Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-08-12
CHAPTER XIII.
LET NE SAIL UNDER 4 NEW NAME, SAID
THE CAPTAIN OF THE RANGER.


THE CAPTAIN OF THE RANGER.
It will be remembered that it was the
morning of the 1st of June that PHO:
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 Eathrop
offered for the apprehension of Bruce,
and the further fact that many officers
were searching for him on land and sea
70 trace of the Clara Belle, or of her
captain had been found. It 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-mast 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 olean that her sides should glisten in
the sunlight.
This schooner was painted a dark
green, and her name as painted in bold
letters on her stern was The Rang
err
The Ranger then mad adden at anchor
something like an hour, and it was pos
sibly eight O'Clock, when a man of more
than ordinary stature ard of athletic
build, stepped from the cabin. He wore
a pair OF dark blue trousers, which were
sustained around the waist by heavy
Loo boT- Ho1
of the belt, on either side, protruded the
stocks of pistols, while within it's
sheath at the back rested the sheath
knife.
His blue wooden shirt was opea at
the neck, and a soft felt hat was on
his head. His features it was hard to
judge of, as an immense black beard
covered his face almost entirely, ex-
tending fully - inches below his chin.
His large, expressive eyes were of
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
partaken OF his evening meal.
Mate he sang out, '1ower a yawl,
and send Hendricks and Bullion ashore
with me-
AYE, aye. sir but who's Bull
lion9~
Why, he that eats so much soup. One
of the men we shipped at Port au
Prince
The yawl was soon lowered, and the
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 at the wharf.
NOW, my lads,'' said the captain,
''go 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 bar
and took drink or 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 some
one. He had traversed fully three
blocks, when he entered saloon mid
way of the block. and bearing on the
sign above the door the words: "Sall-
ors' Rest; Jim Holland, Proprietor"
This should be the place; old Jim
won't, know me-
He entered the door. A pock-marked
man of middle age was standing behind
the bar: he was blind of the Left eye,
and had a long, deep scar on his left
cheek, which even his stubby beard
failed to conceal.
Fhe captain walked up to the bar,
leaned over it, and gszed intent1y at