Litchfield enquirer., 1862-11-13
Hlisffllanp.
A SHAM COUNTERFEITER
BY LONDON DETECTIVE OFFICER.

I Whenever my boots wanted E1ending, use to take them tu an honest, hard working old fe low, Jacob Carnes. by n me, who like most cob blers have met with, was what is called long headed fellow. Jacob was good politician and could he have had the directing of the al fairs of the nation, do no. hesitate to say tha we should never have groaned under an incom tax. A st'rn scipls of Joseph Hume. my ol omy in national expenditure. Every budge the Chancellor of the Exchequer brought ou cost him m ny groans a:d sleeples nights ; an, when his model statesman, Joseph Hume. died Jacob verify believed that England would speed fly go to the dogs.
 But Jacob was jovial fellow withal, thoug1 somewhat addicted to grumbling. He general. sung at his work or whstled as he hammere, away upon his lapstone. He had a merr, twinkle in his eye, and could tell many a gooe story, the fun of which he seemed to relsl most heartily. l have spent many pleasan hours in Jacobs little shop, where there wal but little room for company my seat was or the window sie. and there I loved to sit an6 listen to old Jacobs eloquent denunciations O extravagant expenditure, and tirades against the supineness of professed reformers.
 One evening, when I called upon Jacob tc fetch away pair of boots which I had given him to heel, found hlm very gloomy. The hamme. was going as usual, but without the accompan ment of whistle or song. On little bench op posite to where he sat ut his work, l observed a half crown lying.
 Good evening friend Jacob what's the news?
 :" Good news l think you said bad enough for me. can tell you'
 Why Jacob what's the trouble? ?"
 "1here,' said l!e, picking up the half crow,, and tossing il to me. look at that and tell me what you think of it''
 "it's bad one" exclaimed"
 :" 4 bad one You think so, do you :? We'll so do r."
 Pray, where did You get it ?'
 6 Took it from q customer. Keeling pail of boots one shlling-change eighteen pnnce.'
 '' Somebody You know, suppose ?''
 No, d confouned foreigner. if had my will. I'd send them all out of the country, back to where they came fro n'
 Jacob yuu would not be so illiberal I'm sure why. you're Il foreigner yourself at least your grandfather was.'
 :" An, we'll he Was a respectable man he Was no smasher, going about robbing honest hard working men,"
 So this smasher was forei gner, was he ?- Do you think you would know him again if you were to See hlm ?'
 ' Sure would. I'll just descrihe him to whiskrrs beard and moustachc blue eyes stoops in his walk ; scar an inch long on is left cbeek lost joint of the fore finger of his left hand hands very drty-stained, probably dress-loosc brown paletot grey waistcot and trousers wide-awakc hat"
 Well, really. Jacob. must give you credit for heinz pretty close observer. I am pretty sure 1 sioald recognize the gentleman if were to meet hm.'
 II hope you do meet him, you will hold him till come'
 was sorry for Jacob. Half a crown may appear an insignificant sum to some people, but it was the price of half days hard work to R,t I had fb1 f.,ll minds eye-thanks to Jacobs description-a and I had some hope might meet with hIm. A few days subsequent to Jacobs i!l-luck, Was early one evening. passing through Aldgatt when stepped into a coffee house to obtain some retreshment. was greatly fatigued. hay ing had no res: for two nights previously and while perusing the evening paper, after partak ing of my chop and cup of tea, incoLtinently dozed of to sleep.
 While asleep had dream. I dreamed O Jacobs counterfeit. thought saw a grcul of people, men and women, in great agitation standing in u circle in the open street, witt i their palms extended. and in each silver coin Suddenly they turned their heads, and all look ed in the same direction. My eyes followed thers and l saw 8 man whom immediately re cognized to be the man whom 'acob had de scribed so minutey to me. He ran the crowt all joined in pursuit. 1 attempted to run. to, but in making the effort to do so, dropped m. newspaper and awoke!
 rubbed my eyes felt very confused, looked for the smasher, nut recognizing where was closed my eyes again. and dropped asleep.
 Again l dreamed dream. This time thought I was in the cofree-house reading newspaper It was nearly dusk. Presently seemed that in the gloomy shadow of the bo within which was seated, man sided up to m and laid his hand on my wrist the contact C this heavy c'ammy hand on mine gave me cold chill, and shuddered. Putting his moul to my ear, he whispered hoarselv:- Do you wan t to buy any queer soft!' J Queer. soft P said l. what that ?' : Laughed ironically, showing hideou mouthful of big teeth. . " You call yuurselfa detective, and preten not to know what quee, soft is" si felt indignant and humiliated, and was abou to rise up and lay hold of hlm, when I agai 7 awoke.
 If did not know what queer soff' va when asleep was not 50 ignorant when awak, In my dream had been haunted by a counte 1