Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-08-10
or human kind since 1t became

A1a' - Ai5hts iNliitu Nb1ihs' 1'es
they say there's better way to get
into jug than by cracking it Let's
take look down the bank" he CON
tinued, going to the corner of the
foundation and peeping down the
deep slope to the waters edge some
twenty feet below. Look there! See
those chicken bonesv' be cried.
Sure enough, there We're many
bones on the bank, besides other oral
in the waters edge.
Somebody boards pretty near here"
said l. Those things must have been
thrown out of the cellar" But we
could not examine on that side, for
the bank broke away abruptly, SO
near the foundation that passage
round it was impossible.
Returning, Gaius said, Il am going
into the open cellar again to look under
the rubbish. Help me take this old door
around the other side to climb out on."
STOPPING, he raised one end of the
floor from the ground, where it hau
been lying fiat AS he raised it /
caught sight of large hole in the
ground underneath.
Eureka" | shouted, and together
we threw the door over, SO as to ex-
pose an entrance through the wall big
enough to admit man
Without thought of meeting any
occupants, we entered Immediately.
The little light admitted through the
opening enabled us to discern lamp
on small shelf, and this when light
ed, disclosed a room about ten by
thirty feet in area and a little higher
than our heads. On one side We're
several hunks filled with straw, against
the other was a long bench, with
brackets for lamps above.
Upon the bench and ground We're
boxes and bags, some of which we
examined, finding masks, dark
lanterns, and everything else belonging
to burglars outfits, stolen goods in
great quantity and variety, including
number of boxes of Mr.. Mason's
ciears-a private brand readily recog-
nized-and numerous specimens of
counterfeit coins and the dies with
which they were made.
We said little until our amazement
broke out with, what do you think,
GayT
Il think it will show good judg-
ment If we move out of this vicinity
before anybody drops in," he said;
and with his opionin l readily agreed.
Very carefully we replaced every
thing us found, went at once to police
headquarters, related our experiences,
and readily secured the cooperation
of the authorities in a plan to capture
the gang that very evening. The
chief proposed that if the usual light
was observed, we should present our
selves before him at IL p. M, and
guide posse to the den.
This arranged, we went home
stopping at Mason's store by the
way to inform our friends of what
was in the wind. Mr. Mason had
gone to supper, and George was SO busy
with customers there was no opportu-
nifty to tell him of our discoveries, so
on our return to fulfil our appoint
ment we called again. This time we
found Mr. Mason, who showed an
| excited interest in our story; but
George was absent 1t was bis night
off. Mr.. Mason did not expect his re-
turn before the next mornings open
| ing hour.
A sergeant and four men crossed
the river under the guidance of
Gaius at the hour agreed upon, and
went down its opposite bank TO a
designated point, while another
policeman accompanied me in a row.
boat on the route taken by Gaius and
myself in the afternoon.
At the ruin, dimly distinguished in
the darkness, we eagerly awaited the
signal announcing the arrival of our
party. 1t soon appeared-merely
natchlight, to which we replied by
another. Then we took Il position
opposite the window, few feet from
the bank, and the men above stealth
lily lifted the old door. One after an
other. the sergeant first, they slipped
rapidly down into the cellar.
1t was very nearly a complete sur
prise, for three of the scamps were
taken in their hunks. The fourth,
deXterously eluding the officers,
lcaped nimbly upon n bench, thence
to the window, and like a shot went
through it feet foremost, down the
bank into the water. There he stuck
in the mud!
My companion, the policeman,
clapped the handouts on him in the
da' kness, collared him and pulled
him ashore. With the remark, Now
| We'll see what we've got" he oDened