The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-16

the boys are coming, will stay on watch,
and mill the hundred we ran yesterday.
Yell be back in an hour?"
eyes, dear"
And throwing heavy cloak about her,
and incasing her head in a deep hood,
the girl opened the door and disappeared
into the night.
Price turned to the gang.
Boys go below, fire up, and prepare
the rest o. the metal. I'll stay here, an
when Net comes in with the dies weH
coin. I want a full load tonight, for
we're almost out Here, give ME lift.
AS he ceased speaking, he seized
heavy iron bar and thrust it beneath the
hearthstone. The others joined hands
with him, and, with desperate effort the
five slowly raised the great stone. Be
meath it appeared a door, secured by
long. iron bolts. These being shot,
and the trap raised, flight of steps was
seen. The four strangers descended,
carrying a lantern, and Price dropped
the door behind them. Then opening
sort of hidden closet, he drew from it
box of rough silver coin and a milling
machine, with which he began to work.
Densmore breathed hard
Trapped p he whispered trapped!
The gang complete! And now for aOork. :"
Noiselessly he arose and approached
the ladder. In either pocket were his
pistols, and in his hand pair of brace
lets, on his breast his star. At the top
of the ladder he paused, struck his foot
against the floor, and coughed. There
was a quick stir below.
"Mr. Brice! Mr.. Brice! Vas you
dere?"
A half-growl from below answered
him:
"What We want9''
"I vas sick, Mr. Brice-I was so hot
rs neffer vas. want leetle water, Mr.
Brice, if you please, Mr. Brice"
"What the" then came an oath.
ellie still, We Dutch fool, and I'll bring
ye water. Don't come here"
80, no, Mr.. Brice! But some water,
Mr.. Brice, for Gods sake! vas burned
alife!"
There was moving about the room, a
patter of dipper and pail, and Price ap-
preached the ladder. Densmore breathed
hard The steps came nearer, nearer;
they mounted the ladder. He crouched,
waiting An instant more, and the
bearded face of Price appeared above
the opening in the floor, and his right
hand was raised, holding a tin cup of
water.
"Here, Dutchy-ye're cursed hard to
take care of-here's yer drink"
Carl's arm was outstretched; but, as
he touched the dipper, there came
sharp click, and the handcuff closed
about the wrist of the coiner, and, at the
same moment, the cold muzzle of a
heavy Colts revolver pressed against his
forehead, and the voice of the detective
hissed in his very ear:
"Not a sound. or I'll kill you! Up
with your other hand"
The man was fairly caught, and he
knew it. The color fled from his bronzed
face, leaving it ashen-hued; cold sweat
gathered in beads upon his brow: the
prison doors yawned before him; but
one glance into the deep eyes of the de-
tecaive were enough, and with a shudder
and groan he allowed the handouts to
be clasped about his other wrist.
"And now go down; without noise,
too," said Densmore, Cor"
Price obeyed; and, as he turned upon
the floor below, the detective was at his
side.
''Sit there" and he pointed toward the
table, with your back to the door"
Again the coiner obeyed, bowing his
head upon his hands. Then Densmore
crept to the trap, closed it, and shot the
heavy bolts.
Without raising his head, Price whis-
pered:
They'll smother"
"They must run their chances" re-
piled DensmOre, coldly.
So saying, he crept near to the cabin
door, and waited. He must have the
woman, the spy, the last and best of all
the gang.
The moments passed; the hour was
listened with bated breath for his COM
ing victim, when suddenly, without a
sound, the door opened, and Nettie en-
tered As she did so, Densmore stepped
forward, and would have laid his hand
glance, the girl comprehended all, and
with wild shrek she sprang from him,
the dies dropping from her arms as she
did 80 while Price started from his seat
and joined her And then again the de-
tective found himself facing his enemies,
one of them now armed, for the woman
had drawn a pistol.
But there was no struggle. With
nerves tense as steel, and deadly light
in the clear, blue eyes, Carl levelled his
heavy weapons, one at each of the figures
before him, and in low, cool tones said;
| "Up with your hands! In the name
of the national government, arrest you
as counterfeiters! Quick"
The last word was addressed to the
woman, for in her eyes, too, there
| cleaned dangerous light; but, before
the detective could stay her, the pisto
was turned, there rang out a sharp re-
port, and from her side there welled the
bright blood, splashing the wooden floor
and, with a moaning cry, she tottered
and fell, Price half catching her in hi
shackled arms as she sank.
Only once she spoke.
'tBetter this than a prison, Dick! Ani
to die with you, loUe.
Then came futtering sigh, and she
was gone.
An hour later, Densmore stood before
the United States Commissioner at Wild
wood, and delivered his prisoner Two
hours later, pose of officers secured tn,
others, who were dragged half dead from
their cellar furnace-room; and the mex
day, the detective alone stood by til,
open grave of poor Nettie, "the braves
and prettiest criminal he had eve
known" he said, and heard the dul
sound of the clods as they fell upon he
coffin. Then he turned eastward again
his duty done.
The coiners of Kansas were no more.