Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-03-09

the coinOr, stepping near his eaptor.
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 'em;
and, please God. I'll see her again yet.
Yes, my prince of traps, you can see
what makes me such a miserable cow
ard, eh?"
AS il ashamed Of the tremor in his
speech. the coiner turned, and taking
down his hat, crushed it upon his head,
and approached the door with rigid
countenance and twitching lips. APP
parently, he dared not trust himself to
take even q 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
er, who, however, kept his face careful
ly averted. The pitful, pleading ex-
preston In the sick chiId's eyes struck
the detective to the heart; for II was a
look which expressed more eloquently
than any words the bitter disappOlnt-
AANaN sAAI ANAl W HSEtLh ODC hAlt EfiNCAAt-
~ dearly loved about TO be taken from
her this night OF all nights.
The detective paused abruptly. hest
tated moment and then the resOlute
expression on his features softened
suddenly, and he said, In a half ocular
tone, TO hide the emotion he could not
entirely conceal:
Stay, Vaughan, l can't do 1t, after
all. can't take such cruel advan-
tage of even you at a time like this!
That's all, and goodnight"
Bond, Bond" cried the king( Of
colners, springing forward as he recoy-
cred from his momentary stupefaction,
Heaven prosper you for this! Bad
as am. hope III 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-
~ of adding enormously to his reputa-
ton.
1t was 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 sick child had been sui
ficient to make him turn from the stern
path Of duty-an advantage which the
coiner, naturally. had been quick 10
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 We're passed showed
more and more that the police had no
ordinary criminal to deal with.
But after infinite trouble, Bond hal
found ont all he had ,ong been wanting
to know; and this might. or rather in
the early morning hours, he had sur.
rounded with his men the detached su-
burban villa Of such Irreproachable ap-
pearance; and had himself succeeded
In getting into the house with q skill
that would have made a practised bur.
glar look on with envious astonIsh.
ment.
The clever detective was very deslr.
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, he could hear a clinklng noise
every now and then. and at frequent in
tervals the sound Of mems voices float
cd 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 uneonsciOusly /
sprung turned completely over ana |
threw him into a large, well lighted |
cellar below. Before he could rise,
some seven or eight men seized him and |
amidst n storm of oaths and threats.
bound him hand and foot, despite his |
strenuous struggles.
You fools!" cried Bond, ex1speratpd |
beyond measure. Let me tell you the I
game is up! My men surround the I
place, and this little joke will only
make matters a good deal worse for /
you. You'd better"
Joke" repeated one Of the colncrs,
with a fierce laugh. We'll, we'll see. |
What say you, boys? What says our |
oath!'
Death to the trap who bowls us
out!' answered burly, villainous.Io6k. |
ing fellow Surrounded we may be. /
but what Of that? Haven't we means I
for getting away through the burrow. !
at the first alarm"
Aye; but not If we stand clucking 4
precious minutes away in empty talk" 1
interrupted another Of the gang. |
Quick, pals! Here's an end to our .
snug little business, and so cts make |
an end to this interfering sneak be-
fore we cut. The traps outside NAV
smell rat IL he doesn't soon give 'em
the cue"
Without another word one Of the coin.
ers stepped up to the PROSTATE officer.