The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-09-27
The GOOD
COUNTERFEIT
By JEROME 2. CORN
Copyright, 1905, by Jerome p. CORN
By JEROME p. CORN

new 1OThg Ole rather luSlSulu-
cant affair; the other, Bethany Bros, a
remarkably wealthy and prosperous
concern for so small a place
Friday morning, Oct. ), when Mr..
Charles, the old cashier for Bethany
B.os, endeavored to open the big safe
the lock would not respond to his
manipulations, and the hour for COM
mencing business found Bethany Bros
in the embarrassing predicament of
having no money with which to pay
checks.
Early in the morning a stranger call
ed, wanting change for a hundred dol
lar bill. He stood around quite awhile
listening to the bankers excuses to
customers and others.
The lock won't work. We can't
open the safe" repeated James Betha-
ny for the fiftieth time, but man
from the safe makers will be here at
o'clock, and tomorrow we will be all
right"
The safe was in plain sight, and, as
usual, the makers name was lettered
on it.
The stranger expressed sympathy
and showed his interest by asking
many questions and telling OF similar
cases that had come to his knowledge
He took the noon train for New York,
but before leaving he sent long tele
gram in cipher to one William West.
II r. street, New York.
The fact that he sent a telegram did
not come out, however, until after the
mischief had been done.
At o'clock that evening both the
Bethany brothers and Mr.. Charles
We're at the railroad station, and when
the train stopped man, carrying
large and a small valise, stepped off.
On being accosted by James Bethany
he said he was the person expected.
After he had eaten supper all four
repaired to the bank.
1t was 3 O'Clock in the morning be
fore the safe was opened and the lock
put in order and oiled
"Gracious" exclaimed Mr. Charles.
Il didn't suppose il would take half 50
long"
The expert explained that it was
very fine lock, almost never getting out
of order, but when once it did go wrong
was very difficult to manipulate and
adjust.
He set it on new combination and
gave the numbers on a card to Mr.
Charles
When all was finished he presented a
form of receipt, printed expressly for
his firm, which Bethany Bros. signed,
showing that he had done the work,
how long it took, what was the matter,
etc. The bin for his services and ex-
penses, he said would be sent by mail
Then the man, whose name was Mein-
ert, went to bed at the hotel. The next
day, Saturday, at noon he left for New
York
The bank opened as usual Saturday
And to dispel any doubt as to its sol
vency the counter was piled high with
currency.
Monday morning when Mr.. Charles
opened the safe he found only a few
dollars in specie and a slip of paper
on which was scrawled, You should
change your name to z. H. Mark 6;
Brother"
After the first shock was over, which
caused CONSERVATION bordering on pan
ic in the town, telephone communica-
ton was had with the safe makers and
the New York police
The Bangup Safe company said that
their man had not yet returned, but
they wouldn't listen for a moment to
any doubts Of his honesty.
The next day they telephoned that
Meinert had reported at the Office in
such condition that he could hardly
walk or talk.
His story was as follows.
"On the train, in the seat Just in
front Of me-, We're two men, who from
their conversation I learned were IN
the l. Safe company. One Of them
was going to Elmira on the same err
rand rs my own to open Il safe. The
other was a salesman on his way to
Chicago. He asked me for match
and gave ne a cigar. They were ex-
tremely pleasant, and pretty soon we
were all three talking safe business.
After smoking the cigar | don't re
member anything except vaguely that
one of them got off the train with me
and we had something to drink. When
came to my senses Monday afternoon
was in a cheap hotel in Buffalo. l
couldn't move or speak, but a doctor
came and got me on my feet. The
landlord said a man claiming to be my
brother brought me there early Satur-
day morning in cab, saying | was on
a spree; that he had to 20 to Cleve-
land, but would be back Tuesday. He
paid three days board for me When
found my satchels were missing |
suspected that one of the men had
taken nay place at B-ville and that
the bank had been robbed All my
money was gone, but the landlord
bought me ticket to New York and
put me on the train l was very fool
ish and shall never get over it,"
The amount stolen was in the neigh
borhood Of 100000
1t didn't take mel NJ Sharp Of the
detective firm OF Good * Sharp-two
minutes to evolve the correct theory Of