The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-05-04
THE WIDOW REED.

successful counterfeiters ever known in
the Northwest. Both were bold shrewd
men, WHO had defied the laws and evad-
ed Justice by one artifice or another for
years, and were noted for their courage
and GOODNESS In the face of danger.
Counterfeiting was their speciality, and
1t was said among the profession that
Dick Renshaw and Denis McLain had
turned out some of the best work ever
put afloat in the West"
Their latest exploit had been the coun-
terfeiting of the ten-dollar notes of
Chicago bank, and so perfect were they
that hundreds of people were victimized
and the bank officers themselves could
hardly tell the spurious notes from the
genuine. Renshaw and McLain were
suspected, and Hugh Graham, detec-
tive of more than ordinary ability, was
detailed to work out 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
widow lady who resided about half a
mile from the little village of M,
on the Quincy and Burlington Railroad.
This widow-Mrs. Reed by name-was
quiet, lady-like person, and by the
village folks generally was considered
very worthy and highly respectable wo-
man. Graham felt quite sure that she
knew nothing about the true character
of her boarders, who represented them
selves to be real estate men, looking up
the value of land in that locality, and
were only known as Mr.. Day and Mr..
Williams by the unsupported villagers.
While Graham was making cautious
inquiries about the widow and her
strange lodgers, in small back room
on the ground-hoor of the lady's modest
cottage, those two dodgers wers seated in
earnest conversation. The one, tall and
rather fine looking, with black hair and
eyes, and somewhat slow of speech, was
Denis McLain. The other, short and
stout, with smooth beardless face, and
cheeks as rosy as girl's,was Dick Rem
shaw " the best note engraver outside
of the State Prison." as friend of his
once proudly remarked, in speaking of
his talents.
Said Renshaw now known as Will
liams, rising and walking uneasily up
and down the floor:
Pm sure it was Graham, and the
fellow with him is Jim Deming, q
bandy-legged Chicago detective, whom L
saw in ST. Louis last winter the time we
put out the fives. There's no mistake
tell you. L saw them get off the train
at NJ, not an hour ago, and they
mean business"
swell, if they do, we must outwit
them-that's ALL" replied the older man
quietly.
But how / fear we are run to
earth this time, Denis. We can't give
them the slip in this small towa, and
the confounded telegraph will head us
off which ever way we turn"
"No, there's no hope of escape in
that direction"
What are we to do then ?''
Do ? Why stay and take our
chances where we are"
Dick looked at him in astouishment,
but said nothing, and his companion
continued:
We are in very tight place, that's
certain, but don't despair. Graham is
good on take. Now there is nothing
here TO convict us-not a 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 busi-
ness. 1t is now only o'clock and if we
work lively we will give Garham and
his bandy-legged friend some trouble yet
before they catch us.''
In few words Denis explained his
plan of outwitting the detectives, and
when he had finished, Dick nodded ap-
provingly, and they both left the room
together.
1t was just nine O'Clock, of bright
June morning, that two men walked
leisurely up the road leading to Mrs.
Reeds dwelling.
AS they neared the house they saw an
elderly gentleman, with gray hair and
beard, hoeing corn in the field on the
opposite side of the road, and the larger
of the two gentlemen, who was none
other than the clever detective, Graham
pleasantly accosted the old laborer.
A fine morning you have for hoeing
my friend, and your corn is looking