The Red Cloud chief., 1902-03-14
By
EDGAR
wELTON
COOLEY

perhaps the most battling Job l
evcr undertook" said the old secret
service man, was running to earth
what was known as the Hamilton
gang
For several months the states OF
the middle west had been Hooded with
counterfeit Ave, ten and twenty dollar
bills of a most ingenious make. SO
nearly perfect were they that they
were considered exceedingly danger
GUS, and to myself and three assistants
was assigned the task OF capturing
the gang.
We'll, we finally succeeded In trac-
ing the counterfelts to the village OF
Hamilton. In one of the states border
ing on the Mississippi river. We also
learned that the gang consisted OF at
least three men, and obtained a very
accurate description OF one, a partial
description OF another, and an exceed
ing vague and unsatisfactory descrip-
ton of the third. However, we felt
confident OF their capture. having once
traced them to Hamilton, but we soon
found we had congratulated ourselves
too soon.
I'VE had been In Hamilton but a
few hours when we became convinced
that the place was what We termed a
pious town'-that is, that the citizens
were law-abiding and honest and that
II a mint was operated in their midst
1t was probably without their knowl-
edge, certainly without their assist
ance.
when this fact became clear to us.
I called upon the village constable, the
only officer OF which the town boosted,
and questioned him closely relative to
any men answering the descriptions
in my possession. He was certain he
had never seen any such individuals
In the town, although he had heard OF
the counterfeits which | mentioned
in fact, no had seen several of them.
But he felt positive they were not
manufactured In or near Hamilton.
81 was. OF course. positive they were,
and with the constable's assistance,
began a most careful and systematic
search for the men wanted or any clew
that might enable us to locate their
.den.'
Three months passed without re-
suit, although | was notified that a
new batch OF the counterfeits had been
"foated.' I began to fear l had made
q mistake and that the bogus did not
eminate from Hamilton after all. So
l went carefully owe my work, only
to reach the same conclusion: the
nnsntnrfaitoru ,,,,at toxo xhatr hnnd-
quarters In Hamilton. But who were
they?
"The town was literally flooded with
bad money. In fact. II seemed to be
the only currency of those demOnina-
tions In circulation in the village. ]
was puzzled. Either the entire popu-
iatiOn of the town was In league with
the gang, or elise
"Then an inspiration struck me-.
called upon the several s~torekeepers In
the village.
"'Who Is your best cash customer?
I asked.
zone and all made the same reply
without hesitation:
widow Bartlett
"'Who is the Widow B%artlett?'
"'She Is the wealthiest woman In tn,
county they said. Her husband ha.
been dead twenty years. He left he
a big estate. She keeps here money II
the bank. and resides In that big bricl
house on the hill. She is a recluse
no n ever visits her.
Does she make her purchases II
person or through a s%ervant?' l asked
In person. they said.
"'Pay with currency or checks?'
"'In currency. always
II went to the bank.
"'How much money has the Widow
Bartlett on deposit here?' I asked.
"'About ten thousand dollars wa
the answer.
docs she draw out much?'
Hasn't drawn out any for severa
mOnths-nearly q year.