Year: 1875

with trees and bushes. A quarter of a mile
away, it began to wind around a tall hill,
SO that on the right a rocky wall rose up to
the highth Of several hundred feet, while on
the left was deep declivity, covered with
ragged rocks, bushes and stunted trees,
which descended into a deep gorge.


The scenery was wild and grand, but l
had no time to stop and admire it then. l
had more urgent business.


Safely beyond view of the hotel, [ left the
road, and carefully descended the declivity,
which was SO steep that | had to grasp the
saplings to avoid tumbing headlong.-
When a few feet from the road, / sat down
on shelving rock perfectly concealed by
surrounding bushes, and eagerly examined
the fifty cent note.


1t was for this purpose that I had sought
lone place. A brief examination devel-
opend the important fact that it was unques-
tionably one Of the counterfeits SO widely
! circulated. 1t was not wrinkled much, and
had never been folded 1t was "fresh from
the mint and that mint could not be far
away.


| | returned to the hotel where l made
inquiries Of the communicative landlord
concerning indications Of lead and copper
ores. Before retiring that night 1 paid nay
!


bill, saying that should rise very early
probably before daylight-and proceed to
the next town, distance of four miles be-
fore breakfast, and do less travling in the
heat of the day.


[ slept soundly for some hours. On
waking [ lighted match and looked at my
watch. 1t was only half past three; but
not wishing to 60 to sleep again lest l
should sleep too long, [ arose and in fifteen
minutes was ready to leave.


BY lighting several matches successively,
1 found my way down stairs into the bar
room. No one being astir, took my satch-
| el from the counter-where it had been left
on the previous Observation-Disclosures the
door, and passed quietly out.


1t was a period of long summer days,
and the darkness was already beginning to
give place to the gray dawn of moring, l
had left the hotel two hundred yards behind
me, and was moving along at a leisurely
pace, when l was thoroughly startled by a
dark object, that rushed out from among
the bushes on the right of the road, and
stopped in my path.


In an instant my hand was on my re-
Yolver, when my alarm gave way to aston
ishment at discovering that the object was
a woman-at least, it was person in fe-
male attire, though in the imperfect light
| could not discover whether the face was that
Of woman or man.


"Who are you ?" 1 asked, watching every
movement Of the intruder


Don't you know me, sir ?" asked a
female voice.


Cant say that do" replied still won
dering.


"Wel, I live at the hotel


'Ah was is you who waited on the table
last evening ?"


YES"


II begin to recognize you now. Why
are you up SO early?''


"Speak low !" said the girl mysteriously
Il heard you leave and hurried out here
through a short path to get ahead of you
and warn you of your danger. l did not
dare do it near the hotel.


Danger ! What danger ~ 1 asked, in
a low tone.


"They have discovered" she replied
looking carefully around, and speaking
scarcely above whisper, "that you are q
detective"


''By what means ~ l asked, rashly com
mitting myself.


"Thcy examined your satchel after you
went to bed


But there is nothing in it showing me
to be detective


"No, nor nothing to show that you are Z
prospector. They think that if you were
you would have certain instruments.
watched and overheard them They suspect
yon are detective, because they are con
vinced that you are not prospector, as you

said Now, whether you are detective ol
not, you are equally in danger, because they
think you are. You are in great danger
l have warned you for your own sake. You
won't betray me p


Certainly not, and thank you; bu
perhaps the danger is Tot so great as yor
think.


II assure you that l am not mistaken