The Somerset reporter., 1900-06-21

brisk drive soon landed me back at the
Office of my friend. who greatly praised
my obituary.
II did his local work several days
longer, and when his assistant had
fully recovered from his Illness | re.
signed and returned to Pottsville In
much better spirits than when | had
left 1t a month before.
THE next day | took up my routine
assignment. and at the morning session
of the police court what was my aston
ishment TO see In the prisoners dock
the very same young man whom had
met among the mountains.
Il at once became deeply interested
In his case. He was charged with pass.
ing counterfeit coin, the same charge on
which he was arrested several months
before. His honor concluded. in view
of the serious charge and the fact that
II was for the second offense, to hold
him fer further investigation.
During the previous six months
Pottsville had been flooded with bogus
money and the authorities had offered
reward for the makers and showers
of the queer Young Barron had been
twice accused of passing the money,
but each time he told such plausible
story that the officials were loath to be.
lieve him responsible for the whole
matter The situation was becoming
alarming. Detectives had been en-
ployed but they were as much at sea
as the local officers, As last resort
reward of 81 900 was offered for the ar.
rest and conviction of the offenders.
When no results came of the work that
was being done toward clearing up the
matter and the bogus stuff continued to
circulate. II was considered advisable
to raise the reward, which was accord
ingly increased to 1900.
This was the status of affairs on my
return from my vacation.
Il began TO do little detective work
on my own account, The sum of 81 800
was a snug one and began to make
deductions. with the prisoner. Barron.
as starting point.
II looked back over the trail that
location of the Barron home In Wash.
ington county, the situation of the old
hut in the bowl shaped depression
among the lofty mountains. the one
room in the hut with a rear door. What
was behind the portals of that rear
door?
Then my imagination came into
play. and | thought what an excellent
place for a counterfeiter's den could be
under the mountain, with the hut as
shield.
"WtW. To make long story short.
told the mayor of my suspicious. and
asked for IA detail of four men from the
force, to go down into Washington
county and investigate. He only
laughed ut me. until | made things SO
plain that he was carried away with
enthusiasm over the plauSibiity of the
whole thing and ordered four police
men in citizens clothes to accompany
investigation.
We arrived at our rendezvous one
evening. having each one gone indiyid-
ually. so as not to arouse any suspicion
as 10 our object, and left after nightfall
for the Barron home
I'VE reached point about mile
from the narrow lane. at daybreak,
tied up our rigs and started on foot for
the hut. We were not long in reaching
the place. and vigorous rapping
brought the sharp featured woman to
the door She was rendered speechless
Will fright ~ the sight of five stran
gPrs at the door She was invited to
come outside aud keep quiet Our next
point was the door at the rear We
cautiously pushed this open. and the
sight that we encountered was one that
| will never forget
six men and two or three boys We're
Dusily engaged about sweltering fur.
mace with full set of molds. each AT
his particular work. on the floor WAS
large quantity of both gold and silver
coins of dollars and eagles. half eagles
and double eagles.
We captured the gang without II
struggle and also took charge Of the
outfit. which. by the way. was one of
the most complete that ever was seen
outside the United States mint Al the
subsequent trial the entire gang. IN
GLIDING Young Barron. were given
strong terms in the penitpntiary re
ceived the $1,000 reward. which made
very good use of. Newspaperdom