The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-03-06

appointment she felt at seeing one she
evidently dearly loved about to be TAX
en- from her this night OF all nights.
The detective paused abruptly, hesi-
tated moment, and then the resolute
expression on his features softened sud
denly, and he said, in half jocular
tone, to hide the emotion he could not
entirely conceal:
''Stay, Vaughan; 1 can't do it after
all / can't take such cruel advant-
age of even you at time like this.
That's all, and good night"
Bond, Bond,n cried the king of the
coiners, springing forward as he recov-
ered. from his momentary stupeficatiOn,
"Heaven prosper you for this. Bad as
/ am, | hope I'll be able to give you
your reward for this, if its years To
! come.r
A moment later the detective had
gone. He had sacrificed an opportu-
nifty of adding enormously To his rep
utation.
1t was a wear later before the author
! ities succeeded in discovering the fac
tory where Vaughan and his confed-
crates turned out the cleyerly made
counterfeit coins which had 50 long
been passed with impuniiy in most
quarters of the METROPOLIS
But after intimate trouble, Bond
| found out all he wanted to know, ANA
one night he surrounded with his men
the counterfeit's den.
Bond 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 a. he
threw out his arms with a startled cry,
the trap he had unconsciously sprung
turned completely over and threw him
into large well-lighted cellar below.
Before he could rise some seven or
| eight men had seized him, and amidst
a storm of oaths and threats, bound
him hand and foot, despite his strenu-
ouS struggles.
''You foolsr' cried Bond, eXaspera-
ted beyond measure, LET me tell you
the game is up. My men surround this
place, and this little joke will only
make matters a great deal worse for
YOU. You'd better"
Joke repeated one of the coiners,
with fierce laugh. "Well we'll see.
What say you, boys? What says your
oath?'
Death TO the trap who bowls us
out?'' answered a burly, villainous
| looking fellow. Surrounded we may
be. but what of that? Haven't we
means for getting away through the
burrow at the first alarm?'
ave, but not if we stand chuckling
precious minutes away in empty talk,
interrupted another of the gang.
"Quick, pal. Here's an end to our snug
! little business, and so lets make an end
of this interfering sneak before we cut.
The traps outside may smell a rat if be
| doesn't soon give 'em the cue"
Without another word one of the
coiners stepped up to the PROSTATE Of
ficer and. with a savage exclamation
slipped the moose of rope over Bonds
head and drew it uncomfortably tight
around his neck. Another of the des-
perate crew at once threw the other
end of the rope over one of the beams
which supported the flooring above.
The detective now recognized 10 the
full extent the really serious nature of
his position; and, half dazed 10y the
terrible calamity which had so sudden
ly befallen him, WAS giving up all hope |
of escape, when, for the first time, the |
leader of the gang-Michael Vaughan
himself spoke.
Leave him TO me, lads, and get you
along while you may. There's not
jify to lose. Hark! hear the traps!
They're breaking in already"
1--WE don't 90 until we've choked the
life out of the rat. Who's put 'em on
our trail? Run hipl up sharp and have
him pleasant surprise 10 his friends,
replied enc OF the ruiiians.
With these words the unfortunate Of
ii Ger was jerfled or his feet, but at that
moment Vaughan snalched up for
midable knife and at single stroke
severed the rope above his head.
"I'm with you, Mr.. Bond" ejacula-
ted Vaughan, with grim determination
stamped upon his white face. "Aha!
see how my mutinous crew sink back
from your bull dog! And by all that's
lucky for us both, here come your men.
Another minutes delay and | reckon
it would have gone bit hard for us
BOTH
Almost before he had finished speak
ing the long cellar-like room became
for a short space "A scene of desperate
the walls echoing chorus
Of savage cries and shouts.
OF all the members OF the gang their
leader alone offered no resistance, but
lapsed into moody silence.
Only when the opportunity offered
did he whisper in the detectives ear
''GoU see, haven't forgotten what |
once promised, sir, although you only
have smaSher's word for il. Perhaps
yOu didn't know it, bat / reckon yop
had the life of my little jess in your
hands that night a year ago, and may
be you'll agree now that Pve paid a
price for il. A. for me-but there,
we're on even terms once more.
Ara Yar Ever Sonova5 i