Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1921-06-02
The
"Counterfeiter"
By FREDERICK CLARKE
10 1871, western Newspaper union.J

| city's breathing spot after hard days
work
She had wandered purposely away
| from the crowds. sense of utter
| friendlessness oyercame her. A sad,
PARKWAY look was in her eyes. Life
seemed very hard TO the young girl.
An orphan, leaving distant relatives
in a country village year previous,
She had come to the city to find her
| self disimsioned. lost in desert.
She had learned how TO operate a
| typewriter and had secured subordi-
nate situation AT $15 a week, hum
drum. dragging labor. She felt that
| il was only step to the sweat shop
or the sales counter if she lost her
present position.
Nellie drew back with timid start.
a man had come rushing from a line
of bushes, two little children with him.
Quick p he said, his glance burning
| full into the face Of the shrinking
! srl. These two children-take them.
Where do you liver
Some influence Nellie could not re-
| StSl NOlllbtlAth itl W lNbi9 III "a w
NOR:
twenty-five Borden place"
The man pushed the children to-
wards her and then dashed down the
beach. 4 second man came into view
OH swift run. He approached the
bewildered Nellie.
"The man who had these children
he spoke rapidly-"whlch way did he
go?"
Mutely Nellie pointed The man ran
on. He, too disappeared.
Amid her friendessness 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 new interest
in life.
One evening Nellie had just put
her charges to bed when "A sharp tap
! came TO the door. She opened it. A
stranger hurried by her
Lock the door, he said huskily.
"The children-they are safe?"
A smile Of gladness an' relief crossed
his face as Nellie told him of the lit
tie ones.
"Oh you brave true girl" he said
fervently 81 knew from your face |
could trust YOU"
"Open this door ~ sounded harshly,
and with 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. II wish to
| make an explanation to this young
lady who has been a friend to my or
| phaued nieces. Miss these men are
arresting me for counterfeting. l am
| innocent"
at looks like it, when we have just
recovered the two best counterfeit
plates ever made" said one of the
! men.
81 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"
I'VE know all about that"
my brother died. was taken III
| and went out of my mind as result.
They placed me in an asylum and the
| little ones in an orphans home. A
| year ago / was kidnapped and taken
to lonely building in the city here.
My captors We're a gang Of dangerous
cOunterfeiters. They set me at work
making a counterfeit plate Two
months ago a complete return TO rea-
son came to me in the midst of my In
nocent mechanical work. | refused
te proceed with 1t. My enemies threat
| ened to kill my little nleces If l did
not go on with the work"
(which you did,"
Eyes, 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 / did on
them was to delicately trace over both
plates one word"
what was It'll"
Counterfeit"
II took the police a 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 Nelle's
mind had been full Of him since she
had first pitied his sufferings, and she
was glad 10 see him.
Il couldn't stand It any longer, Miss
Danvers,' he said earnestly. Come
home With me to the dear little ones.
as my wife"
Peace after strife love after Ioneli.
ness, Joy after gloom. and rest glori.
GUS rest-heaven on earth seemed TO
come to the tempest-tossed Nellie at
beautiful Rose cottage.