, 1862-02-20
The Counterfeit Detective.

|
wherever there was an excitement-and
| everybody will remember that II was exciting
times-l became pretty well acquainted with all
the desperate characters, thieves and gamblers
whose name was legion-that traversed the for
csts, or haunted the settlements.
As everybody in that unhappy territory in
those times was Of migratory Characterization
from one place to ano her by the political anita
goniSm of the locality-these rough and dan
gerous characters were ruled by the same mast r
public opinion, and usually travelled with the
tide.
One of them soon made himself conspicuous
rs leader Of desperate band Of marauders,
who pillaged every poor emigrant party that fell
into their hands, and evading every retribution
by attrbuting their vainous deeds to the op-
pOste party to that which their victims belonged.
This mans name was Jack Watson; but he was
commonly called " the Shooter" and rumor said
and fear with truth-that he had left many
good man and true to bleach upon the plains Oi
Kansas. He had, also, great reputation as q
"shaver," or counterfeit passer, and the con.
stant flow Of emigrants to that quarter offered
him rich harvest Of profit in his faVorite pro-
| fession.
Watson had received his walking papers"
several times at Fort LeaVenworth, which he al
ways implicitly obeyed for the nOnce, but soon
Inent was likely to detract attention from his pres
| ence.
II was on one Of these occasions Of party strife
that man was mystcriously shot down just at
dusk, and no one could tell the author Of the
decd. II was soon reported, however, that the
"Sho0ter" was in town, and the excited pOpu-
lace at once commenced search for him. l was
compelled to leave that evening for St Louis on
business, and LEFT the town in the midst VI the
excitement. The Belle BrittOn had been about
an hour on her journey, and had satisfied my
curiosity among the passengers on deck, when
stepped into the cabin; several tables were, as
usual, surrounded by card'players, presenting
that invariable, but o.be.understood ano-
maly, IF greenhorns and country champions try
ing their strength against willy and unprincipled
"sharpers." But the first person who arrested
my attention was none other than Jack Watson,
alias the Shooter"
1t is needless for me to inform any one who
Travelled the river in those times that 1t would
have been folly for NE to have attempted his ar
rest, or even to hint that knew anything Of his
character. It would have been certain death !;
besides, as have always had queer way Of
mindng my own business, followed my usual
policy on this occasion.
Drawing near the table where he was playing,
glance at the pile of notes which lay beside him
informed me they were bogus bills on the Spring
field, Illinois Bank. But upon looking At the
funds Of his Opponent--A small, compact man,
with iron features, and q calm black eye-l was
also struck with their appearance. They were
all new, and Of peculiar stamp, which l recog-
nizcd as that Of the Bank Of St Anthony, Min
| neSOta.
The game proceeded briskly. Bets run high,
and, as the enthusiasm increased, quite crowd
gathered round the table to witness the result
Watson was in ecstasy, as hand after hand he
drew the new, clean bills toward him, and ever
and anon changed iilty, giving his worthless
notes in lieu The man with the iron face re.
mained perfectly calm, but close observer could
discover 4 sly twinkle playing in the corners oi
his eyes, and now and then his lips would quiver.
81 fear you are my master, sir, said the
stranger, at last, as he paused to count over his
bills.
"Not at ALL" said Shooter" quickly; SIN
very little winner. COme, again luck viii
change-always does"
"fll tell you what will do" said the calm
stranger, speaking very slowly, like desperate
man "you've won plenty considerable, and
Just lack seventeen dollars here Of making five
hundred il you'll show me q chance, BY stak
ing the even money against the deficit, we will
play one game, ana the last, for the entire
amount" ...n.a.,a .H.-
swell, I'll be liberal; come on" said the
Shooter" with an air Of assumed carelessnesS
and he put up stakes in his Illinois counterfcits
putting the new bills in his pocket
The game was played, and, contrary to all OK,
pectation, the stranger won. Watson insisted
Un another trial. but the stranger shook his head
| and calmly pOcketed the stakes. II was theT
that the devil began to rise in Watsons heart
and fash in his sinister eyes. Leaning his el
| bows on the table, and clasping his hands before
| him, he bent forward, and fixing his malicious
gaze upon the stranger, who leaned carelesSly
back in his chair, be said, in deep, meaning
tone
"Stranger, you've won my money, and now
refuse 10 show me chance for 1t. We don't dc
things that way on the river"
! "Will you please inform me who you mean
sir, by 'we!" asked the stranger, glSncIng care
/ !, ,sSly around.
ii mean we river boys; or, il you please,
don't do business IN that way, said Watson, with
a sneer
"But do" said the stranger, as hc eoOlly III
a seGar. Watson intnitiVely ralsed his band d
his breast, ~ though for Q weapon, but bo seemed
to think better Of L, and rcsumiDg his former
tauntiug position, while triumphant smile cir
cled his lips, he said:
81 hope you'll find those bills all right, Stran'
ger"
"Do not fear that will be disappointed IN
thom," said the stranger, 1" | am well acquainted
with the officers Of the Springfield Bank. By
the way, you had better examine those that you
won Of me"
"Oh, | know the face Of 4 St Anthony bill
chuckled the Shooter" /" jerking them from bis
pocket ...........
And the officers signatures, toof" asked
the stranger quickly.
Watson started back aghast, as he opened out
a bi and looked closely at it.
"IIell and furkrsl" he shouted" the bills are
not signed al all"
Exactly" said the stranger, with smile.
| Watson stond for a moment looking from the