The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, December 18, 1877, Image 1

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VOL. XI.
NEW BLOOMFIELD, iPA.'., TXJE83DA.Y, DECEMBER 18, 1877.
NO. 60.
'A Jr Si L f f i v i T-- ' ' ill
V T r ' ill ' 1 lil I N I ! F- V, -S
THE TIMES.
An Independent Family Newspaper,
18 PUDUBHBD EVE11Y TUESDAY BY
F. M011TIMEII & (JO.
8 U H 9 C It I P T I O N 1 It 1 1! 15 .
(WITHIN Tit COUNTY.
One Year 2
VAX Months . 75
(OUT OF TIIB COUNTY.
One Year. (Pnitauo Included) II fO
(tlx Months, (I'ostage I lie udeil) 83
Invarlebly lu Advance I
J- Advertising rates furnished upon appli
cation. $eka Poetry.
" WONDER WHO THEY'RE FOR ?"
My mi'i been working very hard,
And also very sly,
And keeps her sewing out of sight
Whenever I am nigh.
I asked her once what made her stop
Her work when I camo In )
She said she only stopped to got
A ncedlo, thread or pin.
The bureau drawer next to mine
Is locked both night aud day,
And when ma wants to open It
Sho.sends mo off to play.
I stole a peep ono afternoon,
Although It was not right ;
But, oh t the little things I saw
Were such a pretty sight !
The cutest, nicest little clothes
Just big enough for doll
But then I know they're not for her
She needs them not at all.
I know they're not for ma nor pa,
Nor me nor brother " Hor,"
For we can not wear such little clothes
I wonder who they're for I
An Unexpected Passenger.
I WAS sitting alone one day when a
lady came in, a widow, I surmised,
from her weeds, genteelly dressed, and
still pretty. Her first words to the point
were,
" Do you remember the .Ludlow dis
appearance two weeks ago ?"
I did have a distinct recollection that
a man named Ludlow had disappeared a
fortnight before, down Providence way
somewhere. I took down my scrap
book, and presently came upon the fol
lowing. It was my business, you see, to
keep a record of such things. It some
times comes handy.
$000 lleward will be paid for the re
covery of the body of llrightman Lud
low, who was drowned In the vicinity of
Watch Hill, Hhode Island, on the eve
ning or night of the 31st Inst. Deceased
was a dark, fine-looking man, with
black hair and mustache, slenderly built
and nearly six feet in height. When
last seen he had on a gray Scotch busi
ness suit (sack coat), a straw hat with
black ribbou, patent leather shoes, and
fancy socks of fine material. Wore a
valuable diamond on the little finger of
his left hand. A iso wore diamond studs
and a heavy gold watch-chain, with
small hunting-case Swiss watch. Ad
dress, &c.
Beneath this notice was a larger para
graph cut from a paper of later date, and
giving a detailed account of Mr. Lud
low's disappearance. He was, as might
Vie inferred from the description of his
person, a gentlemen of wealth and social
importance. He had been staying at
Watch Hill for the summer, that is,
his family remained there, as he came
on frequently from New York, where
he was in business. On the afternoon
of the 31st of July he had put off by
himself in a small sail-boat, in spite of
the fact that he was quite unaccustomed
to the water, and in spite of the re
peated assurance of the light-house
keeper that a storm was at hand. He
had sailed away up the coast line, and
" that was the last that had been seen of
him. A thunder squall had come up
shortly after, the wind had risen to a
gale, and it seems hud been too much
for the little boat. She had been found
the next morning bottom side up, with
an old letter firmly fastened to her keel
by the point of Mr. Ludlow's pen
knife. On the envelope of this letter
were hastily scrawled with a pencil
these few terrible words :
" The squall has capsized me. I've
turned her over, and am clinging to
her, but I can't hold out much longer.
I am drifting toward Block Island. God
bless my dear wire and babies.
P. LUDLOW."
"Well, sir V" said the lady, n I fin
ished the account and looked up.
"Well, ma'am," I answered, "Is
there anything peculiar about the case V
It appears, after all, to be nothing more
than a case of accidental drowning."
" That la just the point sir. It ap
pears to be that; but ns a matter of
fact I do not believe that llrightman
Ludlow was drowned at all."
" What 1 Do you suppose he has been
murdered ?" 1 inquired, In some as
tonishment. " I do not believe that he is dead."
" May I ask your reason V
" I learned only yesterday that his
business affairs were much Involved,
In fact that he has been systematically
robbing IiIb partner for months. They
have been keeping the matter quiet for
reasons of their own. Just put the
fact, however, beside another ; viz., that
the day before the accident 1 put into
his hands for deposit some forty thou
sand dollars In bonds, of which he could
not possibly have disposed. And yet
since his death they are not to be found,
nor any account of them ; he was not
the man to keep them on his person un
der ordinary circumstances, especially
when he was going out upon the water.
