The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-06-30
THE INSIDE MAN.
BY A SECRET SERVICE DEFECTIVE.

" uIlCWdCoT, W 1S., WdS ScL duOdt HI large quantities, there was consterna- tion at headquarters in Washington. The bills appeared on the same day in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Portland, Augusta, Buffalo and Chi cago proving that a large and well organized gang had begun work. Many good commercials have been is- sued, but this was perhaps the best of all. They were unhesitatingly taken by cashiers in stores and banks, and the amount put in circulation in a week was over $100,00O.
 They were still being accepted as all right when a market woman in Boston became suspicious of one she had taken and had it forwarded to the treasury department, where it's base ness was at once detected.
 At that date every counterfeiter in the country was known by name, and we could make pretty correct guess at each. mans line of work. After comparing notes for several days we came to the conclusion that this issue was the work of a man named George Ashman, alias "Ashes." He had lett the country year and half before, and had doubtless had the bill en- graved in London or Paris. No one knew where to locate or look for him and only one man in the bureau could describe him. When the case was as- signed to me he called me in and said |:
 "The last time saw Ashes he had a round, full face, beardless, and two front teeth in the upper jaw had been knocked out by accident. He is five feet six, very chunky, short neck, very small feet, and sports lots of iewelry when in luck. He is down on the records as 'dangerous.' He will shoot you if he has the chance. Heis some- where between Maine and California, and I'll give you month in which to find him."
 It was the old saying: "A needle in a hay stack" illustrated. He was one of 40,000,000 people in the coun- try. He had a, hundred thousand towns and cities for shelter. No one could advise me which way to go, in- deed, it mattered not which way turned my face. Nothing but luck could assist me in discovering the arch counterfeiter. When I left Washington I had ticket for Lo- gansport, Ind. Why I selected that point, instead of one in Maine, Yer mont, Michigan or Nebraska, cannot say. It seemed to me that I ought to go to Logansport to get my start, and so went. Not bill had been put ahoat there. Alter day or two l went on to Lafayette. It was the same there, but accident gave me a clue. There were half 8 dozen strangers at the hotel, and as sat in the office in the evening I heard one of them making inquiries of the clerk in regard to stage line operating be- tween the city and village twelve or fifteen miles away. He was told that the stage left next day at three o'clock ,and he paid his bill until after dinner and secured seat. That mar could by no possibility be Ashman He had a full beard, his teeth were all in place, and nothing in his personal appearance answered the description I had turned to my paper when the landlord said:
 "Whitewater? Why, used to live there! Have they got national bank there? Just issued, eh2"
 l Ipricked up my ears like fox, and as l turned my face to the desk saw the landlord closely scrutinizing a new greenback.
 dts all right" said the stranger,
 "Oh, of course it's all right. Wish l had million of 'em."
 Half an hour later I wanted that bill to send of in 6 letter, and wanted 1t 30 badly that l exLanged 6 five-dollar gold piece for it. As soon as could compare it knew that it was one of the commercials. There was private bank in the town which made practice of exchanging money and two regular banking institutions Before ten o'clock that night found that every one of them had been stuck The stranger had exchanged about S1,000 in all, and his commercials had passed without word. could have arrested him that night, but afte, thinking the matter over made up my mind that he was going to 8 rendez. vous, and that by giving him rope might make bigger haul. He did not come down to breakfast next morning, and he had no sooner eater his dinner than he disappeared to re- main in hiding until just as the stage was ready to start. When it rolled away he was the inside aud I the out. side man. He looked me over pretty closely, saw nothing suspicious, and gave me no further attention.
 We had gone about two miles wher the driver, who had been sizing m. up to his satisfaction and maintaining severe silence, leaned over and whis. pered:
 "What do you think of himf" f<KYYR.