Year: 1873

Seconds.


A day or two since a Detroit secret
service detective went into Saginaw
county, Mich, after a man who was
charged with having tampered with the
mails. He had the name and descrip-
ton of the man, and was informed be-
fore starting that he would have to
look out or he would get knife or a
bullet put into him, as the fellow, Sam
uel Large, had stated that he would
never be taken without first having a
good fight. Many offenders make this
boast, but lack the backbone to act up
to their words, and the officer did not
pay much attention to the warming.


After he arrived at Saginaw he made
q few cautious inquiries of an ex-De-
troiter, and ascertained that Large was
stopping with a relative about twenty
miles from Wenona. He went down
the river, and at Wenona learned that
Large and his brother-in-law had left
for home about two hours before, both
armed. He was also informed that
Large had in some way received hint
that cone of those Detroiters was
coming up to see him, and would, there
fore, be on his guard. The detective
hired horse and started for the house
over the road foot deep with mud and
water. 1t was within an hour of dark
when he came in sight of the place
where he hoped to find his man.


He hitched his horse in the woods,
looked to his revolver and walked bold
ly up to the house. The children had
witnessed his approach, and the men
inside were prepared for him. Large's
brother-in-law opened the door, spoke
civily, and the officer took the seat
which was offered him. There was no
sign of Large, and it was some time be-
fore the detective limited at his business.
Hefrst made inquiries about pine lands,
and then asked the price of real estate,
so that the man was in doubt whether
his visitor was speculator or an officer
of the law. The officer finally asked,
as if merely inquiring for an acquain-
tance: "Oh, by the way, have you seen
Sam Large lately?"


"Is it Sam or me you want % replied
the man, and he had not done speaking
before he hauled out navy revolver
half as long as his arm and held it on
a line with the officers eyes. The men
were about four feet apart, and for a
long thirty seconds there was not
move or q sound to disturb the ticking
of the clock. The revolver was cooked,
held with hand that did not shake,
and the two men looked steadily into
each others eyes. The wife sat at Il Q
other end of the room, a spectator, and
one of the children stood behind the
fathers chair. The detective thinks he
lived a whole week S time in that half
minute. He saw "shoot" in the mans
eye, and was almost afraid of starting
him into pulling the trigger as he re-
piled, in a subdued tone, "Sam is the
man I'm after"


"That's different thingw said the
man, lowering his revolver. "He went
out of the back door as you came in,
and is three miles into the woods by
this time"


OF course he would say nothing to
criminate his relative to aid in his ar
rest, but he was very friendly with the
detective after he had ascertained that
ne was not after any one but Sam. He
even walked down to where the detec-
tive hitched his horse, and his parting
words were: eff you'd said you wanted
me, or raised finger, I'd have bored
you through quicker'n wink! If you
want to catch Sam I've no particular
objection, but your best and surest way
will be to shoot him first, and then ar-
rest him afterward."