The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-06-08

vpop uv uey were ID ezfnest conSultation,
~ Wsfp evidently dsbxfins some inportAnt
"a nofhin9. bat scowisd hesdsly. I had mot
kored . sfnRle word during ~ ths time I
"a been IN The BAN Iuns srare Tat 4
6yw I might say would In ~ probability %
more harm than good, and 10 mas Aveysoeen
ionbI Al last the discussion seemed to be
ssttied- for lie bIackest and dirdest Of the
| hole came forward, and without any intro
~luction, exclaimed
az say, stranger look here-youm must die ~
did not move a muscle, nor utter . word
"You have found out our secret, and dead
non tell no tales"
eve will give you ten minutes to sayyour
prayers, and also allow you the privilege Of
aging Whether you win be hanged or shot"
6uddenlyan idea struck me. Remembered
phething that might save my life I burst
INTO q violent ct OF laughter, In fact, il was
systcricas, but they did not know that They
ooked from one 70 the other In the greatest
rmnzement.
"wen, he takes 1t mighty cool, anyhow"
aid one.
IT suppose he don't think we are in earn
st, /" said another.
Come. stranger, you had better say your
nravera - said the man who had first spoken,
itims fes,"
! riolent than the hrst.
aThe mans mad |" they exclaimed.
.'Or drunk, :" said some.
'swen, boys, " I cried, speaking for the first
ime, ''this Is the best joke I ever seed.
What, hang q pal 2"
"a pal-you o pair
II amt nothing else was my elegant re-
ioinder.
whats your name 2"
did you ever hear OF Ned Wliett Q"
lsked.
You may be certain Of that. Amt he at
he hoad OF our profession y
'sWell, then, I'm Ned wilett"
ssYou Ned willettl !" they all exclaimed.
"You maybet your life on thai, II returned,
vvaQqerinRup to the cornerwhere / had seen
The Old woman counting and packing the
counterfeit half dollars.
Fortune favored me. None Of the men
present had ever seen Ned Wiiott, although
bis reputation was wen known to them, and
my staggering, insolcnt manner had some
what thrown Thorn Of their guard, yet !
/ could plainly see that all their doubts were
not removed.
"And you call these things well done, do
youf" I asked, taking up q roll of the money.
well, all I can say Is that il you can't do
better than his youbad better shut up shop,
that's all"
ssCan you show us anything betterl" asked
II raythcr think I can If couldn't I'd
60 and hang myself"
Lets sec it." they all cried.
This was my last coup. and one onwhich l
kne~ my life depended
sLookee here, gentlemen" exclaimed,
taking ono or the counterfeit hab dollars
from my pocket which had been rejected ut
tho bank, hero Is my last job what do you
think Of II p
II WINS passed from hand to band, some
saying II was no counterfeit at al, others say
ing that II was. ..
7'How win you prove 1t is a counterfeit 2"
asked one of the men.
'By weighing 1t with a genuine one, re.
piled. 80.
This plan was immodiateiyadopted, and its
character proved
Perhaps be got this by accident" / heard
ono Of the men whisper TO another.
.sTry these" said ], taking the other two
from my pocket.
When they had examined il 70 their satis.
faction, they oil of them cordially shook mo
by the hAnd, every particle ofRdoubt having
vanished from their minds. / carried out
my part well. Some questions were occa-
sionally asked me, involving some Of the
tcchnicalities of tho business those, row.
ever. l avoided by stating that ! was on q
journey of pleasure, and woul much rather
drink a glnss OF whisky than answer ques-
tons. The whisky was produced, and we
made a night Of II, and 1t was not until morn
ing had dawned that we separated.
The next day ! returned to Chicago, and
brought down tho necessary assistance, md
captured the whole gang of counterfeiters in
the very act. This party was broken up for
ovor, and most Of them were condemned to
Berve O term Of years in the State prison.
have those counterfeit half dollars still
in my possession, and intend never TO part
with Thorn, for theywere certainly the means
Of saving my life.