The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-06-05
night and asked for lodgings the last time I
saw him he was safe in bed" said the land

night and asked for lodgings; the last time
saw him he was safe in bed" said the land
lord.
The men withdrew to corner Of the apart
ment, leaving one to keep guard over me
| soon saw that they were in earnest consul
tation and they were evidently debating some
important question. The man keeping guard
over me said nothing, but scowled fercely.
had not uttered a single word during all the
time had been in the barn. was aware
that whatever might say would in all pro-
liability only do more harm than good, and
it has always been maxim of mine to hold
my tongue when in doubt. At last the discus
sion seemed to be settled, for the blacklist and
dirtiest of the whole came forward, and with
out any introduction exclaimed:
81 say, stranger, look here-you must
die"
| did not move muscle nor utter word.
"You have found out our secret and dead
men tell no tales"
was still silent.
ave give you ten minutes to say your
prayers, and will allow you the privilege of
saying whether you will be hanged or shot"
Suddenly an idea struck me. remembered
something that might save my life. burst
into violent fit of laughter in fact it was
hysterical, but they did not know that. They
looked from one to the other in the greatest
amazement.
"Well, he takes it mighty cool, anyhow"
said one
~ suppose he don't think we are in ear
nest" said another.
"Come, stranger, you had better say your
prayers" said the man who had first spoken.
"Time flies"
My Only reply was fit of laughter more
violent than the last
"That mans mad |" they exclaimed.
Cor drunk" said some.
"Well, boys" cried, speaking for the first
time, this is the best joke ever seed. What,
hang pal2"
ga pal-you pal?"
81 amt nothing else" was my elegant re-
joinder.
what is your nameP''
"Did you ever hear of Ned Willett ask
"You may be certain of that. Amt he at
the head of our profession
"Well, then, I'm Ned Willett."
'You Ned Willett ?" they all exclaimed.
"You may bet your life on that" return
ed, staggering up to the corner where had
seen the old woman counting and packing tie
counterfeit half dollars.
Fortune favored me. None of the men pre-
sent had ever seen Ned Willett, although his
reputation was well known to them, and my
staggering, inselent manner had somewhat
thrown them off their guard, yet could
plainly see that all their doubts were not re-
moved.
"Aud you call these things we'll done, do
you ?" asked taking up roll of the money.
well, all 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.
81 rayther think can. If couldn't I'd 60
and hang myself"
Lets see it," they all cried.
This was my last coup, and one on which
1 knew my life depended.
"Lookee here, gentlemen" exclaimed, tax
ing one of the counterfeit half-dolars from
my pocket which had been rejected at the
bank, there's my last job; what do you think
ofitT'
1t was passed from hand to hand, some say
ing it was no counterfeit at all, others saying
that it was.
"How will you prove it is counterfeit"
asked one of the men.
"By weighing it with genuine one" re.
piled.
This plan was Immediately adopted and its
character proved.
perhaps he got this one by accident"
heard one of the men whisper to another.
Try these" said l, taking the other two
from my pocket.
All their doubts now vanished.
Beautiful" exclaimed some. Splendid"
said others.
When they had examined it to their salts
faction they all of them cordially shook me
by the hand, every particle of doubt having
vanished from their minds.
I carried out my part well. Some ques-
tions were occasionally asked me, involving
some of the technicalities of the business
these, however, avoided by stating that l
was on journey for pleasure, and would
much rather drink glass of whisky than an
swer questions. The whisky was produced,
and we made night of it, and it was not I'M
til morning had dawned that we separated.
The next day 1 returned to Chicago and
brought down the necessary assistance and
captured the whole gang of counterfeiters in
the very act. The den was broken up for
ever, and the most of them were condemned
to serve term of years in the State prison.
have those counterfeit half-dolars still in
my possession, and intend never to part with
them, for they were certainly the means OF
saving nv life-Ydnkee Blade.