The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1895-01-12

NS'b's ~ ~
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
" avcrted. The pitiful, pleading ex-
preston in the sick child's eyes struck
the detective TO the heart; for it was a
look which expressed more e~loquently
than any words the bitter disappoint-
ment she felt at seeing n she evident
~ dearly loved about to be taken from
her this night Of all nights.
The detective paused abruptly, hest
tated 4 moment, and then the resolute
expression on his features softened
suddenly, and he said, in a half-jocular
tone, to hide the emotion he could not
entirely conceal:
"Stay, Vaughan, I can't do it, after
all. I can't take such a cruel advan-
tage Of even you at a time like this!
That's all, and goodnight"
Bond, Rond,' cried the king( of
c~oiners, springing forward as he recov-
cred from his momentary stupefaction,
Heaven prosper you for this! Bad
as / am, I hope I'll be able to give
you your reward for this, If it's years
to come"
A moment later the detective had
gone. He had sacrificed an opportuni-
ty of adding enormously to his reputa-
ton.
4 * " II
1t was a 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
punfty in most quarters Of the metrop-
oils.
Arnold Bond had never seen the king
OF coiners since that night when the
mere look of a sick child had been suf-
fcient to make him turn from the stern
path Of duty-an advantage which the
coiner. naturally, had been quick to
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 were passed showed
more and more that the police had no
ordinary criminal to deal with.
But after infinite trouble, Bond had
ftrnd out all he had long been wanting
to know; and this might, or rather in
the early morning hours, he had sur
rounded with his men the detached SUI
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 cnvious astonIsh-
ment.
The clever detective was very desir.
GUS, if 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 endeavor, but it 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 clinking noise
every now and then, and at frequent in
teryals the sound Of mems voices float
ed 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 a few feet of the
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
ha threw out his arms with u startled
cry, the trap he had unconsciously
sprung turned completely owe and
threw him into a large, we'll lighted
cellar below. Before he could rise
some seven or eight men seized him and
amidst a storm of Oaths and threats
bound him hand and foot, despite his
strenuous struggles.
"You fools!" cried Bond, exasperatei
beyond measure. Let me tell you the
game is up! My men surround the
place, and this little joke will only
make matters a good deal worse fol
you. You'd better"
Joker repeated one Of the coiners
with a fierce laugh. well, we'll see
What say you, boys? What says oul
oath:"
death to the trap who bowls III
outw answered u burly, villainous-loc.k
but what of that? Haven't we means
xOI &CItllS AWAY AiOU6h AAC DNLAo"
at the first alarm"
"Aye; but not IL we stand chuckinf
precious minutes away in empty talk
interrupted 4 another Of the gang
"Quick, pals! Here's al end to oul
snug little business, and SO .et's make
an end to this interfering sneak be
fore we cut. The traps outside may
smell a rat if he doesn't loon give ZEN
the cue." ~
Without another word one of the coin
ers stepped up TO the PROSTATE officer
and with a savage exclamation Slipped
the moose of a rope over Bonds head
and drew it uncomfortably tight round
his neck. Another OF the desperate
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 ter
rible calamity which had so suddenl.
befallen him, was giving up all hope
when, for the first time, the leader
Of the gaEg-none other than Michae'
Vaughan himsclf-sp0ke.
Leave him to me-, lads, and get yoI
Ill gone while you may. All, there
not O jiffy to lose. Hark! Hear Tho
traps! They're breaking in already
on with you all".
"Let the dogs BARK Kissed one Of
the rufians. with a curse. "We dom
20 until we have choked the life out Of
the rat who's put 'em on U trail. Run
4 . 80 & % . E.L u n $3.50 IS &@z=&