The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1907-03-08

became possessed Of one this night.
It was working overtime. In this re-
spect he was like Cheney's friend
Guthrie, and Cheney had occasion to
be thankful for Guthrie's bunch at
one time-it saved his life; therefore
his views conceded with Mason's.
Quickly Mason glanced around the
room, taking in everything. A door.
to one side and in rear of the bar at
tracted his attention.
I'm not so sure of that, Walsh"
Then to Leftrich, where does that
door lead tor"
"That" 49, faltered Leftrich - 'oh,
that-that-leads to q private room.
Sometimes we rent it to select parties
for a quiet little game"
Just then a shrill female voice came
from the private room"-"Now, Ed,
loosen up. Order another round OF
drinks; you've got plenty of. the
green"
Damned select bunch in there
now," continued Mason. who are
they?"
"Strangers to me-" said Lefty"
Three men and some lady friends.
Only been there about an hour; had
several drinks
Every sense within Mason, Cheney,
Agnew and Bellamy was alert; the
trail was getting warm.
did they have sole leather val
ise'?" queried M son.
Eyes, I believe they did.
There was the quarry run to earth
at last. They could not get out of
that back room save by coming
through the bar unless they wanted
to take the chance of a 50-foot drop
into the Missouri.
'Leftrich," said Mason, I'VE want
those men and we are going to get
them. This looks like a pretty ugly
crowd here. You know them. You
hold them in check while we go in
there, and if any monkey business
goes on I'll fill you full of holes first
clip"
Celebrity of movement is always an
essential to success, and Mason, Az
new, Cheney and Bellamy quickly
crossed the floor. Yrusty six-shoot-
ers were nervously felt, and smash!
in went the door.
Hands up, everybody" commanded
Mason, as he sprang in, closely fol-
lowed by Agnew and Cheney, while
Bellamy kept his eye on the crowd in
the outer room. Hands went up,"
but in one was derringer. Bang!
Out went one of the faring kerosene
lamps, and before the second could
be extinguished "Bang!' spoke Ma
sons gun, and the wrist of the hand
that was acting as light extinguish-
er was shattered by well-directed
bullet. The women screamed and
backed against one side of the wall.
Smash! the butt of Masons gun
came down on the head of the near
est man, and he went down in a heap.
One of the others grabbed "the sole
leather valise" and made a break for
the door. Mason tackled him, and
after a struggle brought him down,
while Agnew and Cheney slipped the
bracelets on the other two. Their
hunt was ended, and the party quick
ly made their way to the police sta
ton.
The prisoners were locked up and
an inspection made of the valise. AS
soon as it was opened out rolled pack
age after package of "green goods"
"The Traders Elves, by all that's
good" said Mason.
"And, yes" continued Cheney,
delving deeper in the valise, here's
the plates. Say, Charley, maybe this
isn't rich haul
TITS rich, all right enough; but
where would I have been if we hadn't
made the haul? I tell you bunch is
great thing when it works out
right"
Mason" said Cheney, when they
had placed their prisoners in jail and
had retired to room for few hours
sleep, I'm glad you asked me to come
with you. You needn't put in a bill
for my services"
"Why not, Jack?"
"SAA, JOu 0OC, 1OpAACu OACuCy,
with a broad smile, II was directly in
terested in the case, though I did not
know it. got taken in by their clever
counterfeit work. Look here" and
taking out his pocketbook he extract
ed therefrom and laid on the table
four Traders five-dollar bills.
Beauties, aren't they, Mason?"
But Mason had gone to sleep.
: Copyright, by w. G. Chapman.)
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