Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1900-09-07

road. afd 0pce ( had an occasion to
turn aud look back az the cabin. As I
did so I saw the form of a man dodg-
Ing along Between the trees that skirt
cd the hillside along the road. My sus-
pIcions were aroused NJ his strange ac-
lions. and krpt my weather eye In his
direction until I got safely out upon the
highway. whore I lost sight Of him. A
brisi; drive SCOT landed me back at the
Office OF my friend. who greatly praised
my obituary.
II did h.1 local work several days
longer. ana when his assistant had
fully recovered rrom his illness 1 re-
signed and returned ia pottsville IN
much better spirits than when I had
left it IA month before.
"The next day I took on my routine
assignment. AID at the morning ScssiCa
Of The pnlicc court what was my aston.
lsAmcut 10 500 Ia the %prlsoner's dock
the worry same young NAN whom / had
met among the mountains.
II NJ oucc became deeply Interested
In his ease. lie was charged with pass.
Ing counterfeit coin. The same charge on
which be was arrested several months
before. His honor concluded. In view
Of tie serious charge aal the fact that
Il was Tor tho sccoa1 oGensc. to hold
him for further Investigation.
During tie previous six months
rottsv!ile Lad becn Hooded with bogus
money. and the authorities had offered
a reward FOR the Masters aud showers
Of the quecr. Young Barron had been
twice accused cf passing the money.
but each time he cold such a plausible
story that the officials were loath TO 10.
llcve him responsible FOR Tho whole
matter. The situation was becoming
alarming. Detectives bad teen ON.
ployed, nut thcy were rs MUCH nj sea
as the local officers. As q last resort Il
reward Of $1,000 was offered for the ar
rest au1 conviction u The offenders.
When no results came q The work sllar
was being done toward clearing up the
matter AID the bogus stun ccntinucd Ia
circulate, It was considered advisable
70 raise tie reward, which was accor,f
lagly Increased to $1,000.
This was tic status of affairs on my
return from my vacation.
Il began 60 do n little objective work.
on my owp account. The sum Of $500
al n snug one, and I brgnn To make
deductions. with the prisoner. Barron.
as q starting point.
Il looked inck ovcr the trail that |
had covered n few weeks bcforc-thc
location Of tIc Barron honlc in WASH.
iugton county, tie situation Of tue old
hut To the bowl shaped depression
among tie lofty mountains. the one
room in llc hut with q rear door. What
was behind the portals Of tlat rear
door?
Then my imagination came into
play, ana | thought what mn excellent
place for y countrrfciar's den could be
under tie mountain, with tic hut as u
shield.
Wen, to make a long story short. |
told Tie mayor OF my suspicious, and
asked for detail OF fonr men from the
force. to go down into Washington
county and Investigate. He only
laughed at me, until | made things so
plain that lie was carried away with
enthusiasm Owe the plausiblilty Of the
whole thing and ordered four police
men In citizens clothes to accompany
me to the spot and make u thorough
Investigation
1--WE arrived at u rendezvous one
evening, having each one gonc lndivid
ually, so ms not to arouse any suspicion
as to our object, and left after nightfalI
for the Barron home.
1--WE reached a point about n mile
from the narrow lane, at daybrcGk.
tied up our rigs and started On foot for
the hut. We were not long in reaching
the place. and II vigorous rapplng
brought the sharp featured woman to
the door. She was rendered s~peechlcss
with fright at the sight Of Eve stran-
gers al the door. She was Invited to
come outside and keep quiet. Our next
point was the door at the rear. We
cautiously pushed this open. and the
sight that we encountered vas one that
I will never Forget.
"Six men and two or three boys were
busily engaged about Il swcltering fur
mace. with a full set of molds. each at
his particular work. On the floor was q
large quantity of both gold and silver
coins, Of dollars and eagles, half eagles
and double eagles.
1--WE captured the gang without a
struggle aud also took charge OF the
outfit. which, by the way, was one OF
the most complete that ever was seer
outside the United States mint At tho
subsequent trial the entire gang, in
Guiding young Barron, were given
strong terms in the penltentlary. ] re-
celved the $500 reward, which I made
very good use of."--Newspaperdom.
Conscience or PoIIcyg