Add to all this still further that Mr.
Ludlow was excessively timid about
boats, and without strong reason would
never have gone out alone, and In the
face of the light-keeper's warning. And
would not his body have been found be
fore this, when bo largo a reward has
been offered ? I tell you, sir, Bright
man Ludlow is as much alive at this
moment as you and I are I"
" May I ask your relation to the de
ceased V" I now said.
" I am his wife's sister, Mrs. Crad
dock." I Bat In silence for a while, thinking
over the affair. Here was the opinion
of a woman, but of a woman whom I
could see was a sharp-sighted, practical
person, and I felt that it might be worth
a great deal. Her suspicions had been
breathed to no one except myself. She
wished me to go down to Watch Hill
and look Into the matter secretly. If I
found nothing to confirm her view of
the case she would give it up ; other
wise she could never rest satisfied. I
questioned her a little while longer, and
consented to do as she wished.
A few days after that I registered un
der uu assumed name at the L House,
passing for a gentleman of means spend
ing a few weeks at the sea-sldo. The
Ludlow family had returned to New
York, but the affair was still talked of,
and I heard the story repeated several
times. By careful questioning here aud
there I gathered certain facts that, if
nothing more, served to convert me
thoroughly to Mrs. Craddock's theory.
The light-house keeper was my chief
source of information. After listening
to his account of the matter I asked
him,
" Where did you say the wind was
that afternoon V"
" 'Bout sou'eust, sir, an' workin'
round to nuth'rd 'n' east'rd."
" But how could he have been drifting
toward Block Island with the wind to
the eastward "
"Who says he was driftin' toward
Block Island?"
" He says so on that envelope."
The old man opened his eyes.
" Why," said he, "that's on possible.
'Twas much as he could do to got ther
skiff oil' shore when he set out. Be
sides, she was picked up nex' morniu'
over there to west'rd in Fisher's Island
Sound. He must 'a' ben considerably
mixed up in his reck'niu'. An' no
wonder. Ef he'd hed his senses about
him, too, he'd a knowed cnull' ter lash
hisself to ther skiff's bottom. There
was plenty o' rope in her."
I drew my own conclusion from all
this, and said nothing. Pretty soon the
man got to talking of his boat, a large
oue, moored oil" shore, thinking per
haps to find a patron in me.
" Is she fast V" I absently inquired.
"Fast! Wal, now, you've jest said
it. There a'n't a boat on the Sound that
kin show the ' Norah' her heels, less,
mebbe, It's Klttridge's, over on Fisher's
Island. Thet boat o' his kin go lu a
breeze, an' no mistake. But the 'Norah'
carries a tremenjus lot o' sail, yer see.
Why, it's big es his'en Is when I've got
two reefs in. He a'n't nowhar in a
light wind. Let's see: he ha'nt ben
over sence Mr. Ludlow was drownded. I
reinenibcr he came over and took him
off the very day before he took himself
off."
I pricked up my ears.
" Was Mr. Ludlow accustomed to go
ofT with him V" I askod.
" O, Lord, no. He never see Klttrldge
afore. But he was down here when the
'Arrow' came In, an' I was tellln' him
what a character the old fellow was,
they do gay he's no better than a second
hand pirate, an' so Mr. Ludlow was
interested in him, an' wanted him to
take him off for a sail."
Tills was enough for me for the pres
ent, and I changed the subject.
" I would like to try your boat to
morrow," I said. "Can you go with
her?"
"Wal, Chuck kin, ef I can't."
Chuck was his boy. " When ye want
ter go?"
"Oh, In the morning I suppose, If
everything Is favorable."
The next morning, with a light breeze
from the southwest, Chuck aud I
started out in the " Norah ;" and In ac
cordance with my directions the boat
was headed for Fisher's Island. It took
us two hours, with a long tack and two
short ones, to make the east point of the
island. Old Klttrcdge, as I had learned
from Chuck, lived all by himself In a
hut, quite a way around on the south
shore.
" I wish the old cuss was out in the
' Arrow' this mornin'," Chuck remark
ed, as we were gliding along near the
shore. " This Is jest our wind. By
jingo 1" ho presently added, "Ib'lieve
that's him, now. See there!" And he
pointed out to me the corner of a sail
crawling along over the land.
A few moments after that a large cat
rigged boat came fully into sight. I ran
the thing over In my head, and conclud
ed I would like to make the ex-pirate's
acquaintance.
" Chuck," said I, " are you sure you
can outsail him this morning ?"
