The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-02-19

| had surrounded with his men the de
tached suburban villa Of such IRE.
proachable appearance; and had him.
self succeeded IN getting into the house
with skill that would have made a
practiced burglar look on with envious
! astonishment.
The clever detective was very desir
Gus, if possible, of capturing the whole
gang of coiners at one raid, and tnat
ttoo, before they could do away with
the slightest trace of their occupation.
4 laudable endeayor, but twas a wish
which was to bring him near 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 clinking noise
now and then, and at frequent intervals
the sound of mems voices foated up
to his ears, accompanied by mutlied
laughter.
Having satisfied himself, as far a.
he dared, on several important points,
he finally began to creep with all care
along the passage toward 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
wave in beneath his feet; and as the trap
he had unconsciously sprung turned
completely over and threw him into a
large, well-lighted cellar below. Before
he could rise, some seven or eight men
had seized him and, amidst q storm of
oaths and threats, bound him hand and
foot, despite his strenuous struggles.
"You foolsH cried Bond ,exasperated
beyond measure. "Let me tell you the
game is upl My men surround the
place, and this little joke will only
make matters a good deal worse for
you. You'd better"
"Jokew repeated one Of the cciners,
with fierce laugh. swell, We'll see.
What say you, boys? What says our
oath?"
"Death to the trap who bowls us
outw 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?"
"Aye; but if we stand chucking
precious minutes away in empty talk"
interrupted another of the gang.
pals! Here's an end to our
snug little business, and so,let's make
an end of this interfering sneak before
we cut. The traps outside may smell
a rat if he doesn't soon give 'em the
cue"
Without another wo1d one Of the
eoiners stepped up to the prostrate Of
fcer, and with "a savage exclamation
slipped the moose OF a rope over Bonds
head, and drew it uneomfortably tight
,,a-.AL L--.l.-A----II1eAa ae- .ha-aaa-
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 to the
full extent the really serious nature OF
his position; and half dazed by the ca
lamity which had so suddenly befallen
him, was giving up all hope, when, for
the first time, the leader of the gang
none other than Michael Vaughan him.
self-spoke.
"Leave him to me, lads, and get YOU
all gone while you may. All, there's
not a iifTy to lose. Hark! Hear the
traps! They're breaking in already.
Off with you all!'
"Let the dogs bark!7 hissed one oi
the rut1ians, with curse. "We don't
60 until we've choked the life out OF
the rat who's put 'em on our trail. Run
him up sharp, and leave him for
pleasant surprise to his friends"
With these words the unfortunate
officer was jerked off his feet, but at
the same moment Vaughan snatched
up a formidable knife, and at a single
stroke severed the rope above his head.
Yet another stroke or two, and before
the astonished gang of desperadoes
could recover themselves, the detective
had regained his liberty.
"rm with you, Mr.. Bond" calculated
Vaughan, with grim determination
stamped upon his white face. "Aha!
see how my Inutinous crew shrink back
from your bulldog! And by all that's
lucky for US both, here come your men.
Another minutes delay, and I reckon
it would have gone bit hard for US
both"
Almost before he had finished speak
ing the long, cellar-like room became
for short space scene of desperate
the walls echoing a chorus
of savage cries and shouts.
Of all the members of the gang, theil
leader alone offered no resistance, but
lapsed into moody silence.
Only when the opportunity Offered
did he whisper in the detectives
ear
"You see, I haven't forgotten what
I once promised, sir, although You only
had a smasher's word for it. Perhaps
you didn't know it, but reckon you
had the life of my little Jess in your
hands thatnight year ago; and maybe
you'll agree now that I've paid a fair
price for it. As for me-but, there,
we're Oh even terms once more."-
Yankee Blade.