The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-11-10

during all the time had been in the barn.
I was aware that whatever / might saw
would in all probability do more harm
than good, and it has always been max
i'm of mine, to hold my tongue when in
doubt. At last the discussion seemed to
be ended, for the blackest of the whole
came forward, and without any introduce
ton, exclaimed,
II say, stranger, look here, you must
I did not move a muscle or utter .
word.
You have found out our secret, and
dead men tell no tales. -
I was silent.
'We viii give you ten minutes to say
your prayers, and also allow you the priv
ilege Of being shot or hung"
Suddenly an idea struck me. remem-
bered something that might save my life.
/ burst into violent fit of laughter, in fact
it was hysterical, but they did not know
it. They looked at one another in amaze
ment. =.
"well, he takes lit mighty cool, any
how" said one.
Suppose he don't think we are in ear
nest" said another.
"Come, stranger, you had better say
your prayers" said the first speaker, ''time
flies.,'
Ny only reply was a ft of laughter
more violent than the first.
''The mans mad" they exclaimed.
Cor drunk, +" said some. l..-
'Well, boys" cried l, speaking for the
hrst time, ''this is the best joke have
ever seen. What, hang a pal2"
"a pal-you a palr"
81 amt nothin' else, " was my elegant
rejoinder.
"What's your nsme1" -
ssDid you ever hear of Ned Willett ?" 7
replied.
"You may be certain of that. Amt he
the heed of our profession 2" n,
"Well, then, I'm Ned"
"You Ned WilIettr ?" they all exclaimed
at once.
"You may bet your lite on that, l re-
turned, staggering up to the corner
where l had seen the old woman counting
and packing the counterfeit half dollars.
Fortune favored me. None Of the men
present had ever seen Ned Willett, al
though his reputation was well known to
them, and my staggering, insolent man
ner had somewhat thrown them off their
guard, yet could plainly see that their
doubts were not all removed.
"And you call these things well done,
do you ?" asked, taking up roll of the
money. "Well, all have to say is that if
you can't do better than this, you had
better shut up shop--that's ALL"
Gan you show Us any better ?" asked
one of the men.
- rather think ! can. If / couldn't,
I'd hang myself"
"Lets see it," they all cried.
This was my last coup, and one on which
my life depended. tra
"Look here, gentlemen" exclaimed,
taking one of the counterfeit half dollars
from my pocket that had been rejected at
the bank, "here is my last job; what do
you think of it2"
1t was handed hand-tO-hand, some say
ing it was no counterfeit at all, and some
saying it was.
How win you prove i. is a counter
40lbI 66koU QUO.
"By weighing it with o genuine one,"I I
replied.
This plan was Immediately adopted and
its character proved.
perhaps he got this BY accident" /
heard man whisper to another.
"Tty, these" l said, taking the other
two out OF my pocket.
All <hn:~ 1cvhk. ,o- -.~:.k~l
Beautiful" exclaimed some "Very
splendid !" said others.
When they had examined them to their
satisfaction, they all cordially took me by
the hand, every particle of doubt having
vanished from their minds. carried on
my part well. Some questions were occa-
sionally asked me involving some technic-
alities of the business: these, however, I
avoided, by stating laat was on q jour-
ney, and would rather take q glass of
whisky than answer questions. The whis-
Ky was produced and We made q night of
it. 1t was not until morning dawned that
we separated.
The next day returned to Chicago and
broughtdown the necessary assistance, and
captured the whole gang of counterfeiters
in the very act. The den was broken up
forever, and most Of them were con-
demned to serve term in the State
Prison.
have those half-dollars still in my pos
session, and never intend to part with
them, for they were certainly the means OF
saving my life.
HUGE SouAsHBtWe were shown this morn
ing, some of the largest squashes We have ever