Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-10-04

Hes q traveller that came 70 the taveri
last night and asked for lodging; the last
saw Of him he was safe In bed" said tn,
landlord. ....-..r-l..... Y...... ....t..,
The men withdrew to corner OF tic
apartment, leaving one TO keep guard ovei
ms. Isoon saw they were in earnest con
sultation, and were evidently debating
some important question. The one keep
ing guard over me said nothing but scowled
6ercely. / had not said single word
during all the time had been In the barn.
was aware that whatever might say
would, In all probability, do more harp,
than good, and It has always been max
i'm Of mine, to hold my tongue when In
doubt. At last the discussion seemed 10
be ended, for the blacklist and dirtiest of
the whole crowd came forward ard with
out any introduction exclaimed:
81 say, stranger, look here, you must
diel''
ibid not move q muscle nor utter word.
"You have found out our secret, and dead
men tell no tales"
Twas silent.
"We will give you ten minutes to say
your prayers, and also allow you the privi-
lege Of being shot or hung"
Suddenly an idea struck me. / remem-
bered something that might save my life.
burst into violent at OF laughter, In fact
1t was hysterical, but they did not know
1t. They looked at one another In amaze
ment.
"well he takes 1t mighty cool, anyhow
said one.
"Isuppose he don't think we are In earn
est" said smother.
"Come, stranger, you had better say
your prayers" said the man who had
fret spoken, "tlme flies" ~
Ny only reply was fit oflaughter more
violent than the fret.
"The mans mad" they exclaimed.
cor drunk, }" said some.
"WelI, boys cried I, speaking for.the
first time, "this Is the best joke ever seed.
What, hang 9 pail"
81 hain't nothing else," was my elegant
rejoinder.
What lie your name7,
''Did you ever hear Of Ned Willet!"
asked.
you may be certain of that. Ai'nt he
the head of our proiession!"
swell, then, am Ned"
"You NedWnlett2" they all exclaimed
"You may bet your life on that" l re-
turned, staggering up to the corner where
had seen the old woman counting and
packing the counterfeit half dollars.
Fortune favored me. None of the men
present had seen Ned Willett, although
his reputation was we'll known to them,
and my staggering, insolent manner had
somewhat thrown them off their guard, yet
l could see that their doubts were not all
removed.
"Aud you call these things we'll done,
do you'll" l asked, taking q roll of the
money, swell, all have to say is that II
you can't do better than this you had better
shut up shop, that's all"
"Can you show anything betterl" asked
one of the men.
81 rather think I can. If l couldn't I'd
go and hang myself"
Let's see 1t" they all cried.
This was my last coup, and one on which
knew life depended.
'Lookee here, gentlemen, )" l exclaimed,
taking one of the counterfeit half dollars
from my pocket which had been rejected
at the bHnk, here Is my last job, and what
do you think ofiti'
1t was passed from hand to hand, some
saying 1t was not counterfeit at all, and
Others saying II was.
slow will you prove 1t is counterfeit"
"By weighing it with genuine one," I
replied.
This plan was Immediately adopted, and
its character proved.
"Perhaps he got this by accident, !" heard
man whisper 10 another.
"Try these" said taking tho other two
out of my pocket.
All their doubts now vanished.
Beautiful" exclaimed some. every
splendid" said others.
When they had examined them 10 their
satisfaction, they all cordially shook me by
the hand, every particle OF doubt having
vanished from their minds. carried out
my part we'll Some questions were occa-
sionally asked me involving some Of the
technicalities of the business; these, how
ever, avoided, by stating that | was on
journey Of pleasure, and would rather take
glass of whisky than answer questions
The whisky was produced and we made
night of 1t. 1t was not until morning had
dawned that we separated.
The next day returned to Chicago and
brought down the necessary assistance, and
captured the whole gang of counterfeiters
10 the very act. The den was broken up
forever, and most of them were condemned
to serve a term in the State prison.
l have these counterfeit half dollars still
In my possession, and intend never 10 part
with them, for they were certainly the means
Of saving my life.