The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-07-31
CHAPTER V.
THE ETHICS OF HONEST TH1EyERy.

THE ETHICS OF HONEST THIEyERY.
Promptly at o'clock Mr.. Mitchell
was at the appointed place, where he
waited long enough to begin to doubt
that Slippery Sam would keep his
tryst. when suddenly that worthy ap.
peared at his side, like sprite in
pantomime. Evidently he enjoyed the
trick of stepping forth from places of
concealment, for he chuckled at the
surprise which he created and remark
ed:
Excuse, me mister but I've got my
reputation to keep up. See?"
"Ah, yes, of course!' replied Mr..
Mitchell. remembering the fellows
name. "Well, you see have come. Are
you still willing to take me to this
meeting of your friends?'
"Why, cert. What am 1 here for?
You follow me, an all I've got to say
is keep your eyes peeled an your
mouth shut, an you won't git into no
trouble. By the way, what line are
you in?"
what line am 1 in? Oh! You mean
what sort of crime is my specialty?"
got to be introduced, an we'd better
fix up your trade before we git started,
SOS to have no slips"
"Well, then" said Mr.. Mitchell,
Slightly amused at his anomalous posi-
ton, las an expert, what would you
advise? What sort of crook do look
most like?"
'That's the trouble" said Sam,
scratching his head by way of assist
ing thought. 'You look so much like
the genuine gentleman it's hard to
place you. Say, I've got it, by ginger.
You're a bank note engraver; that's
what you are-regular trade, / mean,
but you do an occasional job with the
queer. an you've never been spotted
yet. See? That's why you amt known
out of your own private circle. What's
more, you've just dropped in to hear
the lecture, but you amt lookin for no
new pals, nor you amt extendin your
operations into other lines. That's
the ticket. That's as safe as u string.
No inquisitive questions answered an
no new friends desired"
every good. But how do 1 happen to
know you?"
ooh, me! Oh, as to me-that's simple!
One of your pals is up the river for
carelessness in changin a bill. 1 met
him, an he give me message to you
when l come out. I'm hard up, an
you're stakin me till 1 git on easy
street. How does that strike you?"
The insidious naivete of the latter
part of this answer ticlled Mr.. Mitch.
els fancy, and he laughed aloud as he
replied:
81 say, my man, you're an original in
your way. Yes, I'll stake you fol
awhile
Slippery Sam led the way along the
docks, keeping in the shadows from
force of habit rather than from any
. necessity, since no member of the DO
lice force appeared in sight until pres
emily he darted quickly to the right
! disappearing with his customary celer
5 ity. Mr.. Mitchell awaited his return
l with patience and in few minute!
3 was attracted by low whistle which
i seemed to come from beneath him
: Looking down, he deserted small
. boat in the shadow of the dock, man
t ned by two powerful oarsmen, and il
e the bow stood his late companion
D reckoning to him. Compromising tina
S it was meant that he should enter tn
0 boat, he climbed down the rotten side
4 of the dock and dropped, the men, a
y soon as he was seated, rowing SILENT.
and quickly away.
) io1,
ed their way out into the Hudson, tn
u men avoiding the wash of the grea
ferryboats with skill which indicate,
e that they We're experienced watermeI
Turning down the river, they rowe,
e ,or more than a mile between th
i shores of the two cities. the man
q lights of which make a beautiful stag
q picture and bewilder one unaccuston
ed to the night view of the shores S
that it would be impossible to locat
s the spot where they finally stopped an
boarded small excursion steambOa
/, which itself was moving slowly dow
r the river.
Slippery Sam stood up and threw
VI rope to man standing near the ra
!. Of the steamboat and they were hau
I'd up close alongside. Mr.. Mitchell an
u Sam were helped aboard and the boa
r which had brought them droppe
s. astern. A few minutes later the spec
i of the steamboat was greatly accelel
q ated indicating that no more passeI
d gers were expected, and within a
U hour she had passed out between til
: great guns of the two forts whic
II guard the Narrows and was riding las
8 lily on the ocean highway betwee
8 Sandy Hook and Coney Island.
I The Siren was one of the many sma
I? steam vessels licensed to take lexcul
!. sionists from the metropolis 70 th