Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1849-11-02
slothes should present
he front door, obtain adj
cans of the password / had

=
en- with the proper answer to the
al-ring--threc distinct pulls at the
Dell-handle communicating with the first
floor. Their comrades were then to be
admitted, and they were all silently to
ascend the stairs and wait on the landing
till summoned by me to enter and seize
the gamesters. The back entrance to
the house was also securely but unoblru-
sivcly watched.
Only one fear disturbed me; it was
lest the scoundrels should take alarm in
sufficient time to extinguish the lights,
destroy the forged papers and pos IDLY
escape by some private passage which
might, unknown 10 me exist.
Rousing myself, as soon as the play
was resumed from the trance of memo
ry by which had been in some sort alb
sorbed. and first ascertaining that the
handles of my pistols were within my
reach--for knew was playing des-
lpcrate galIIe with desperate men-I rose
stepped carelessly 10 the door. partially
opeuedit, bent forward as if listening for
repetition of the sound which had so
alarmed the company. TO my great
delight the landing and stars were filed
with police-oificers-silent and stern as
death. ! drew back and walked toward
the table at which Mr., Merton was being
played for. Merton lost. He sprung
upon his feet death pale, overwhelmed,
and A0arse exe:ration surged through
his clenched teeth. Stamford and his
associates cody raked the plumber to-
ge;her, their features lighted up with
fiendish glee.
"Villain!-traitor!-- shrie-
ked Mr.. Mertonsas if smitten with fren-
zy, and darling at Standford's throat:
you devil that you are, have undone
destroyed me!'' :,
mo doubt OF it," calmly replied STAN
ford shaking off his victims grasp; 'and
/ think il has been very artistcallv and
efec,ually done too. Sniveling, my
fine fellow, will scarcely help you much.'
Mr.. Merton glared upon the taunting vii
iiaiiin speeches. agony and rage.
'.Not quite SO fast, Carbon, if you
please | exclaimed, al the same time Ia
king up the bundle Of forged notes. SIT
does not appear to me that Mr.. Merton
has played against equal stakes, for IN
questionably this paper is not genuine"
"Dog!" roared Stanford, "do you hold
your life SO cheap" and he rushed toward
me, as if TO seize the forged notes.
! as quick as he, and the levelled tube
of pistol sharply arrested his eager on
slaught.-Thc entire gang neared us, fa-
ming with excitement. Mr. Merton look
ed bewilderedly from one 10 another, APP
parently scarcely conscious of what was
passing around him.
"Wrenchthe papers from him." scream
ed Stanford, recovering his energy. "Seize
him, stab, strangle him.
'.Look to yourself, scoundrel!!" shou-
ted with equal vehemence. "Your hour
is come! Officers, enter and do your du-
typ
In an instant the room was filed with |
police and surprised, panic-stricken, par
alyzed by the s,,a.: ..asasaess 90 sire.ratas-
lrophe,stHc gang were all secured with
ena.fhe slightest resistance, tho most of I
hem were armed, and marched off in
Three-Stanford or Carbon; but he
lad halfa dozen aliases, one of them
we're transported for life; the rest were
to various terms of imprison-
nent My task was effcciually accom-
olished.