The Owosso times., 1921-04-29
The
"Counterfeiter"
By FREDERICK CLARKE
t@. 1891. Western Newspaper Union.

| hau come 10 the Deach or the great
city's breathing spot after hard days
| work.
She had wandered purposely away
from the crowds. A sense Of utter
friendlessness overcame her. A sad,
far-away look was in her eyes. Life
seemed very hard to the young girl.
An orphan. leaving distant relatives
In country village a year previous,
she had come to the city to find her.
self disillusiOned, lost in a desert.
She had learned how to operate q
typewriter and had secured subordi-
nate situation at SIS week, hum
drum, dragging labor. She felt that
1t was only step to the sweat shop
or the sales counter IL she lost her
present position.
Nellie drew back with a timid start.
A man had come rushing from line
Of bushes, two little children with him.
"Quick!" he said, his glance burning
full into the face Of the shrinking
girl. 'These two children-take them.
Where do you live?"
Some influence Nellie could not re-
sist compelled her to reply in a tre-
NOR:
twenty-five Borden place."
The man pushed the children to-
wards her and then dashed down the
beach. A second man came into view
OIL a swift run. He approached the
bewildered Nellie.
'The man who had these children
he spoke rapidly-"which way did he
go?"
Mutely Nellie pointed. The man ran
on. Ie, too. disappeared.
Amid her friendlessness Nellie's
heart went out to the deserted little
ones.
There was nothing for Nellie to do
but take the children to her room.
She placed them on her own bed. She
did not sleep the long night through.
A week went by-two of them. AL
most unconsciously, Nellie grew into
loving the abandoned children.
The mystery surrounding them trou-
bled her, but she found a new interest
in life.
One evening Nellie had just put
her charges to bed when a sharp tap
came to the door. She opened 1t. A
stranger hurried by her.
"Lock the doorw he said huskily.
"The children-they are safe"
A smile Of gladness and relief crossed
his face as Nellie told him Of the lit
tie ones.
"Oh, you brave, true grill" he said
fervently. 81 knew from your face I
could trust you."
"Open this doori" sounded harshly,
and with a crash the barrier burst In.
Two men entered.
"We've caught you at last, have wei"
said one Of them In triumph. you've
led us a long chase"
"Wait." spoke the man. "I wish to
make an explanation to this young
lady, who has been a friend to my or
phaned nieces. Miss, these men are
arresting me for counterfeiting. I am
Innocent"
"It looks like it. when we have just
recovered the two best counterfeit
plates ever made" said one Of the
men.
'T made them" said the prisoner
quietly. MY former business was that
Of an expert engraver. On account of
an invalid brother, the father Of two
little girls, gave up my business
and bought Rose cottage at Tramp
ton"
''We know all about that"
"My brother died. I was taken Ill
and went out Of my mind as a result.
They placed me in an asylum and the
little ones in an orphans home. A
year ago l was kidnapped and taken
to lonely building in the city here.
MY captors were a gang Of dangerous
counterfeiters. They set me at work
making counterfeit plate. Two
months ago complete return to rea-
son came to me In the midst Of my in
nocent mechanical work. I refused
to proceed with 1t. My enemies threat
ened to kill my little nieces If did
not go on with the work."
"Which you did?"
"Yes, and completed the plates the
day you made the descent on their
den. ! escaped.
"Take proof of those plates. You
will find that the last work I did on
them was to delicately trace over both
plates one word"
"What was it?"
counterfeit !"
II took the police week to verify
the story Of Adrian Noble. engraver.
Then. overwhelming Nellie with graft
tude, he went home to Rose cottage.
A week later he reappeared. Nellie's
mind had been full Of him since she
had first ptied his sufferlngs, and she
was glad to see him.
81 couldn't stand 1t any longer, Miss
Danvers," he said earnestly. "Come
home with me to the dear little ones,
as my wife,"
Peace after strife, love after loneli-
ness, JOY after gloom, and rest, glori-
Gus rest-heaven on earth seemed to
come to the tempest-tossed Nellie at
ha.utif,,I Rosa cotfa 90