Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-11-28
TWO NERVY MEN.

TWO NERVY MEN.
BY sxCREr SERVICE DETECTIVE.
Soon after the war our bureau was no.
titled that counterfeit one and two.
dollar bills were being extensively cir.
culated in the region about Reading,
Pa. l was detailed, together with a
companion named William Madden, to
proceed to Scranton and work up the
case. We soon found that the money
was being circulated by a gang of six or
seven, OF whom the majority were as
tough cases as Abe Buzzard, Of modern
tame. We struck two leads at the same
time, and while mine lead to Harris.
burg, his lead into the mountainous
country around Pottsville, which at
that time contained some Of the most
lawless miners who ever handled pick.
At Harrisburg unearthed an old bird
known as "Greenback Charley" and
landed him temporarily behind the bars.
In three or four days l was satisfied that
he was the only one of the lot in the
neighborhood, and l set out to find
Madden, from whom had not yet
heard word. l met him in Reading,
and he also had as prisoner a man known
as "Sly jim, but whose real name was
Isaac Watson. He had been brought
from Pottsville, and he was the head and
front of the "shovers. No sooner had
Madden located Jim, who was the os.
teusible owner of saloon in town, than
the fellow slipped out and made his way
up the mountains and took quarters in
cabin occupied by an aged woman-a
widow, Madden hung to the scent un.
Til he relocated his game, and about 4
o'clock in the afternoon he drew n ear the
house. Forty rods away he was met by
the old woman, who stated that Jim was
in the house and willing to surrender.
Madden should have stopped to reflect
that some sort of trap was being laid for
him. If Jim was willing to surrender,
why didn't he come out and show him.
self? What need of go-between be.
tween him and the officer?
The detective thought of nothing but
securing his man at once, and he pushed
on, without even drawing his revolver.
The outer door was partly open, and as
he en- tered the house it was shut behind
him, and he was covered by revolver
in the hands of the counterfeiter. Sly
Jim had served five years for previous
offense. He reasoned that the officer
had him dead to rights on the new case,
and that he would probably be "set-
tied" for ten or fifteen years. This
prospect had made him desperate, and
he had determined on desperate thing.
"Sit down over there" he COM
manded, and the helpless officer obeyed.
''Now then," continued Jim, "what
do you want of me?"
"ro arrest you for issuing counterfeit
money"
"Got any proofs?"
"Plenty."
swell, that settles it. I'd rather die
than go back to prison, but you shall die
with me. l could kill you and skip,
but I'd be run down and hung. Wen
go together !"
On table in the room was fifty.
pound keg of powder, and leading into
it was four-mlnute fuse. Jim walked
across to the table, covered the officer
anew, and lighted the end of the fuse
with the remark:
SIN four minutes we'll be in hell If
you make move in that chair I'll have
to send you ahead little sooner !''
II think I'll wait and go with you" :"
coolly replied Madden, Sand if you have
no objections I'll take out my watch and
call time"
THAT will be good idea" said Jim,
and out came the watch, and the detec.
tive called out
"Ten seconds! fifteen! twenty! thir-
ty I" and SO on.
"Nobody will ever know what hap.
pened to us, remarked Jim as the first
minute was nearly gone.
"But they'll mix up the scraps and
probably bury portion of me along
with you. That's the only thing l care
about"
swell, was always fond of good
company" retorted jim.
When two minutes had passed the de-
tective began to softly whistle to him.
self.
1T will come mighty sudden when it
comes," observed jim, as he crossed his
legs.
''Yes, we won't know what hurt us"
"What's the time now?"
"Oh, we've got over minute yet"
Don't you wish you hadn't coms?"
'No, sir ! / was bound to have you or
die with you"
That's the sort It's some honor to
die with such man as you. The fuse
is getting pretty short"
We've got fifteen seconds more.
Madden leaned back in his chair, and
Jim held the revolver full OIL his breast.
He hadn't been playing bluff game,
and the detective had made up his mind
that there was no escape from death.
From the corner Of his eye he watched
the fire creep nearer and nearer, but he
never moved a finger. The sparks final.
ly touched the ,staves of the keg, and
Madden felt that his last minute of life
had come. He dropped his eyes to his
watch and saw the seconds fly past
two. four, five, ten, and he felt that
there had been some miscarriage. When
fifteen seconds had passed Jim growled
out:
"The durn thing has gone back on
me-"
He rose, as if to go over and examine
it, and the instant the muzzle of his re.
volver was depressed Madden sprang
for him and struck him blow between
the eyes which felled him like an OK.
The revolver was discharged, but the
bullet entered the floor.
In another minute Jim was handcuffed
and dragged out. He wilted as soon as
the irons were on him, and no trouble
was experienced in getting him to Read.
ing. He was silent and sulky with
Madden, but to me he said:
'Say, old man, you've got partner
to be proud of He's got more nerve
than any other man that lives"
Excepting you." replied, and he
stroked his long whiskers and seemed
pleased with the compliment.
The TailOr,s Lockout.
Arouse, each noble son of toll
Who pants for fame and riches
Well batter down the walls Of wealth
And go in through the breaches.