VICTIMS OF CHEAP LITERATURE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 23, 2 October 1885, Page 9

VICTIMS OF CHEAP LITERATURE.

(Associated Press.)

Since the morning of July 31 last two prominent members of the " Prairie Bangers," a juvenile society organized for the purpose of hunting buffaloes and grizzly bears and killing Indians, have been missing. The ' Rangers " have usually met m the vicinity of Eleventh and Buttonwood streets, Philadelphia, every night to compare notes, lay plans for future action, and make exchanges of " nickel libraries," which delectable literature they eagerly purchase and greedily d.-your. There have been only a few meetings of the " Rangers " this month, and they were clandestine. On the last day of July little George Hughes, a "Ranger," twelve years old, who lives with his mother at JNo. 1, 031 Nectarine street, 'bade the latter good bye before she let t for her work iti au up town carpet mill and went around to the house of his particular friend and fellow •• Hanger," Master Maik McCloskey, thirteen years old, who lived with his widowed mother at No. 21 (Jossarnar avenup, Mark worked in an Eighth street shoe stor-', and his clium waited for him at the head of the avenue. When he finally came out they were joined by another " Ranger." Master Freddy Su\ der, who lives at No. 1 043 i uttonwood street. The three walked toward Eighth and Market streets, and on the road Rangei Hughes displayed Idol oOets., and invited his fellowscouts to accompany him on a grand holiday jiunt to New Yoik to take in the Grant fuueial, after which they would catch bluefish at Cape May and tumble among the breakers on the beach at Atlantic City. "li's too hot to kill grizz ies and buffaloes," said Ranger Hughes argumentatively, "and trip Injuns are all quiet. You fellows come 'long with me and we'll have a bully time." Ranger McCloskey, who worked bard every day and was obliged to hand in his weekly wages to bis widowed mother, thought favouiably of the scheme, t.nd after some hesitation consented tv accompany Ranger Hughes. Kangei bnyder had peviral times before started out to betk his fortune, and his ventures had always Tt suited disastrously. He shook his head when invited to be one of the party, and positively declined to leave Philadelphia. His fellow- Hangers therefore swore him to secrecy and smarted upon th"ir jouiuey. •' I didn't vNaut t ) take in no 'scur>n<>n to New York on a dollar and fifty cents for three fellers."' paid Hanger Snydcr. •' When I start out I want plenty ot money to buy rations and things. Mark and George were just dead set on going though, and it was no use trying to talk 'c-m out or it. They made me swear to keep mum about it, and I did until that puce come out in the papers about Georgie this morning. Then I told all I knew about it." When they did not return to their homes that night their mothers made an anxious and fruitless search for them. The next day the search was renewed, ,md the day following Mr.-. McCloskey advertised her son as mi-sing in one of the morning papets. " Mark was always a good boy," she siid to a leporter, "and so well liked by the people at the store wheie he worked that I could not imagine what had become of him. He went away that morning in good spirits and kissed me good-bye. I'm afiaul my poor boy is dead, and I shall never see turn again. I have hunted for him everywhere and last week went to New York and Btookh n to see if I could not find home trace of him." Ranger UughtaV mother was obliged to work at the factory eveiy day. but she bhul teats over her abs nt boy and prayed foi his i-afi_ty. Tins morning she received a letter from Chief of Police Muipby, of Jusey City, informing her that the wandering R.mger had been found, and was ;n custody there awaiung her orders, she took 'he first train fot New Yoik. and to-i ight returned with the truant. He was picked up in Jersey City by a police officer last Monday morning, from .vh >m he inquired tne most direct road to Philadelphia. Wheu interrogated Ranger Hughes ga»'e hisjeorrect name and his mothers aldrtss, and in addition related a most thiilhng tale of kidnapping, of which he was the victim, claiming that he and an elder biothei ht<l been forcibly abducted from Camdeu on Thms 1 i} r morning Ust, by two strauge men. He is a brazen and si .ugy little chap. Wh n asked wny he told so many lies to the Jers y police he said • - Well. I thought I'd give 'em a stiff." He says Mark McUlobk >y weut off with a sailor to be a pirate.