Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1895-02-02

| ed, with bitter emphasis, pointing
to a bed in the corner of the room,
3you'd never take me in this squea-
mish fashion,
The bed was occupied by q little
girl of about six years of age, who,
it needed no second glance to per-
ceive, was very near to death indeed.
She was wide awake, staring 10 mute
terror from the detective to her faith
er and then back again. Nor did
the white face of the coiner who
stood trembling by the bedside, ex-
press much less alarm than the
child's.
Let's clear out before you fright
en- my young one to death, said the
coiner, IN much quietef voice. New
er mind, JESS" he went on, turning
to the child and speaking in such a
tender and soothing tone that Bond
stared with establishment. "Perhaps
/ shall soon come back, then you'll
be better, and will
Vaughan's voice faltered, and be
paused.
G All, take him away sir, but don't
hurry him over what he very we'll
knows must be the last goodby he'll
| ever say to his child. What hope
there may have been you II take with
you, but to take it at this moment
10y
| The wretched mother, unable to
articulate another word, sank into a
chair, hid her face in her hands, and
gave way to a sudden outburst OF
grief.
els the gentleman going to take
you away then, daddy 7" the child
asked feebly. Oh, don't go! do
so want you tonight"
Then looking at the detective with
great, earnest eyes, little Jess con-
tinued, half indignantly, half pathet-
ically: GLOW would your little girl
like you to be taken away if she was
sick and wanted you to stop with her
| dreadfuliy bad ?"
An involuntary smile gathered for
one brief instant on the stern coun-
tenance of Bond.
It's true, worse luck" whispered
the coiner, stepping near his captor.
"Poor little beggar, she's mighty bad
and the doctor says the next few
hours means life or death. More'n
anything she's got to be kept par
ticularly quiet, so let's clear out and
leave them, and please God, I'll see
her again yet. Yes, my prince OF
traps, you can see what makes NE
1
such a miserable coward, eh 7"
AS If ashamed of the tremor 10 his
speech, the coiner turned, and, TAX
ing down his hat, crushed 1t upon
his head, and approached the door
with a rigid countenance and witch
ing lips. Apparently, he dared not
trust himself to take even farewell
look at his child.
But, as Arnold Bond moved to.
ward the door also, his glance fell
for an instant upon the thin, white
face of little Jess, who had already
| fallen back exhausted.
She was gazing steadily after her
| father, who, however, kept his face
constantly averted. The pitiful,
| pleading expression in the sick
child's eyes struck the detective tc
| the he art, for it was a look which
expressed more eloquently than any
words the bitter disappointment she
felt at seeing one she evidently dear.
ly loved about to be taken from her
this night OF all nights.
The. detective paused abruptly
hesitated a 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 can't do il
after all. / can't take such a cruel
advantage of even you at time like
this That's all and good night"
Bond, Bond" cried the king Of
coiners, springing forward as he re-
covered from his momentary stupe.
faction, Heaven prosper you fol
this. BAD as am, hope I'll be
able to give you your reward fol
this, If It's years to come"
A moment later the detective had
| gone. He had sacrificed an oppor'
tunity of adding enormously to his
reputation.
It was a year before the authori'
ties succeeded in discoyerin the
"factory," where Vaughan and hi.
confederates turned out the clever.
ly-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 got within q few feet of The
door. and was already thinking how
neatly he had managed everything
when suddenly, and without the
slightest warning, the whole floor
seemed to cave in beneath his feet