The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-07-16
A BURGLARS YARN.

Then he peered out Of the window
into the chill London mists and moodily
watched the rain pattering against the
panes
"a vera nice PLACED This weather
makes one think on 'em," he exclaimed
in a minute or two, without turning
round.
fancy I heard him sigh.
There is a grim practically about
Archie though. Down dropped from
the clouds in one swift second.
"Yaller Jack vera busy when paid
nv first visit" he said shortly and
pumped himself down into his chair
before the fire.
"Ohp'
"Aye; took off many on u.s."
"And your"
"Me. Oh, he were vera guild friend
| to me, were Yaller Jack. Aye, I've
nowt but kind words for him.
Never before had I heard the praises
of yellow fever sung. But Archie is
original if he is anything at ALL
] sit were in this way:
| "As usual, I were nearly always in
hot water with my obstinate temper
and my willfui ways.
"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 doin sew
en- year for settin fire to his house. Him
and me was diggin the foundations Of
cookhouse. Nat were down j. the hole
and were atop wheelin the muck away.
One day it were pipin hot, and Nat
were takin a speel-o. Comes up war
der-an old slave driver he were-and
looks down at Nat. Now, then, get on
with your work, he sings out. Nat
looks up and never moves. Now, then,
stir, or I'll come down and make ye, >
cries the warder.
"But old Nat only laughs. Then in
goes Mr.. Warder, and Nat knocks him
down-silly--fo meddlin-wi' his lang
handed shovel.
"And would We believe me? Idont say
nothin about Nat-he was bit short i
his temper-but they gives me % days
bread and water for not interferinl
"And you stood by, Sloss, and see
him do it, says the governor.
"'Do We think I'm q fuil?' 1 cries,
ito NEEDLE in other folks affairs? Not
me. I'll tell you what it is, sir. I've
! more business o. my own nor can man
age. They was man for mainland lei
'em fight it out
"But it were no good argufyin.
II only mentions it to show you wha
; sort of q place Bermooda was i my
time.
| Galore I'd done my 80 days come
: Yaller Jack. Ye should ha' seen thei
faces! Takes warders and all! Spare
nonei There was fair panic. A maj
were full O. life in the mornin and foo'
for the sharks bv night TINA
"But didn't care for it. 1 cared TO
: nowt-i' those days. don't know as
do now-excep' for what's afore me. !"
q Imagine somber pause, full OF sig
e nificanoe.
a "Well, Jack gets worse an worse.
d "There was none lef' to tend the sick
n "The commander of the hospital shi
: comes ashore an calls for volunteers.
q Halo, ArchieP says to myself
;, Here's chance for change. Lots {
e grub and smook all day long. Ye ma
n as we'll die here as anywheers else
Here goes. So holds up my hand an
: cries, I'm one.'
II ''He looks at me and begins to laf1
j. You're fat and lusty, Sloss,' says HI
: You'll be the first to CO. For JAG
9 were particular fond O. the lusty one
- 1t were common talk how he like 'em
If "But didn't care--not me.
lie "'Ye might be dead afore me, sir
1t says l. He were hard nut, was Con
lie mander Jackson. I'd had four doze
* from him once.
10 "'Well, Sloss, says he, I'll take y
The devil will soon get his own
% off / goes down to the boat-me, thr'
70 others and him-and were soon aboal
D. the hospital ship.
a "Sure enough, my words come tru
n That vera night Jack knocks at Il
e. cabin door Of Commander jackson.
r, at were fair awful, that ship. l b
ne gins to think I'd best ave been Statistic
- wi bread an water ashore. But
~ booked, and there was no gettin out
t. the job. First he took ye in the leg
then he mounted upward, then
spread all over ye, till ye was all ach
Of and pains. Then come the black vomit.
he Even now Archie shuddered at Il
e. thought of the awful scenes he to-
IN part in--men raving, men cursing, MT
~, mad, men tied down to their hunks, 6
nd yellow. Above, the sun burning al
on blistering; below, the odors of the sic
he disinfectants, the croaking death raft
an at their throats
lg, Such is yellow jack, according
W Archie.
ed "He took Commander Jackson YER
~ ~ bad" no went on. 'He were a ha
,rs nut and had the name for tit were
sct word and blow WI him. Many's {
,r- time shook my fis' l. his old face
he yaller-oh, he couldn't sec mo-thin
ire a., ~, fha four dozeu I'd had of hiI