The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-16
THE C0INERS OF KANSAS
A THRILLING SKETCH.


Several years ago, and shortly after
the reconciliation of silver, counterfeit
ing received wonderful impetus, and
the West and South especially were
flooded with bogus COIN
The large floating population and the
wilderness of the border country rem
dered the task of unearthing the coiners
a hard one, but after several seasons of
persistent and stealthy work, the United
States Detective Service became satisfied
as TO the location of at least one gang of
the "Sharps ;" and Jack Densmore. an
experienced agent, was instructed to
visit the State (Kansas), ingratiate him
self with the counterfeiters, and learn Of
their haunts and habits.
The duty was a dangerous one, but
the man selected to perform it had faced
danger, and even death, too often among
Eastern criminals to hesitate O moment !;
and SO it happened that, upon certain
hazy September evening, Densmore, dis
guised as a Dutch peddler, dropped
from the westward bound train on the
X. p Road, at the little station of Black
Wolf, in Kansas. For moment he
gazed after the retreating cars, then
turned, and in broken English inquired
of the station agent the route to Wild
wood Tavern.
81 vas what you call sthrange NIT dis
part de koundry," said the peddler,
smiling; ''but frient ov mine up de
river, he say go to Wildwood Tavern. und
you sold lots of goots in dot koundry. 4"
"Wall, Duchy, don't reckon you'll
do much trade, but ken tell you the
road, if yer goin."
So saying, the rough Westerner gave
the necessary directions, and, in the
cleaning, Densmore disappeared.
"Il try every house from here to
Wildwood" muttered he, when out of
hearing, ''but I'll find Prices. That's
the name-Price. And when that's
found, look out i If / can capture Dick
Price, my fortunes made"
At o'clock Carl-for SO he called
himself-sought shelter at settler
cabin by the roadside, and paid for q
supper, lodging and breakfast with
gaudy lace. At noon he paused again
to eat and trade, and again many times
during the afternoon. Before night he
had heard the name OF Price and be-
fore night, too. several pieces of counter
felt coin had been passed upon him.
He was nearing his game.
1t was little after sundown, and with
weary tread Densmore was climbing up
long hill, where the struggling road
when a step startled him, and moment
later slender boy was at his side.
"How you vas, little feller2" said the
detective. "Dose vas a nice noight?"
eyes, sir, said the youth, looking Al
him sharply. Where are you goingl'
"Me goin'? o, I vas goin' to sell d.
tings in mine pack. 1 vas goin' to gi
rich, +" and the peddler chuckled.
"No mean tonight. Where are 20,
going to stay?" said the boy. "Thi
road stops up in the woods here"
r. Densmore paused.
"De road stops! Py schimminyl De-
dot road got himself lost ut de las turn
fought dis road went fro desc wood
TO de place you calls de tavern, hey?"
go, you mean Wildwood Tavern
That's over that way" and the bo,
pointed into the darkness. "It's fiv
miles from here"
"Py schimminyl" sighed poor Carl
I" five milesl neffer get dere tonight
sleep NIT desc woods, and he began
unpack his strap.
The boy eyed him again sharply
| Then he said: "No, you needn't slee
in the woods. live at the end of thi
road. Come with me. You can stay 9
J our house, guess"
"Ah, dot vas good poy," said DutchJ
: gladly. "Dot vas nice; und I get som
: supper, too, don't it?'
"I reckon" replied the boy.
, Reshouldering his pack, the two cor
7 tinued TO follow the road, the youth leat
ing, until, half mile furthur on, . cabi
appeared in the shadows.