The Van Buren press., 1895-10-05

helt p4th0ttcellys sdow would youl
little girl like you to be taken away Il
she was Ill and wanted you to stoI
with her dreadlully bad9''
An Involuntary smils gathered fol
Iopc brief instant on the stern coun
tenauce Of Bond.
s'It's true. worse luck,1 Whispered
the coiner, stepping near his -captor.
Poor little beggar, she II mighty bad,
and the doctor says the next few houri
mean life or death. =More'n anything,
she's got to be kept particular quiet
SO lct's.plear Qytsuud lenye 'em; and
please God, III see her again yet. Yes
my prince Of traps, you can see what
makes me such miserable coward,
eh2'
/ As II ashamed of the tremor in his
speech, the coiner turned, and. taking
down his hatScrushed 1t upon his head
and approached the door with d rigid
countenance and twitching lips Ap.
parently, he dared not trust himself to
take even farewell look at his child.
Hut, as Arnold Bond moved toward
the door also, his glance fell for an in-
stant upon the thin, white face Of little
jess, who had already fallen back ex-
haustcd.
She WAS gazing steadily at her fA-
Ither who, however, kept his face care
fully averted. The pitiful, pleading
expression in the sick child's eye struck
the detective to the heart, for 1t was
look which expressed more eloquent
liy than any words the bitter disap-
pointment she felt at seeing one she
evidently 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. featdres softened
suddenly, and he said in half jocular
tone, to hide the emotion he could not
entirely conceal:
Stay, VauRhani cannot do it after
lall.% can't take such a cruel advan-
tags ofSeven you at time like thisi
That's all, and good night"
.Bondl Bond!" cried the king Of the
.coiners, sprinYing forwsrd as he re-
covered from his momentary stupefac-
tion; Heaven prosper you for this!
lad as am hope I'll be able to give
you your reward for this il it's years
to comet
A moment later the detective had
gone. He had sacrificed an opportu-
ne.y of adding enormously to his repu-
tation.
1t was year later before the author
tiles succeeded in discovering The .sfac-
tory" where Vaughan and his confed-
crates turned out the cleverly made
counterfeit coins which had 80 long
been passed with impunity In most
quarters Of the metropolis
But after infinite trouble Bond found
out all he wanted to know and one
night hesurroundsd with his men the
counterfeiter's den.
bond had got within . few feet OF
the door and was already thinking how
neatly he had managed every thing,
/ when suddenly and without the slight
est warning the whole hoof seemed to
Geve in beneath his feet, and as he
Threw out his arms with q 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, amid . storm Of oaths and
threatEs bound him hand and foot. de-
spite his strenuous struggles
You foolsl" cried Bond, exasperated
beyond measure, "let me tell you the
game is up! Ny men surround the
place, and the little joke win only
make matters q great deal worse for
you. You'd better fe rrv
"JokeF repeated one Of the coiners,
with a. terce laugh. swell, we'll see.
What say you, boys? What says our
oath?"
Death to the trap who bowls vi
todt!' answered burly, villainous
looking fellow. Surrounded we may
be, hut what of that7 Haven't we
means for getting away through the
burrow at the first alarm2"
AYE. but not II We stand chucking
precious minutes away In empty talk, .
interrupted another Of the gang.
s'Quick, pals' Here is 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
rat If he doesn't soon give 'em the
cue." ist
Without another word one Of the
coiners stepped up to the prostrat te
officer and, with a savage exclamation,
slipped the moose of q rope over Bonds
head and drew 1t uncomfortably tight
round 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 to the
full extent the really serious nature OF
his position; and, half dazed by 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. ii'e t'A z
leave him to me, lads, and get you
along while you may. There's not a
jiffy to lose. Hark! hear the traps
They're breaking in already" sssi
"We don't 20 until we've choked the
life out Of the rat who's put 'em on
our trail Run him up sharp and have
him pleasant surprise to his friends,
replied one Of the rufAans. ~
With these words the unfortunate
officer was jerked of his feet. but al
the same moment Vaughan snatched
up a formidable knife and at single
stroke severed the rope above his head.
"Fm with you, MIR. Bond" ejacu.
lated Vaughan, with grim determine.
tion stamped upon his white face.
AHA! see how my mutinous crew sink
back from your bulldog! And, by all