The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1905-02-10

observed a good deal which stood him
in good stead later.
One day Buck and his prospective
recruit visited a moonshine still, an !
on the way home the counterfeiter
impaired some state secrets under the
influence Of the Jug He showed
Cason a sackful OF coin, and inquired
for his opinion of the workmanship.
1T won't do. Buck" said the agent:
its too risky. 1t looks all right,
but"
Buck pleaded and matched good and
bad dollars together to show the i'm
possibility Of detection. and with
feigned reluctance Cason allowed his
scruples to be overcome, and agreed
to go with Buck to his plant the next
night and get some spurious coin to
use over the gambling tables at Eden
burg.
The agent learned the names Of
three more of the men wanted without
asking for single one. He got well
along in the good graces of Buck and
soon had the names of every member
of the gang, but they were valueless
until he had actually found each pass
ing or in possession of counterfeit
money.
There was another branch Of the or
ganization near Reynoldsville. Sam
Secrist was the boss UP there. -Secrist
was the pillar of the church, man of
affairs and the. owner of a mansion
comprising Fl rooms. Cason didn't
hunt up Secrist when he went to Rey-
noldsville. He became acquainted
with the pastor of Secrist's church
and showed such energy in singing
and in relating his experiences in
prayer meeting that he attracted the
attention of Secrist. who introduced
himself.
From that time the officer was
frequent visitor at the house with II
rooms. Secrist had pretty daughter
named Minnie, who became much at
tached to the good looking friend Of
her father Before long it was an OPP
en- secret that they were engaged and
mitted Cason to full partnership in
all his affairs. He showed him where
his plants and materials for making
money were, and gave him some of the
output to pass.
At Reynoldsville Cason completed
the evidence for the government, and
there was nothing to do but for Dan
McSwinney to some along and round
up the gang During all these months
but once was breath of suspicion en-
tertained against the agent He had
gone out to meet three members of
the gang one night, and found them
masked with revolvers levelled.
I'VE believe you are a spy" said
the leader, land we've made up our
minds to kill you if you don't let us
search you"
Search mel" said Cason, laughing,
"Of course I'll let you search me, but
the first man man that attempts to
take one of my pistols I'll blow the
top of his head Off"
Anticipating such contingency, be-
fore he left the Office in Pittsburg he
had written a letter to himself, pur-
porting to come from sister. begging
him to quit his evil ways and lead an
honest life. The letter indicated that
he had been passing counterfeit money
and that government officers were pur-
suing him.
The letter saved the agents life
The counterfeiters slowly deciphered
it, put their heads together and decid-
ed that he was all right. Inside OF
three months from that time those
same men held up their hands at the
frowning muzzles of Dan McSwinney's
revolvers. The whole gang was round
ed up without firing a shot, and
wagonload of coin and materials for
warded to the federal court.
The most disagreeable thing that
happened to Cason was the remark
made to him my his fiancee, Miss
Minnie.
II would never have thought it OF
you, SAM" she said, you could sing
so beautifully."-New York Sun.
49,