Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-11-26
2 gleasamt Sturp.
THE WIDOW REED.
How Detectives Were Outwitte

Dennis McLain and Dick Renshaw were
two of the most expert and successful coun-
terfeiters ever known in the Northwest.
Both were bold, shrewd men, who had deied
the laws and evaded justice by one artifice
or another for years, and were noted for
their courage and GOODNESS in the face of
danger.
Counterfeiting was their specially, and it
was said among the profession that "Dlck
Renshaw and Dennis McLain had turned
out some Of the best work ever put afloat in
the West"
Their last exploit had been the counter.
feiting of the ten dollar notes of Chicago
bank, and 80 perfect were they that humid
reds of people were victmized and the bank
officers could hardly tell the spurious notes
from the genuine. Renshaw and McLain
were suspected, and Hugh Graham, de-
tective Of no ordinary ability, was detailed
TO work up the case.
With patient perseverance he traced the
daring criminals from one haunt TO another,
until he finally discovered that his men had
taken up their abode with a widow lady
who resided about mile from the little vii
lage of M, on the Quincy and Burling-
ton railroad. This wdow-Mrs Reed by
name-was quiet, lady like person, and by
the village folks generally was considered
very worthy and highly respectable woman
Graham felt quite sure she knew nothing
about the true character of her boarders,
who represented themselves TO be real estate
men, looking up the value of land in that
locality, and were only known as Mr.. Will
liams and Mr.. Day by the unsuspecting
villagers.
While Graham was making cautious in
quiries about the widow and her strange
dodgers, in small back room on the ground
floor Of the lady's modest cottage, those two
dodgers were seated in earnest conversation.
The one, tall, and rather fine looking, with
black hair and eyes, and somewhat slow of
speech, was Dennis McLain. The other,
short and stout, with smooth face, and
checks as rosy as a girls, was Dick Honshaw;
"the best note engraver outside of the State
prison." as a friend of his once remarked, in
speaking of his talents.
Said Renshaw, now known as Williams,
rising and walking uneasily up and down
the floor, "Im sure it was Graham, and the
fellow with him is Jim Demming, handy
legged detective whom | saw at st. Louis
last winter, the time we put out the hves.
There's no mistake tell you. saw them
get off the train at M not an hour ago,
and they mean business"
swell, II they do, we must outwit them,
that's all, )" replied The older man quietly.
"But how? | fear we are run b. earth
this time, Dennis. We can't give them the
slip in this small town, and the confounded
telegraph will head US off whichever way
we turn"
"No, there's no hope Of escape in that d.
rectlop,"
"Whst arc wo 10 do, then 2"
"Dos Why stay and tako our chances
right here"
Dick looked at him in astonlshment, but
said nothing and his companion continued
ave are In very tight place, that's Ger.
tain, but don't dspair. Graham Is good
on take. Now, there is nothing here 10
convict us-not dollar Of the stuff on the
premises, and the dies and plates are all
safely out Of the way took good care Of
that part Of the business II IL now only 8
O'Clock, and II we work lively we will give
Graham and his handy legged friend some
trouble yet before they catch us"
In q few words Dennis explained his plan
Of outwitting the detectives, and when he
had finished, Dick nodded approyiHgly, and
they both left the room together
II was just nine o'clock Of bright June
morning that two men walked leisurely up
the road leading ~ Mrs Reeds dwelling.
As they neared the house they saw an ell
DERBY gentleman with gray hair and beard,
hoeing corn In the field on the opposite side
NJ th6 road, and the larger of the two gen
tlemen, who was none other than the clever