Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-12-27
one brief instant on the ster,. counter.

ITS true, worse LUCK" whispered
the ,spiner. stepping near his captor
'PoO/ little beggar, she's mighty bad,
and 1.-THE doctor says the next few
hours mean life or. death. More'n any
thing. she's got to he kept particular
quiet SO let's clear out and leave 'em;
and. Ipr;lsc God, Ill see her again yet
Yes, T!-h3rince Of traps, you can see
what m.Ecs me such Il miserable cow
ard. chg
As If ashamed of the trelnor in his
speech, the coiner turned, and taking
down his hat, crushed it upon his head,
and approached the door with rigid
countcnance and twitching lips. APP
parcntly, he dared not trust himself to
take even a farewell look at his child.
But as Arnold Bond moved towards
the door also, his glance fell for an
instant upon the thin. white face Of lit
tie jess, who had already fallen back
exhausted
Sh" was gazing steadily at her faith
er, who. however, kept his face careful
ly avcrtcd. The pitiful, pleading eX-
preston in the sick child's eyes struck
the detective to the heart; for it was
look which expressed more eloquently
than any words the bitter disappoint-
mcnt she felt at seeing one she evident
~ dearly loved about to be taken from
her this night of all nights.
The detective paused abruptly, hest
tated a moment. and then the resolute
expression on his features sOftened
suddenly. and he said, in a half-jocular
tone, to hide the emotion he could not
entirely conceal:
"Stay, Vaughan, I can't do it, after
all. ! can't take such cruel advan-
tage of even you ut a time like this!
That's all, and goodnight"
Bond, Bond" cried the king( Of
coiners, springing forward rs he recov-
cred from his momentary stupefaction,
Heaven prosper you for this! Bad
as I am, I hope I'll be able to give
you your reward for this, if it's years
to come"
A moment later the detective had
gone. He had sacrificed an opportuni-
ty of adding enormously to his reputa-
ton.
=
1t was year later before the author
tiles succeeded in discovering the SAC
tory" where Vaughan and his confed-
crates turned out the cleverly made
counterfeit coins which had, for so
long, been passed with apparent i'm
punity i'll most quarters of the metrop-
| oils.
Arnold Bond had never seen the king
| of coiners since that night when the
mere look of sick child had been suf-
ficient to make him turn from the stern
path Of duty-an advantage which the
coiner, naturally, had been quick to
| avail himself of.
The very perfection of the false coins
told that Vaughan had not forsaken
his dangerous calling; and the manner,
| too, in which they were passed showed
more and more that the police had no
ordinary criminal to deal with.
But after infinite trouble, Bond lad
found out all he had long been wanting
to know; and this might, or rather in
the early morning hours, he had SUI
rounded with his men the detached SUI
burban villa Of such irreproachable ap-
pearance; and had himself succeeded
| in getting into the house with a skill
| that would have made a practised bur-
| glar look on with envious astonisil-
ment.
The clever detective was very desir-
Gus, if possible, of capturing the whole
gang of coiners at one raid, and that,
too, before they could do away with
| the slightest trace Of their occupation
| A laudable endeavor, but it was wish
| which was to bring him nearer to
| death than he had ever been before
Bond seemed to have the house to
himself. Down in the basement, how
ever, he could hear a clinking noise
every now and then. and at frequent in
| tervals the sound Of mems voices float
ed up to his ears, accompanied by muf-
fed laughter.
Having satisfied himself, as far as he
dared, on several points, he finally
began to creep with all care along the
passage towards the front door, which
he could see was exceptionally well
bolted and barred.
He had got within few feet Of the
door, and was already thinking how
neatly he had managed everything,
when suddenly, and without the slight
est warning, the whole floor seemed
to cave in beneath his feet; and as
he threw out his arms with startled
cry, the trap he had unconsciously
sprung turned completely over ANIL
threw him into q large, well lighted
cellar below. BEFORE ne cOuiu rise,
some seven or eight men seized him and
| amidst q storm of oaths and threats,
bound him hand and foot, despite his
strenuous struggles.
"You fools!" cried Bond, exasperated
beyond measure. Let me tell you the
game is up! My men surround the
place, and this little joke will only
make matters a good deal worse for
| YOU. You'd better"
"Joke!" repeated one of the coiners,
| with u fierce laugh. well, we'll see.
What say you, boys? What says our
oath:''
Death to the trap who bowls us
out! III swered burly, villainous-loe'k-
ing fellow. surrounded we may be,
but what of that? Haven't we means
for getting away through the burrow,
at the first alarm?"
AYE; but not if we stand chucking
precious minutes away in empty talk
interrupted another of the gang.
"Quick, pals. Here's an end to our
snug little business, and SO -ets make
an end to this interfering sneak be-
tSil