The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-04-19

tlOilS were uOatlnS AROUND inc Cllteu
States. and many u time II was a toss
up as To whether or not Il bin was good
or bad, so perfect We're the limitations.
The secret service at This time was
not in the best of shape. II was openly
bruItcd about that many of the oper-
atlNes were In sympathy With the gang
of countcrfeiters. Evidently this gang
had a central or national organization,
because every time a counterfeiter was
arrested the best legal talent In the
country was employed to defend him.
Bail to the extent of $40, 600 or S25, 600
was readily furnished many times for
men totally unknown in the city where
in the We're caught. Then when the
case was called the accused would not
appear; bail would be declared for
feited. and Immediately paid without
waiting for It's collection to be enforced
by the slow process of law. The gang
was strongly fortified with two kinds
of money-'green goods or counter
felt, which was circulated among the
dear public, and shake down or real
money, which was used in the defense
of those unfortunate enough to be
caught.
Finally, so bold and general did the
gang become. that the entire subject
was laid before a abinet meeting in
Washington and drastic measures de-
termined upon. 1t was Secretary Bou-
telle who recommended that Colonel H.
c. Whitley be appointed chief of the
secret service and given special instruc-
lions to stop the counterfeiting. Whit
ley was consulted and, after much de-
liberation. agreed to accept the posi-
ton, provided he was given a free
hand as to men and expense. Politics
and pull We're to be eschewed; he was
to choose his operatives and run
the department as his judgment die
tated.
Whitley obtained the desired results.
The gang was broken UP and many of
to remain in hiding. There We're, of
course, n great many curious n eXcit-
Ing cases which We're carried to a sue
cessful conclusion. but one of the most
Interesting was that of the TRADERS
Fives,' socalled because a counterfeit
bank. of Chicago. The spurious bill
was well-night perfect. but, as is
usually the case, there was a slight diff
ference I'm the details of the bill. The
cashiers signature had a curve of the
letter u" made slightly unlike the orig
crossed a given line, taking almost a
microscope TO detect it.
AS soon as its existence became
Known the secret service men in Chi
cago were placed at work on the case.
No Roadway was mads. Outside help
WAS calieu ~, SUN no crew as 10 the
identity of the gang uttering this bill.
Chief Whitley, at Washington, was
chagrined, and at long distance began
to direct the case. The Chicago opera
tives had about given up in despair
when. n day, Charles Mason, in
charge Of the local office, received an
order from Whitley directing him
lMason) and one other man to be at
Shenandoah, Ia, two days hence. They
We're to arrive after dark. and at
8 o'clock the same evening they We're
to board a train leaving Shenandoah
Tor st. Joseph, Mo. AT the first station
south OF Shenandoah two strange men.
one carrying a sole leather valisc, were
to board the train. These two mel
Mason md his partner We're to watch
not for one instant were they to lose
sight of them. At st. Joseph the two
be Joined by a third party, who would
be awaiting them at the station. AS
soon as this meeting took place all
three Of them We're TO be arrested, and
a full report made by wire to Washing-
ton. Extraordinary care was to be
taken to get the leather valise.
Mason studied these instructions very
carefully. They We're specific and to
the point. He was somewhat puzzled
as to who to take With him. Most of
his men were busy on important cases
and to take n one of them off at this
iIilC e MoIh liuIu AbIDllcl J1lIN
Cheney was a warm personal friend of
his; they had worked on many a case
together; perhaps he would go. True,
Cheney was the head of a big detective
service company, and could command
big prices for his services, but there
ran i'm his veins that always unsatis-
fed longing for action and excitement.
II he could take Cheney. Mason felt as
sured of success, and he wanted sue
cess for two reasons: he admired
Whitley and then. too, he was alnbi-
tlous and aspired to a higher position
in the service.
When Mason's name was brought in
to Cheney by the faithful Jeff he was
quite busy, but he put everything
aside and bade his old friend welcome.
Mason explained his mission and add
ed:
That's the whole Story. Cheney. and
I'd like to have you go if you can.
All right, Mason, I'll do it. 1t will
only take two or three days time at
best and haven't anything very i'm
portant on hand now"
Mason handed Cheney his chiefs
letter N together they studied its
contents carefully.
No mistaking the chiefs intent; is
there. Chuck?" said Cheney.
That's true" replied Mason. THE
old man appears to have it all worked
out like a chess problem. 1t doesn't
Aooh IKE Il very PHEASANT JOD, though.
That train leaving Shenandoah at eight
p. m. reaches st. Joe one in the morn
ing. There the two men are to be
Joined by a third party, and We are
to pinch the whole crowd. Our work is
cut out all right"
We'll did Chief Whitley know the
Galiber Of the man he had SO wisely
chosen. Mason did not know the mean
ing of the word fear; he had been
in many a hard-fought scrap with
moonshiners, smugglers and counter
letters. and carried scars of more than
one bullet wound If his chief had Or
dered him to arrest a dozen men he
would have made the attempt. Truly !
did he possess the Balaklava spirit:
Theirs not to reason Why:
Theirs but to do and die"
What case do you reckon this is.
Mason?"
Hanged if 1 know, Cheney. There's
a whole slew of them on now. You
can bet the old man knows what he's
talking about. He's the best long dis
n detective l know"
Two days later they took a train
and reached Shenandoah after dark.
At eight p. m. they boarded the ST.
Joe train. and at the first station
south two men one carrying a sole