Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-11-03
Two Nervy Men.

L
was detailed, together with COM
panion named William Madden, to
proceed to Scranton and work up the
case. We soon found that the money
was being AOated by gang of six or
seven, of whom the majority were as
tough cases as Abe Buzzard, of mod
ern fame. We struck two leads at
the same time, and while mine led to
Harrisburg, his led into the mountain
Gus 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 that neighborhood, and l
set out to find Madden, from whom l
had not yet heard a word. met him
in Reading, and he also had as
prisoner a man known as "Sly JIM"
but whose name was Isaac Watson.
He had been brought from Pottsville.
and he was the head and front of the
Showers" No sooner had Madden
located Jim, who was the ostensible
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 until he located his game, and
at about A o'clock in the afternoon he
drew near 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 laid for him.
If jim was willing to surrender why
hadn't he come out and shown him.
selfY What need of a go-between
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
opened, and as he entered 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 Settled" for ten
or fifteen years. This prospect had
made him desperate, and he had
determined on desperate thing.
"Sit down over therew he COM
manded, and the helpless officer
obeyed.
"Now, then," continued Jim, "what
do you want of me?"
"To arrest you for uttering counter
felt money"
"Got any proofs ?"
"Plenty."
"Well, that settles it. I'd rather
die that go back to prison, but you
shall die with me. could kill you
and skip, but I'd be run down and
hung. Well 60 together !"
On the table in the room was fifty
pound keg Of powder, and leading
into it was four minute fuse. Jim
walked across to the table, covered
the officer anew, and lighted the end
of the fuse with the remark /:
"In four minutes we'll be in h-ll !!
If you make move from that chair
I'll have to send you ahead a little
sooner !"
81 think I'll wait and go with youl"
coolly replied Madden, "and if you've
no objections I'll take out my watch
and call time"
"That will be good idea," said
jim, and cut came the watch and the
detective called out:
"Ten seconds Fifteen ! Twenty !!
Thirty !" and so on.
Nobody will never know what
happened to us" remarked Jim as the
first minute was nearly gone.
"But they'll mix up the scrap ps and
probably bury portion of me along
with you. That's the only thing ]
care about"
"Well, always was fond of good
company" rctorted Jim.
When two minutes had passed the
detective began to softly whistle to
himself.
at will come mighty sudden when
it comes," observed Jim as he crossed
his legs.
eyes. we won't know what hurt
u.s."
Whats the time now ?"
"Oh, we've got over minute yet
Don't you wish you hadn't come ?"
mo, sir! l was bound to have you
or die with you"
aarrL..,. Al L., -