Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-01-03

1 llNc oiIlti CItBlNS
Poor little beggar, she's mighty bad,
and the doctor says the next few
hours mean life or death. More'n any,
thing, she's got to be kept particular
quiet, so let's clear out and leave EN-
and, please God, I'll e her again yet
Yes, my prince Of traps, you can see
what makes M such a miserable cow
ard, eh?"
As IL ashamed of the tremor In his
speech, the coiner turned, I'M taking
down his hat, crushed it upon HE head,
and approached the door with a rigid
countenance and twitching lips. APP
parently, 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.
She was gazing steadily at her faith
or, who, however, kept his face careful
" averted. The pitiful, pleading ex-
preston IL the sick chiid's eyes struck
the detective to the heart; for it was a
look which expressed more eloquently
than any words the bitter disappoint-
ment she felt at seeing n she evident
ly dearly loved about to be taken from
her this night Of all nights.
The detective paused abruptly, hesi-
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 no
entirely conceal:
"Stay, Vaughan, I can't do 1t, after
all noxff toGA S,,nh n rtYYol 0Hvan-
tage Of even you ut a time like this!
That's all, and goodnight"
Bond, Bond" cried the king( Of
c~oiners, springing forward as he recov-
cred from his momentary stupefaction,
Heaven prosper you for this! Bad
as I am, l hope I'll be able to give
you your reward for this, II 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.
It was a year later before the author
tiles succeeded in discovering the fac
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 In most quarters OF the metrop-
oils.
Arnold Bond had never seen the king
Of cOiners since that night when the
mere look Of a sick child Rad been suf-
fcient 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 had
# und ont all he had long been wanting
to know; and this might, or rather in
the early morning hours, he had sur
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 astonjsh-
ment.
The clever detective was very desir-
Gus, IL 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 endeayor, but II was a 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, ne 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 vas exceptionally well
bolted and barred.
He had got within a 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 rs
he threw out his arms with a startled
cry, the trap he had unconsciously
sprung turned completely e angi
threw him into a large, well lighted
CelIdT DelOW. before ne COulu rise,
some seven or eight men seized him and
amidst a 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 a fierce laugh. "Well, well see.
What say you, boys? What says our
oathf'
Death to the trap who bowls us
out!' answered a burly, villainouslotk
ing fellow. Surrounded we may be,
but what Of thatl Haven't we means
for getting away through the burrow
at the first alarm"
aye; but not IL 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 let's make
an end to this interfering sneak be.
fore we cut. The traps outside may
smell a rat IL he doesn't o o give EN-
the cue"
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