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

Coiners' he is rightly named:fi but it
Is chiefly because he is at the head of
a dangerous gang. And becausc, by
a lucky chance, you have found out
that he is living in private lodgings
under an assumed name, makes it
none tho less risky for us two alone
to attempt his CAPTURE
1t was a decidedly dissatisfied tone
that Mr.. Roche, the weil-known de-
tective urged upon his superior officer
the hazardous nature Of the business
they were upon; but Arnold Bond
merely smiled gcod-humoredly as he
responded
"Whatever risk there may be, Roche,
I think l shall face. And as I expect
to take our man entirely by surprise,
In the very bosom Of his family. l
don't anticipate much resistance. Still,
I am prepared for it, and don't think
that he will easily give lis the slip.
For the rest you viii Simply carry
out my Instructions" aDd the last
few words were, spoken in a way
which effectually silenced any furth-
err objections from the other.
The last rays of twilight were fad
ing when ,on this summer evening,
the two disguised detectives knocked
Mt the door of an unpretentious-look-
house in a quiet street Of the East
end of London.
Almost Immediately. a respectable
looking woman opened the door, and
stepping back said. before Bond could
speak,
"Ah, sir, I don't believe they expect
ed you again tonight; but it's well
you've come, for the poor mite is very
bad, they say"
With the ever-ready wit of a shrewd
detective, quick to take advantage Of
the slightest error, Bond instantly
checked the exclamation Of surprise
which sprang instinctively to his lips,
and, stepping in, quietly Observed
Indeed! l am sorry to hear that.
Our usual friend could rot come him
self, but, as his partner, I thought 1t
advisable to look in again. Let me see
Mrs. Sutton, second floor, is it not?"
Neither of the detectives scarce ven
tured to breath as they al xiously wait
ed to see the result of this haphaZard
remark.
ooh, I took you for DR.. Dalton his
self, sir! Yes, second floor. Its rather
dark, but I daresay you can find your
way up. Lor'! I knowed before
as how the doctor had a partner"
This gentleman is merely a friend
Of mine. If you don't mind, he will
wait for me in the passage. l don't
suppose I shall be many minutes"
Bond said inwardly chuckling with
satisfaction at the lucky mistake
which had, undoubtedly saved him and
his companion no little trouble at the
outset.
Leaving his subordinate-who had
previously received careful instruc-
tions-Arnold Bond, with heart beat
ing a little faster than usual, cautious
ly mounted the dark, narrow staircase
and tapped at the door facing him.
Then, without waiting for any reply,
he instantly opened it, and as quick
~ stepped into the oom and shut the
door after him again.
"Surrrender yourself my prisoner,
Michael Vaughan, alias Ralph SUIT
ton," he said, sternly, as a tall, beard
ed man sprang hastily to his feet with
a startled exclamation, and confront.
ed him.
A momentary pause; then, with an
oath the coiner snatched up q chair,
and raising it above his head was
about to hurl it at the detective; but as
quickly dropped it as his eye rested on
the service revolver steadily levelled
at him.
Trapped" he calculated, a v
agely, glaring at the officer.
"And in this tom-fool fashion, too.
But there's ~treachery here" he added,
fercely, land If /"
Michael, Michael" %interposed a
woman's voice, in pleading tones, you
are forgetting poor little Jess. You
know the doctor said she must be kept
perfectly quiet" 49,
"Ah, Jess, poor mite" said the coiner.
N wonder I forgot every hing when
Bond himself jumped up before me like
magic! Well, I'm fairly nabbed; but
If 1t wasn't for her." he added, with n
bitter emphasis, pointing to 4 bed in
a corner of the room. "you's never
take me in this squemish fashion"
Agreeably disappointed in the expec-
tation that the desperate criminal be-
fore him would offer resistance, but
never for a moment relaxing his vigil
ance, Bond glanced quickly about the
room.
The bed was occupied by a little girl
of about six years Of age, who, it need
ed 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
l A. oSno,ss rvySfn vryE rROc1 -c~nI11~-
by the bedside, express much less
alarm than the child's.
Tt was 4 scene which Arnold Bond
unexpected, but 1t explained without
words how it al that his task had
been SO easily accomplished.
Lets clear out before. you brighten
my young 'un to DEATH" said the coin
or, in a quieter tone. Never mird,
Jess" he went on, turning to the child
and speaking in such 4 tender and
soothing tone that Bond stirred with
establishment. Perhaps, soon, I will
come back, and then you'll be better,
and we will
vaughan's voice falterqd, and he
paused.
"Ah, take him away, sir, but don't
hurry him rer what he very well
knows must be the last goodbye he'll
ever say 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 a chair,
hid her face in her hands, and gave
way to a sudden outburst OF grief.
us the gentleman going to take you
away, then, daddy? Z" the child said fee.
bly. "Oh, don't go. / do so want
Won tonight Then, looking ut the de.