The state herald., 1909-01-01

strewn about the floor, evidencing n
precipitate departure. II was tantaliz-
ing to again allow the criminals to es-
cape. ! felt deeply chagrined, and re-
solved never again to put OFF matter
OF this kind. The men had forestalled
me by only a few hours, for | had in
tended arresting them that morning.
and there had been nothing In their
conduct during my visit to their cabin
to indicate that they thought of flight
In one corner of the cabin. beneath
the very bunk on which | had slept.
there was an excavation three feet
square and as many deep. The cover
was down and dirt was strewn over II
which gave 1t the same appearance as
the dirt floor of the house. | discov.
cred 1t by a hollow hound when l
tapped over the spot. 1t was empty.
Il noticed the absence of the pot
which had supplied my supper. but II
was rather subconscious notice of II.
The fact really made no appreciable
impression on me at the time, nor did
1t, In fact, until more than year had
p"eF'Ns ~ wan Nll'H l''tll'u bA a.
newspaper dispatch under date of the
small village.
Some of the boys In the village had
appropriated the cabin ms a sort of
clubhouse. after the three men had
fled. They would spend Saturdays
there fishing and swimming and hunt.
ing. Immediately In front of the cabin
was steep bank. and the river wi
dened out into broad. deep pool
which afforded good fishing and swim.
ming. The boys would throw white
pebbles into this hole and dive for
them from the bank. One of them
had struck his head against something
hard at the bottom OF the river and
had been pulled up a corpse his skull
baying been fractured by the impact
OF the blow.
The others investigated and found
a large iron pot half buried In the soft
mud Its cover was sealed down and
its weight had been so great the boys
couldn't lift II from its oozy bed. The
dispatch stated that the pot was TO be
raised and It's contents examined.
Il was In Little Rock when read
this dispatch and, without waiting for
Instructions from headquarters.
boarded the first train and set out for
the village. | was In state OF fever.
ish excitement, fearing ! would arrive
there after the pot had been secured.
wanted to be the first TO view its con.
tents. ! felt sure knew what was
In Il.
After n journey that seemed inter
minable arrived at the village and
inquired about the pot. My fears had
been rroundless. With the indifference
so characteristic In country people the
villagers had forgotten. after the
funeral of the unfortunate youpr man,
the incident Of the pot. While there
had been some talk OF raising II. no
one had taken the lead, and there the
matter had rested.
Securing team Of mules and some
strong ropes and chains. drove out to
the cabin. by dint of much diving |
succeeded IN fastening the chains
about the pot and had my assistant
drag II out upon the bank. II was the
vessel which had hung over the fire
when | had visited the counterfeiters
In their lair. Then | remembered Its
absence. when had searched the hut
after their departure. II was sealed
with paraiiin and sealing wax. and not
n drop OF water had passed the lid.
II contained complete set OF en-
tools. several bottles OF power.
ful acids. glass stopped and sealed. n
OF bars of silver. some three
hundred odd counterfeit silver dollars.
and the dies with which they had been
stamped out. The dies were thickly
coated with wax and wore as bright
and fresh ms when taoy bent out the
false coins In the secret cave.
After swearing my assistant TO
secrecy. returned 10 headquarters |
with my booty.
Not many weeks later two OF the
men were captured, ! had given the |
minute description OF
them. after their unccfcmonloua de- |
pnrturc. and It's vast machinery had
been sct In motion for their npprehon' |
sion. II IN maxim Of the service
that man once countorfcltcr IN nj l
ways counterfcltor This rule held |
good with reference TO two OF the |
mon. at least. for thoy were captured !
and convicted OF another Job. The In.
nidcnts | have Just related were not
Introduced In evidence against them
and consequently escaped the press,
The man with the bulldog Jaw escaped /
at that time. but met with
aim. years after. under circumstances
neither of us viii forget 80 long as
We live"
,copyfiRh,. ipos, by ". q. chapman)