Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1904-01-28
JENKINSON, THE JAY.

lOHR-leSSeu CudP vi tne 4ei4y OOo0
published to the world at large that
his name was Hiram Jenkinson. Also
indicated in fresh black letters that
his home was Sandy Marsh. n. j.
That he was a countryman and a back
woodsman was quite patent, chiefly
because he had made every effort
possible to hide all rural traces. If
he had worn long whiskers and a
slouch hat people probably would
have taken him for an eccentric ur-
banite; they might never have sus-
pected his hayseed origin. As it was
none could mistake Mr.. Hiram Jen-
kinson was countryman through and
through. In his eye there was a con-
siderable amount of shrewdness. This
deepened as he hauled from bis
breast pocket a small envelope and
read and reread It's contents. He did
this secretly. The note inside was
type written and enclosed in it was
crisp new teu.dollar bill, through
which was stuck a cheap brass scarf
pin.
Dear Sir" the letter ran, "as per
yours in answer to our first we en-
close handsome article advertised,
which you can easily dispose of any
where. We are in the market for
any number of these articles and are
disposing Of them to select few at
20 cents apiece. They will bring
one dollar anywhere. We will fur
nish 500 Of these for 800; 1000 for
5000 and so Oh. This offer is unlike
any previous one. These articles are
the genuine, stamped from dies OBJ
tained from Washington, D. G. Trust
ing you shall like the pin and we shall
hear from you at once we beg to re-
main yours, ETC., D. G. Wilkes & Co.
P. S. Telegraph only the following
message if you desire to deal.
This letter, of course, though Mr..
Jenkinson only grasped half the
truth, was the letter of green goods
gang. 1t was ingeniously prepared
go that cursory reading gave the
impression that it related to the pin !;
whereas it was directed solely to the
bill. Strange as it may seem, there
are many fish in the sea that as yet
have been uncaught and Mr. Jenkin-
son, unfortunately for him, was about
to nibble at the bait.
Now the green goods game is as old
as the hills. 1t is a game based upon
the safe premise that the victim being
as guilty of intent as the members Of
the gang would not squeal.
Mepsrs D G. Wilkes & Co. consist
ed OF a gentleman known as Shltty
Shift, and another of the name of
Strong Arm Smith. Each OF these
gentlemen was a man on whom the
police of Manhattan had long had a
wary eye, but at whose door they had
been unable as yet to lay any crime
directly.
Mr.. shifty Shift and his companion
were working the green goods game
in a manner all their own.
"It'sgrsat, Shift" said Smith, "sim-
ply great. We don't need no goods,
no money, no paper, no nothing. It's
a great snap and We can't get caught.
Messrs. Shifty and Strong Arm
Smith had waited at the ferry to note
the arrival of Hiram JenkiDson. They
saw him, but did not approach him.
They wanted to be sure they were
not watched.
"The postofice fellars, said Smith.
haven't got on to US yet, but We
don't want to take no chances. Plain
Clothes Billers of headquarters has
got his suspicious, and by George We
don't want him reckoning US up"
Mr.. Jenkinson made for the East
side of the town, and the two men
followed him. The coast seemed clear.
There was no followers of Mr.. Hiram
Jenkinson.
Jenkinson. the jay, finally reached
an East side corner, after considerable
trouble, and then he stopped and
looked about him. No sooner had he
done so than two well dressed gentle
men approached him. They were
Shift and Smith of D. G. Wilkes &
Co.
"Mr. Hiram Jenkinsonf" asked
Strong Arm Smith.
Mr.. Jenkiuson looked blankly at
him. He was not to be taken in.
Mr.. Strong Arm Smith nodded.