" Dead sure, Bir, ef it don't come on
ter blow."
" Well, I'll tell you what I want. I
want you to run up alongside, so I can
jump on board of the ' Arrow,' and then
sheer off, paying no attention to any
thing I say, and go back home with
out me. Here," and I put abank-noto
in his hand, "just say you landed me
up here somewhere."
He looked a good deal puzzled,but took
the money and said nothing.
Old Kittredge seemed disposed to avoid
us ; but Chuck handled the " Norah"
beautifully, and we quickly overhauled
the " Arrow." As we drew up along,
side, taking position between the latter
boat and the wind, Chuck suddenly let
the "Norah" fall off, bringing her bow
for a single Instant within less than two
feet of the " Arrow's stern. And during
that Instant I, who before this had gone
forward, made a desperate leap,and then
there I was in the same boat with my
ex-pirate!
Kittredge came up into the wind at
once, supposing that I had lost my
balance, aud jumped to save myself from
falling overboard.
"What's ther fulo mean, lcttln'. go
his sheet that 'ere way V" he growled.
" Why don't ho come about V"
But Chuck had his instructions ; and
although I added my own cries to those
of the man, he kept straight on, only
turning a moment to put his thumb to
his nose in a suggestive manner.
" What does the young Idiot mean f
He shall pay dearly for this!" I said,
angrily. " What am I to do, I should
like to know? Can you, sir, take me
over the Hill ?"
" No !" responded the old man, short
ly and gruflly.
"But I'll pay you."
" No, you won't."
" Do you mean to say you won't land
mei"'
" Ye come on board o' your own ac
cord ; ye may git ashore as best ye kin."
This was certainly novel treatment ;
and had it not suited me precisely I
might have lost my temper.
" Very well," I said good-humoredly
" If my stay on board is to be perma
nent, 1 11 make myself at home. I
think I'll take a nap." And.stretchlng
myself out lu the shadow of the sail on
the roof of the cabin, I closed my eyes,
and was very soon, to all Intents and
purposes, fast asleep. I had taken good
care, however, to place myself in tuch a
position that I could watch my strange
shipmate through my half-closed eye
lids. Somehow or other I rather dis
trusted him. He stood there at the
helm humming an old sea-song, now
closely watching the sail, and now re
garding me so long and so unpleasantly
that I felt sure ho was considering the
chancesof getting rid of me. Presently
he put the boat about, and stood in to
ward the shore.
Five minutes more might have passed,
when all at once, lying there with my
ear close to the deck, I fancied I heard
a slight rustling, as when straw is moved.
I listened intently, closing my eyes, and
for the moment forgetting my compan
ion entirely. Once more I heard the
same sound, and then a faint sigh, as of
a man waking from slumber. I was
no longer in doubt. There was a third
person on board (he " Arrow" V
The discovery, entirely unexpected as
it was, was certainly a little startling. I
had scarcely made it, however, when I
felt a strong grasp seize me by the hip
and shoulder. I sprang up and threw
my arms tightly around old Kittredge,
just in time to save myself from being
pitched into the shallow water near the
shore. It appeared that he Intended to
land me without asking my consent at
all.
" How now !" I shouted, indignantly.
" What are you up to, old man V"
The rascal was ready enough with his
explanation.
" Up to 1" snarled he. " Ef I hedn't
ketched ye es I did, ye'd 'a' gone over
the side. Ye've ben asleep. Le' go me,
wlllyel Don't you see she's lufiln'?"
All this was so plausible that I had
not a word to say, although I knew that
he was lying.
" What are you doing In-shoreV" I
asked, sharply.
" Ooin' to land you."
" But I don't propose to land."
" Ye don't V opening his eyes.
" No ; and what's more, I think I'll
go below and turn in, where I won't be
in danger of rolling overboard."
I got up and moved toward the cabin
hatch. The doors were closed, and the
slide drawn aft. The padlock hung in
the staple.
" Here, none o' that ! Come out o'
thar!" he shouted; but I had already
flung open the doors. Until I did so, I
am frank to confess I had not the
slightest suspicion of what was to fol
low. There in the middle of the cabin,
standing as though he had just left a
berth, with a half-terrified, wholly des
perate expression on his dark face, was
a man, so tall that he was obliged to
stoop very much in the low cabin, and
whom, in spite of his changed dress and
shaven lip, I knew in an instant from
the published description, knew be
yond the shadow of a doubt to be
Brighlman Ludlow.
I had been In trying situations before
now, and I thought quickly. Swift as
lightning I slammed the doors to again,
secured them with the hasp, and turned
toward old Kittredge.
