Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-07-04

ai'y ~ 10 his boon companions.
pc I'm 70 make the girl his wife.
oatsnted herself with treating
l..on with indifference or passing on
many compliments N iaugning
Inner. xa,,+ cassa.
vigilance on the part OF the Gus
oa,cers for some time, and this
y .,.hat emboldened the smugglers.
: rery large consignment of goods
len arriving at the store for few
the customs officers had, how
simply changed their tactics. Dis
10 themselves, they mixed with
rnen,hers of SINNERS band, drank
"A 4 tbem went oil fishing excursions
II ,bem and endeayored by all secret
n worm their secret from them.
nart of SINNERS store was devoted
bar and it was here that all the
~ characters in the neighborhood
.re wort to oongregate.
The chief of the customs officers
man named O'Brien. q wide
III keen witted young fellow. He
had fallen victim to the charms
Mary. but his advances met with no
,tar sneoess than did those of jackson.
Ia constant visitor at Skinner 8
"a II happened that he was there on
certain night, but thoroughly dis
;ssd While conversing with some of
companions he thought he saw a
inner of light coming through the
y Al his feet, and at the same time
imagined he heard the murmur Of
IN. one Of which he thought he rec
pizea as that Of Mary. On the alert
moment. he stopped down as il to
INST his shoestring, when his SUPPOSE
Al we're conhrmed--a faint light was
sibIe through the crack, and the hum
voices was distinctly heard.
"Keeping his own counsel, he soon
ter left the place, reckoning to a
lstv companion to follow him. When
81 were out Of earshot. he told him
his discovery, which was more as
pnding from the fact that it had al
,ys been supposed that Skinner S
sase had neither cellar nor basement.
stermined to profit by the discovery,
fBrien and misconceptions waited for
1ater hour before proceeding any fur
er. Then, still further Disgusting them
Ives. they proceeded to reconnoiter
inner S place. Not a light was to be
a. from any Of the windows, nor was
ere a sign of any human being stir
BE-. Cautiously approaching the door,
Brion tried tho latch, but it was
cked. and it resisted all his efforts to
rec it. Meanwhile his companion
ID gone to the rear of the house, trying
. windows and doors in succession,
II without success until he came to
last window, which gave way after
Vigorous push, making a slight noise.
ouching down in darkness, he listened
any movement from within; but,
airing none, he returned to O'Brien
d told him of his success. The two,
til dark lanterns, enttIcd the room
d cautiously looked around. 1t was
room adjoining the bar, the door of
Iich was open The two men peered
but all was still. They then in 81
bee made tour of the house, but
bud it utterly deserted.
Returning to the bar, they began ex-
pnmg the floor carefully ON the spot
inted out by O'Brien as the place
here he had seen the light. There was
sign Of trapdoor there, but the
ards, on being tapped lightly, gave
hollow sound, proving that there
Is achamber of some sort underneath
bey next went behind the bar and
hde a minute search At the back of
bar was sort of sideboard, upon
lichthe bottles of liquor were set out
lere was u cupboard underneath, and
was in this cupboard that O'Brien
nnd what he was looking for
= There were several panels set in the
I'll at the back, studded with brass
ls IN examining these nails the
arp eyes Of the officer detected two
p appeared to be larger than the 9th
Pressing one of these caused the
pei 70 swing inwardly, but the space
not large enough to admit mans
" o Brien pressed the other one,
pen second panel opened, the two
esiher forming narrow passage
rastlfg i lantern into the aperture,
disco fared a narrow flight of steps
eGonlhs his companion to follow, he
seended the steps. Arriving at the
5tom, the two found themselves in a
pay chamber, the sides Of which were
rough earth and the ceiling the floor
Of the barroom. The chamber had
identity been made within the last few
afs' as there were several roots Of
Is sun protruding from the sides.
an article of any description was to
seen' nor were there any signs of hu.
an beings.
y biien aud his companion careful
Inspected the room, feeling along the
IL IGN any means Of exit, but the
" were solid, and they were about
lus UP when so lething in one of
corners attracted their attention.
lSins their lights to bear on this
lealar corner, they discovered
oHt 50 carefully was il disguised
Z III sht easily have been passed
X 2 aarsory examination. This
Fa' lal ocked. When it was open
\, ina strong current of air.
a. through this door, the two