The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1900-04-27


more, you've just dropped in to hear
the lecture, but you amt lookin for no
new pals, nor you amt cXtcndin your
operations into ether lines. That's
the ticket. That's as safe as Il string
No inquisitive questions answered an
no new friends desired"
VERY good. But how do happen to
Know you!"
"Oh, me! Oh, as to mc-that's simple
One OF your pals is up the river for
carcle&Sncss il chauGin bill. | met
him. an lie give me message to you
when come out. I'm hard up, an
/ you're stakin me till | git on easy
/ street. How does that strike you?"
The insidious nHivctc Of the latter
part of this answer tic!llcd Mr.. Mitch.
! els fancy, and he laughed aloud as he
! replied:
ii say, my man, you're an original in
I your way. Yes, I'll stake you for
/ 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 tic Do-
lice force appeared in sight, until pres
/ emily lie dartcd quickly 10 the right,
! disappearing with his customary cclcr-
/ tty. Mr.. Mitchell awaited his return
with patience ana in a few minutes
was attracted by Il low whistle which
! seemed 10 cCmc from beneath him.
! Looking down. lie deserted Il small
| boat in the shadow OF the dock, man.
! ned BY two powerful oarSmen, aud in
! TIE bow SiU3l his late companion.
! hc~kcn!nG to ann. Comprelunlling that
! it Was meant that lie should enter the
boat. hc c!mlcG down the rotten sides
CT the dock and dropped. the men, as
soon us lie was seated, rowing silently
an! quickly away.
40 words were spoken rs they pick
| Cd their way out into the Hudson. the
! men avoiding the wash OF the great
! rcmyboats with skill which Indicated
! that they were experienced wate.'men.
! Turning down the river. they rowcl
for more than Il mile between the
! shores OF the two cities. the many
! lights of which make n beautiful stage
! picture ana DcW!luer one unaccuStom-
Cd to the night view Of the shores SO
that ii would be impossible to locate
the spot where they finally stopped and
boarded small excursion steamboat,
which itself was moving slowly down
the river.
Slippery Sam stood up and threw a
rope TO man standing near the raj
OF the steamboat. and they were haul
cd UP close alongside. Mr.. Mitchell and
Sam were helped aboard, and the boat
which had brought them dropped
aStcrn. y few minutes later the sDred
! pf J. o,
! atcd, Indicating that no more passen-
! gers were expected. and within an
! hour She had passed out between the
| great guns Of the two forts which
guard the N2rrows and was riding laz-
i!y Oh the ocean highway between
Sandy Hook and Coney Island.
The Siren was one Of the many small!
steam vessels licensed to take cxcur-
; sion!Sts from the metropolis to the
| many resorts within two hours sail CT
the Battery. The captain and owner,
being himself a member OF the sport
Ing fraternity, Lad scented Il good
thing for himself when the sudden
! activity OF the police, due TO legislative
| investigation, had resulted in Tie clos
ing of TIE city gambling rooms. lie
mad therefore summoned few Of the
professional gGmcStcrs and quickly in
tc:estcd them in his venture They
were TO run the games" willie he
would run the boat" as one OF the
men terScly put 1t.
To this cEl the forward cabin had
been claDoratcly fitted Up with the
| necessary implements. MI OF which
! however. were OF the portable order
in case oc emergency. There were two
iaro dealers, two roulette wheels and Il
number Of tables for poker AS Tie
boat already enjoyed ;lc advantages
! OF bar license. liquor could hc had on
| demand. There were Eiany electric
lights, but the windows were closely
| curtaincd. lest too much OF IN iI!umina-
ton should attract the suspicion CT tic
harbor police.
Interference, however, was scarcely
probable, for tie captain had cunning.
iy devised plan whereby the nofari.
ous traffic was conccalrd lie Lai
early in the season abandoned al rccu.
lar trips and advertised his boat to.niyc
For private excursion parties, Grd >,
careful was lie that in furthrrancr Of
| MS scheme he nominally entertained
| inherent SOcic.y or club each
night and adr!ittancc was strictly by
ticket by this means it was very lif.
hcult for any but the "clcct" TO got
aboard. as th" disposition Of the tick.
cts was solely in tic charge of n che
| sen and trustworthy few
On this occasion there was really n
private excursion party on the Siren.
| The Burglars Social union had char.
tered the boat paying Il round SUM for
the privilege or holding meeting Ec-
yond the prying eyes of the police. -
| part OF the agreement bcing that Tho