The Forrest City times., 1895-09-13

kept perfectly quiet"
 "Ah, Jess, poor mite" said the coiner No wonder l forgot every thing, when Bond himself jumped up before me like magic. We'll, I'm fairly naboed; but if it wasn't for her." he added, with bitter emphasis, point ing to bed in corner of the room, you'd never take me in this squeamish fashion"
 The bed was occupied by little girl of about six years of age, who, it needed no second glance to perceive. was very near to death indeed. She was wide awake, staring in mute terror from the detective to her father and back again. Nor did the white face of the coiner's wife, who stood trembling by the bed side, express much less alarm than the childs
 Let's clear out before you frighten my young 'un to death," said the coiner, in a quieter voice. Never mind, Jess," he went on, turning to the child and speaking in such a tender and soothing tone that Bond stared with astonishment. Perhaps soon 1 shall come back, and then you'll be better, and we will" Vaughans voice faltered. and he paused.
 "Ah, take him away sir. but don't hurry him over what he very well knows must be the last good-by he'll ever pay to his child! What hope there may have been you'll take with you, but to take it at this moment" The wretched mother, unable to ar ticulate another word, sank into chair, hid her face in her hands and gave way to a sudden outburst of grief
 'Is the gentleman going to take you away, then, daddy?" the child said, feebly. "0h, don't go I do so want you to-nightw Then looking at the detective with great, earnest eyes, lit tie Jess continued, half indignantly, half pathetically: How would your little girl like you to be taken away if she was i'll and wanted you to stop with her dreadfully bad?"
 An involuntary smile gathered for one brief instant on the stern coun- tenance of Bond.
 Its true, worse luck" whispered the coiner, stepping near his captor. ''Poor little beggar, she is mighty bad. and the doctor says the next few hours mean life or death. More'n anything, she's got to be kept particular quiet, so let's clear out and leave 'em; and. please God, I'll see her again yet. Yes, my prince of traps, you can see what makes me such a miserable coward, eh?"
 As if ashamed of the tremor in his | speech, the coiner turned. and. taking down his hat, crushed it upon his head | and approached the door with rigid countenance and twitching lips. Ap- | parently, he dared not trust himself to take even a farewell look at his child. But, 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- hausted
 She was gazing steadily at her fa- l ther, who, however, kept his face care fully averted. The pitiful, pleading expression in the sick childs eye struck the detective to the heart, for 1t was look which expressed more eloquent ly 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 moment, and then the resolute expression on his features softened suddenly, and he said in half jocular tone, to hide the emotion he could not entirely conceal:
 
 all. l can't take such cruel advan- tage of even you at a time like this! That's all, and good night" Bond! Bond!" cried the king of the coiners, springing forward as he re- covered from his momentary stupefac- tion: Heaven prosper you for this! Bad as am hope I'll be able to give you your reward for this if it's years to come!"
 moment later the detective had gone. He had sacrificed an opportu- nity of adding enormously to his repu- tation.
 It was year later before the author ities succeeded in discovering the fac tory where Vaughan and his confed- crates turned out the cleverly made counterfeit coins which had so 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 he surrounded with his men the counterfeiters 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 floor seemed to