And not a second too soon. He was
coming for me with the heavy tiller,
which he had unshipped for the purpose
no insignificant weapon, I assure you
But I was too quick for him, and had
whipped out my revolver.
"Ke-shlp your tiller, and haul your
sheet aft !" I commanded, Bternly ; and
after an instant's hesitation he obeyed.
I seated myself on the cabin hatch.
" Now my sea-fearing friend," I con
tinued, coolly, " I'll relieve you of the
command of this craft. You'll be kind
enough to run her straight around the
island and into New London. And If
you dure disobey, you old cast-off pirate,
I'll shoot you dead! Come, sir! look
sharp 1 'bout ship at once !"
He saw that I meant it, and, realizing
his helplessness, did as I told him. We
got into New London at three o'clock in
the afternoon, the wind having fresh
ened somewhat. I sent some boy9 1 saw
on the dock for an officer, and with his
help easily secured my cabin passenger.
I was quite right, of course, about its
being Mr. Ludlow. It appeared that he
had made arrangements with old Kitt
redge to come out and take him off the
skiff on the afternoon of the " drown-
ing," and he had been hiding with him
on Fisher's Island ever since. I waa
just in time, for the old man was taking
him over to Long Island that very
morning. Ludlow had a great deal of
stolen property In his possession; and
among the rest, easily identified of
course, was Mrs. Craddock's forty thou
sand dollars in bonds.
"Wanted, A Boyl" ,
A tradesman once advertised in the
morning papers for a boy to work
in the shop, run errands, and make
himself generally useful.
In a few hours the shop was thronged
with boys of all ages, sizes, sorts and
conditions, all wanting to find a situa
tion. The shopkeeper only wanted one boy,
but how to get the right one wag the
great difficulty. He thought he must
find some plan to lessen the number of
applicants, and give him a better oppor
tunity of eclecting a good one. So he
sent them all away, and thought the
matter over a little. The next morning
the papers contained the following
advertisement :
WANTKD, A HOY WHO OIIKY9 HIS
jioTHKn."
Now, then, thought the tradesman, I
shall see soon who will apply. He also
put a bill in his window with these
words on. And how many do you
Bupposedld come? The story is that
there were only two of all the numerous
boys seeking employment in that big
city who felt that they could honestly
come and say, " I obey my mother."
The cowd of lads was indeed quickly
thinned out most effectually, and the
tradesman had not much trouble in
selecting a boy.
Such boys as these boys that obey
their mothers are In great demand.
My little boy, if you saw an advertise
ment for such a boy could you truth
fully go and ofTer yourself for the situa
tion '( If not, I fear there is something
wrong about you. Look to the matter ;
seek the Lord's salvation ; bean obedient
son, and God will bless you. Clilldren'a
Friend.
What Are You Sowing Now?
A gentleman was stopping a few days
witli a farmer, who, though a man of
sound sense and many good traits of
character, had neglected religion. He
was an excellent farmer, priding him
self on the fine appearanceand thorough
culture on his farm, and evidently was
pleased with his guest, who was a man
of winning manners and extensive In- .
formation, and a Christian.
One day he walked out where the
farmer was scattering his seed broadcast
in the field.
" What are you sowing, Mr. II V"
he asked.
" Wheat," was the reply.
" And what do you expect to reap from
it'i"'
" Why, wheat, of course," said the
farmer.
At the close of the day, as all were
gathered in a family circle, some little
thing provoked the farmer the husband
and father, the head of the family and
at once he was in a violent passion, and,
forgetting In his excitement the presence
of his guest, he swore most profanely.
The gentleman, who was sitting next to
him, in a serious tone said.
" And what are you sowing now, Mr.
H ?"
The farmer waa startled. A new light
at once flashed on his mind from the
question of the morning.
A Lueky Man.
Mr. Slack, of Drakeville, but recently
living at Chester occupying a tenement
property belonging to Chester Iron Co.,
near the X Rhoads, while digging a
small hole in which to set a barrel for
scalding hogs, dug up what was appar
ently a few buttons, which he gave to
his children to play with. His wife's
curiosity Induced her to clean them
when they having the appearance of
silver Mr. Slack went back to the hole
and dug for more when he was rewarded
with a " whole mess" as he expressed It.
They were all Spanish coins dating from
1737 to 1779. There were three klnd9
representing one real, two reals and eight
reals, or one shilling, two shillings and
one dollar. It is supposed that Mr.
Slack secured a hundred dollars or so,
but this is mere guess ' work, as he is
very reticent. Mr. Slack found no
woodwork or any thing to show what
kind of a depository they were in.
They were within a space of two feet of
the surface. This is the old Swayze pro
perty, and it is supposed the money was
buried during the Revolutionary war or
previous to those troublesome times.