Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-11-03
was ushered after l had concluded


and was certainly we'll ventilated, for
could see the stars peeping through
the roof The bed was simply a bag
OF straw thrown into one corner OF
the room. without sheets or covering
OF any kind. This last fact. however
was not of much consequence. as it
was summer time. and oppressvely
hot.
stood for more than an hour yaZ-
ing out of the opening which served
tor a window. Before me was spread
an Immense prairie. the limits OF
which | could not see. The tavern IN
which | had taken up my abode APP
peared to he isolated from all other
dwellings. and save the croak Of tho
tree-frog and the hum Of the locust.
not a sound reached my ears. 1t was
"A beautiful moonlight night and 50
bright that could see to read the
snla Hest print.
At last | began to grow weary. and
throwing myself on my pallet. | was
soon plunged into n deep slumber
How long | slept know not. but
was awakened by dull sound which
resembled some one hammering in the
distance. suppose II was the pc
| culiarity of the sound which awoke
me, for it was by no means loud, but
conveyed to me the idea Of some one
striking iron with muffled hammer
rose up from my bed and went to
| the window: the moon was low In the
western sky, by which fact knew It
Inust be near morning. The sound
| have before referred to reached me
more distinctly than when in the back
part Of the chamber 1t appeared to
come from some outhouses which were
situated about one hundred yards from
the house
| Now. l am naturally Of an inQuring
| mind. and this sound. occurring as it
did in the middle Of the night in such
Il remote Of-the-way place. piQued
my curiosity. and l felt an irresistible
desire to go out and discover the cause
of It, This desire. as the sound con
| tlnued. grew upon me with such in
tenslty that resolved to crafty 1t at
any price.
| put on my boots, the only article
tiously opening the door Of my cham
Der noiselessly descended the rickety
staircase A few steps brought me
into the lower apartment. which
found entirely deserted I crept quiet
| ~ TO tho door. and christening it
without making the slightest noise
was soon in the moonlight.
Not a soul was visible, but the
sound still continued and grew much
more distinct as | approached the
| place from whence II proceeded At
last found myself before long low
building. through the crevices of
which could perceive lurd glare
| issuing. | stopped down and peeped
through the keyhole. and to my ex-
IRENE surprise | saw half dozen
| strong looking men with their Goa t.
off and sleeves turned up performing
y variety Of strange occupations.
Some were working at a forge. Others
were experimenting the casting Of
mOlds, and some were engaged in the
process of milling coin. In a moment
the whole truth burst upon me- Here
was the gang of cOunterfeiters | was
| in search of, and the landlord and his
wife evidently belonged to the same
| band. for in one corner | perceived
them employed-the man polishing of
some half-dollar pieces just turned
| from the mold, while the woman was
packing the coin into rolls
| | had seen enough. and was about
to return to my apartment again.
when suddenly ! felt heavy hand
| placed on my shoulder. and turning
my head round. to MY horror. found
myself in the grasp of as i'll looking
a scoundrel as ever escaped the gal
lows.
"Well. what are you dong here, my
good fellow" he exclaimed in gruT
voice. giving me shake.
Taking stroll by moonlight"
replied. endeavoring to keep my pres
ence of mind
well. perhaps you'll just take
stroll in here, will you?" returned the
ruffian. pushing open the door ami
dragging me in after him.
All the inmates OF the barn immedl-
rtely stopped work. and rushed to-
ward us when they saw me.
why! what Is this?" they ex-
claimed.
"A lOafer | found peepng outside"
said the man who had captured me.
He's traveller that came to the
tavern tonight and asked for lods-
ings: the last time saw him he was
safe In bed said the landlord
The men withdrew to corner Of
the apartment, leaving one to keep
guard over me. | soon saw they were
In earnest consultation. and were evil
IDENTITY debating some important ques-
ton. The man keeping guard over me
said nothing, but scowled fiercely.
had not uttered single word during
all the time I had been in the barn.
I was aware that whatever | might
say would In all probability do more
harm than good. and 1t has always
been a maxim Of mine to hold my
tongue when in doubt. At last the
discussion seemed to be settled. for
the blacklist and dirtiest of the whole