.
II only mentions it to show you what
sort of q place Bermooda was i my
time.
"Afore I'd done my 20 days comes
Yaller Jack. Ye should ha' seen their
facesl Takes warders and all! Spares
noncl There was Il fair panic. A man
were full O. life in the mornin and food
for the sharks by night time
But didn't care for it. cared for
nowt-i' those days. 1 don't know as
do now-excep' for what's afore me-"
Imagine II somber pause, full Of sig
nifcance.
We'll, Jack gets worse an worse.
There was none lief to tend the sick.
Tho commander of the hospital ship
80 Halo, Archie!' says to myself.
Here's chance for change. Lots o.
grub and snooll all day long. We may
MS well die here as anywheers else.
Here goes. So holds up my hand and
cries, I'm one
He looks ut mo and begins to laff
You re fat and lusty, Sloss, says he.
You'll be the first to CO. For Jack
were particular fond o. the lusty ones.
1t were common talk how he like 'em.
But didn't care-not me.
eye might be dead aforc me, sir,
says |. lie were hard nut, was Com
mmdcr Jackson. I'd had four dozen
from him once
Well, Sloss, says he, 'I'll take We.
Tho devil will soon get his own So
oil l goes down to tho boat-me, three
others and him-and We're soon aboard
the hospital ship.
Sure enough, my words come true.
That vera night Jack knocks at tho
cabin door of Commander Jackson.
:" 1t were fair awful, that ship. be-
gins to think I'd best AVE been satisfied
Wi bread an water ashore. But L
booked, and there was no gettin out o.
the job. First he took ye in tho legs,
then he mounted upward, then he
spread all over ye, till We was all aches
and pains. Then come the black vomit. -
Even now Archie shuddcred at the
thought of the awful scenes he took
part in--men raving, men cursing, men
mad, men tied down to their hunks, all
yellow. Above, the sun burning and
blistering; below, the odors of tho sick,
disinfcctants. tho croaking death ratio
at their throats.
Such is yellow jack, according to