The Press., 1890-10-23

seems sharp enough to cut canvas quick ly. Here's strong and not very heavy blanket for you to muf6e the man with. Can we do it right off?'
 .sYes," Win replied.
 They emerged cautiously into the darkness, which had become as heavy as rain laden clouds could make it, and passed dozen tents and wagons in which no signs of wakefulness were given by the occupants. Suddenly Will, who was ahead, drew Deuce back behind wheel. He had heard the approach of footsteps, and there was barely time to ensconre themselves before Aleck Wiams passed by so closely that they could have touched him. Will left Deuce where she was and stole after the man until he en- tered his own tent. 1t was 8 small one, exclusive to Wiams' own use, and situ- ated near by the makeshift jail. A light soon glimmered within, and then the watcher saw him fasten the opening to- gether, inclosing himself with remark able care.
 Will dropped on his hands and knees, crept slowly to the back side of the tent and lay flat on the ground. The canvas
 
 look in. He crawled all the way around the tight structure without discovering lesion in the cloth. He heard Wiams astir within, and the position of the lighted lamp was changed several times. At length, despairing of less risky de- vice, Will took out his penknife and made / tiny slit. With one eye at the aperture he looked in.
 Aleck Wiams sat astride trunk, on which stood the lamp, while in his hands he held a package of treasury notes of the same fraudulent manufacture that had been taken from his two scapegoats. He was irresolutely lingering them, as though making up his mind with diff culty what to do with them. When a determination was reached he had to summon all his resolution to carry it out. He held handful of the notes over the glass funnel of the lamp, but before the heat ignited the paper he drew it away.
 Wiams was compelling himself to re- luctantly burn the remainder of his stock of spurious money for fear that it might be discovered. He had obtained it to mix with cash to pay to his employees. A little had been used in that way, and Detective Alloway had followed the trail by means of these cautious outputs. It seemed the part of common sense to make his safety sure by destroying all the evidence of guilt rather than keep 1t at his peril. Again he held the pack age over the lamp and charring corner broke into flame.
 ''Stop, you scoundrel!" Will Brown yelled impulsively.
 Wiams' action was equally inconsider- ate and instinctive. He dashed the lamp to the ground. But instead of putting out the light he created a vastly greater one. The glass broke with an explosion, and the oil was thrown over the mans clothes. The tent and it's occupant were instantly ablaze.
 A screech of fright and agony re- sounded through the camp. The tent famed high, and was gone like flash of fireworks, leaving Wiams burning like great torch. The oil had saturated his garments and he was enveloped in fire.
 The four temporary jailers ran hastily to the spot. Deuce Low was next. She saw the burning man, and believed that some mischance of the intended rescue had delivered her father from durance into this awful disaster. She had brought the blanket from where Will had dropped it on leaving her. She desperately wrapped the woolen cloth around the fiery object. Then other hands helped and the flames were smothered, but they saw that the man was dead, and Deuce as well as they recognized him as Aleck Wiams. Her father hugged her, for the abandonment of his jail had left him free to join the excited throng.
 ''Oh, dad!'' she cried, kissing him hys- terically, 'I thought twas you"
 "Well, you were saving your father just the same," exclaimed Will Brown, ''for you kept this evidence of his inno- cence from being burned" and he took from the scorched hand of the dead criminal the half burned bunch of coun- terfeit notes.
 There was no more imprisonment for Jack High and Old Jugg Brown. A few days later they were discussing the sim gularity of their escape and the com- mendable parts played in that event by their children.
 ''It occurs to me-" said Jack, without quite hiding his idea that such thing would be condescension, "that nothing would delight me more than to marry my girl to your boy"
 ''An' I've been thinking" responded Jugg, with still less concealment of his belief that the bestowal of honor would be his, "that I'd like to have my boy marry your gal.''
 'Of course my daughter would not go into an engagement without first getting my consent"
 without my knowin' of it beforehand"
 At that moment the youngsters joined them.
 Father" said Will Brown, ssthis young lady is Miss Laura Wallace, and she has consented to become my wife, and in telling you of it I am going to say something to you-straight and plain. You must sign total abstinence pledge and keep 1t or we will disown you. The escape you have had should be a life warning to never taste whisky again."
 Old Jugg Brown was silent and sol- emn moment before grasping his sons hand, and said: ''So help me God, l will never taste the stuff again. An ! wish you g-o-y."
 'sDad," said Miss Wallace, ..it is true that I have engaged myself to Will, and you are the only reason why shouldn't be his wife. But if you will swear to let that game of poker be your last hand of cards will name the wedding day and put you on probation"
 s'I solemnly swear that I will never gamble again." he slowly answered. "God bless you!" and he kissed scar which the fire had left on her hand.
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