The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-08-14

turn 70 my apartment again wnen'suuren-
| ly I felt a heavy hand placed ON my should
er, and turning my head round, to my hor-
ror found myself in the grasp Of aspiu look
ing scoundrel as ever escaped the gal
lows
What are you doing here, my COED fell
lowf" be exclaimed in gruf voice. giving
me shake
Taking stroll by moonlight" re-
piled, endeavoring to maintain my pres
snce of mind
well, perhaps You'll just take a stroll
in here, Will yous" returled the rufian,
pushing open the door and dragging me
in after ham.
stopped srork, and rushed toward US when
they saw me.
"Whg, what's'thiss" they all exclaimed.
"a loafer found peepng 0utside," said
the man who had .captured me.
He's traveller that came to the tavern
tonight and asked for lodgings; the last
time / saw him he was safe in bed, /" said
the landlord.
apartment, leaving one'to keep guard over
me. soon saw they were in earnest con-
sultation, and theywere evidently debat-
ing some important question. The man
keeping guard over me said nothing, but
scowled 6erceiy. I had not uttered sim
gle word during ai1the timed had been in
the barn. I was aware that whatever
might say weuld in all probability only do
more BARN than good, and it has always
been maxim Of mine to hold my tongue
when in doubt. At last the discussion
seemed to,be settled, for the blacklist and
dirtiesesof the whole came forw ard, and
without affy introduction exclaimed:
81 say, stranger, look here-you must
dep
I did not move a muscle, nor utter e
word.
"You have found out our secret, and dead
men tell no tales"
Twas still silent.
rive give you ten minutes to say your
prayers, and also allow you the privilege
of saying whether you will be hanged or
shot"
Suddenly an idea struck me. remem-
bered something that might-saye my life.
burst intoa vfeIenb fb Of laughter, IN fact
it was historical, but they did not know
that. They hooked from one TO the other
in the greatest anaZement-
''Well, he takes itmighty cool, anyhow"
said one.
81 suppose he>don't think'we are in ear
nest" said another.
Como, stranger,you had better say your
prayers said the man who had first
spoken; ''tine flies"
Ny only reply was 10 of laughter more
violent thaustheT first.
"Theman's mady' they exclaimed.
"Or drunk, "said.sone.
"Well, boys" cTRsd, speaking for the
first time, this is the best joke ever seed.
What, hang pal?"
"a pal-you a palP'
81 amt nothing else, "was my elegant
rejoinder.
Whats you name?"
''Did you ever hear of Ned yWillett"
asked
"You may be certain of that. Amt he
at the head Of our profcssion"
"Well, then, I'm Ned Willett."
"You Ned Willettg" they all exclaimed.
'You may bet your life on that" I re-
turned, staggering up to the erwhere
/ had seen the old woman counting and
packing the counterfeit half dollars.
Fortune favored me- None of the men
present had ever seen Ned Willett, al
though his reputation was well known to
them, and my staggering, insolent man
ner had somewhat thrown them OFT their
guard, yet could plainly see that all their
doubts were not removed.
"And you call these things well done, do
your" 1 asked, taking up a roll of the
money. 'fWell, all I can say is that if you
can't do better than this you had better
shut up shop, that's all.
Can you show us anything better"
asked one of the men.
AZ rather think can. If couldn't I'd
go and hang myself"
Let's see it," they all cried.
This was my last coup, and one on which
knew my life depended.
"Lookee here, gentlemen" L exclaimed,
taking one of the counterfeit half dollars
from my pocket which had been rejected
at the bank, there Is my last job; what do
you think of it"
1t was passed from hand to hand, some
saying it was no counterfeit at all, others
saying that it was.
How will you prove it is acounterfeitt"
asken one Of the men.
by weighing it with genuine one" l
replied
This plan was Immediately adopted and
its character proved.
Perhaps he got this by accident"
heard one of the men whisper to another.
''Try these" said 1, taking the other two
from my pocket.
An their doubts now vanished.
"Beauttfulp' exclaimed some. "Splen-
didP said others.
When they had examined it to their sat
isfaction they all of them cordially shook
me by tho hand, every particle OF doubt
having vanished from their minds. lear
ried out my part well Some questions
were occasionally asked me involving some
of the techntcalitfes Of the business these,
however, svoided by stating that I was
on a tourney of pleasure and would much
rather drink a glass Of whisky than an
swer questions. Thewhisky was produced
and we made night Of it, and it was not
until morning had dawned that we scpa-
rated.
The next day I returned to Chicago, and
brought down the necessary assistance,
and captured the whole gang of counter
feiters in the very act. The den was broken
up forever, and most of them were con-
demned to serve term Of years IN the
state prison.
have those courterfsit half dollars still
in my possession, and intend newer 70 part
with them, for they were certainly the
means of saving my Gfe.-A New York
Detective in Yankee Blade.
Spelling In aIassachusetts.
4 cobbler at the South End announces
Boots and shoes repzisd" Another leath.
er worker in the same eSrAboThood does