The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-06-05
miscellaneous.
A CLEVER RUSE.

with counterfeit coin. 1t was so well MANI
featured that it passed readily. The evil q
last became so great that the United State
authorities requested a skillful detectiv
might be sent to ferret out the nest of coiners
l was fixed upon to perform the duty.
had nothing to guide me. The fact, how
ever, that Chicago was the city where tn
counterfeit coin was most abundant led me t.
suspect that the mandatory might be some
where within its limits. 1t was, therefore, t
the capital of the West that first proceeded
l spent five weeks in that beautiful city, bu
without gaining the slightest clew to tn
counterfeiters.
] began to grow discouraged, and reall
thought should be obliged to return HON
without having achieved any result. On
day received letter from my wife request
ing that I would send her some money, a
she was out of funds. l went into a banl
and asked for draft, at the same time hand
ing a sum of money to pay for it. in whicl
there were several half dollars. The clerl
pushed three of the half dollars back to me
Counterfeit" said he.
"What," said l, 'do you mean to tell m
those half dollars are counterfeit"
81 do"
care you certain?"
Perfectly certain. They are remarkabl.
we'll executed, but they are deficient il
weight. See for yourself"
And he placed one of them in the scale
against genuine half dollar on the othe
side. The latter weighed down the former
THAT is the best executed counterfeit coir
l ever saw in my life," exclaimed, examin
ing them closely. "Is all the counterfeit mon
ey in circulation here of the same characte
as this p
30, dear, no." replied the clerk, sit is no
nearly so well done. These are the work o
Ned Willets, the famous New York counter
feiter.
81 know them well, for 1 have handled
great deal in my time.
Here is some of the money that is in circula
ton here" he added, taking several half dol
lars from drawer. "You see the milling i
not nearly as perfect as Ned Willett's
although it is pretty well done, too"
| ] compared the two together, and fount
that he was right. l supplied the place o
the three counterfeit half dollars with goot
coin and returned the former to my poke
again.
A few days after this received informa
ton which caused me to take journey to
village situated about thirty miles from Chi
cago. / arrived there at night and took VI
my quarters at the only tavern in the place
1t was wretched dwelling, and kept by al
old man and woman, the surliest couple
think it has been my lot to meet. In answe
to my inquiry as to whether l could hav'
| lodging there for the night noticed that tb
host gave peculiar look at his wife, and al
ter some whispering l was informed in tn
most ungracious manner possible that
could have bed.
have frequently, in the course of my life
oh fo Y,t1ti nm w Iuratnhod
dations SO | did not allow my eQuanimity o
temper to be destroyed by the miserable far
set before me, and the still more miserabl
sleeping apartment into which / was ushere'
after had concluded my repast.
The chamber was small in size, and wa
certainly well ventilated, for could see thu
stars peeping through the roof. The bed, sim
| ply bag of straw thrown into one corner o
| the room, without sheets or coverings of an.
kind. This last fact, however, was not G
| much consequence, as it was summer tim
and oppressively hot.
stood for more than an hour looking GU
of the opening which served for a window
Before me was spread an immense prairie
the limit of which l could not see. The tav
ern in which l had taken up my abode ap
peared to be isolated from all other dwellings
and save the croak of the tree frog and tn
hum of the locust, not sound reached m
ears. 1t was beautiful moonlight might
and so bright that could see to read til
smallest print.
At last began to grow weary, and throw
| ing myself on my pallet l was soon plunged
into deep slumber. How long l slept
know not, but was awakened by dull sound
which resembled some one hammering in tn
distance. l suppose it was the peculiarit,
| of the sound which woke me, for it was b.
no means loud, but conveyed to me the ide
| of some one striking iron with muf1ied ham
mer. Irose up from my bed and went to tn
window the moon was low in the western
horizon, by which fact knew that 1t mus
be near morning. The sound referred t.
reached me more distinctly than when in tn
back part of the chamber. 1t appeared t.
come from some outhouses which were stu
ated about 100 yards from the house.
| Now, l am naturally of an inquiring mind
and this sound, occurring as it did in the mid
die of the night, in such remote, out-of-the
way place, pioued my curiosity, and l felt al
irresistible desire to 60 out and discover tn
cause of it. This desire, as the sound con
tinued, grew upon me with such intensit
that l resolved to crafty it at once.
put on my boots, the only articles of at
tire that had discarded, and noselessly de
brought me into the lower apartment, whic
/ found entirely deserted.
crept quietly to the door, and unfasten
ing 1t without making the slightest noise
was soon in the moonlight.
Not a soul was visible but the sound still
continued and grew more distinct as l ap
preached the place from whence it proceed
ed. At last l found myself before a long
low building through the crevices of which
could perceive lurid glare issuing. stooI
ed down and peered through the keyhole, an
to my extreme surprise saw half doze
strong looking men with their coats off an
sleeves turned up, performing variety c
strange occupations. Some were working a
forge, others were experimenting the cast
ing of molds, and some were engaged in mil
ing coin. The tavern-keeper and his wit
evidently belonged to the same band, for i
man polishing off some half dollar pieces
just turned from the molds, while the woma
was packing the finished coins into rolls.
l had seen enough, and was about to re
turn to my apartment again, when suddenl
I felt heavy hand placed on my shoulde
and turning my head round, to my horro
found myself in the grasp of as Unlocking
scoundrel as ever escaped the gallows
"What are you doing here, my good fe
low ?" he exclaimed in gruf voice, givin
me shake.
Taking stroll by moonlight" l replied
endeaVoring to maintain my presence {
mind
"Well, perhaps, you'll just take a stroll i
here. will your" returned the rutfian, pushin
open the door, and dragging me in afte
him.
All the inmates of the barn immediatel
stopped work and rushed toward us whe
they saw me.
why, what's this ?" they all exclaimed.
"a loafer l found peeping outside" sal
the man who had captured me.
"He's traveller that came TO the tavern te