Gilpin observer., 1909-05-27

so you may Judge for yourself If my
action was not for the best. That
belief is balm to my conscience when
1t pricks me for this dereliction.
"A few years ago, as you will re-
member. there was quite a scandal
over the discovery of a gigantic swim
die worked on the federal government
through bogus cigar stamps. The trick
was turned by a large cigar factory
in a certain eastern city. | worked
on this case from start to finish and
1t was pretty feather in the cap Of
the secret service department. The
printing plant of the counterfeiters
was captured, together with all of
the operatives, and a large quantity
of tax paid stamps for boxes of so and
100 cigars. The president of the
factory, highly respected banker, was
involved and sent up for a term of
years along with the other GRIM
inals.
only one person escaped who was
known to have been connected with
the scheme. This was the engraver
of the plates from which the stamps
were printed. The engraving was ex-
cellently executed and denoted skill
and what the artists call feeling.
There is an individuality about the
work of every artist, just as there
is distinctive quality to every per-
sons handwriting. Perhaps you have
noticed this in the pictures in the
funny papers and in the comic sec
tions of the daflies. One familiar
with these drawings can name the
artist every time without seeing the
signature. This rule holds good quite
as much in engraving as in any of
the other drafting arts.
In the files of my library are sam
pies of the work of every engraver
ever employed by the bureau of en-
craving and printing, as well as of
every employe of the large printing
companies which make postage stamps
and bank notes for foreign govern
ments. These samples are labeled
and filed away with data regarding the
engraver and a photograph. If that
is obtainable. The government
has to keep a constant watch upon
these men. for from their ranks come
the most dangerous and troublesome
counterfeiters with whom we have to
contend.
The bogus cigar stamps were en-
larged by photography and compared
with the work of every engraver in
the files. 1t was evident to the expe-
rienced eye that none of these had
turned the trick.
Among the captured plates was one
which had never been used. II was for
a stamp of small denomination. 1t was
found in the safe where the other
plates were kept, still oiled and in
closed in the wrapper that had doubt
less been put on 1t by the engraver
when he finished the job. Plainly
marked on the wrapper. with the vase
prints of four fingers and a thumb
They were long, tapering. shapely
INSTRUMENTATION those of an
artist. Here was undisputable proof
of the identity of the engraver or
of the person who had tied up the die
after its completion.
"One of the members of the gang
had said that this plate had never
been unwrapped. but that 1t had been
placed in the safe just as 1t came
from the engraver. None of the
prisoners. however, gave the slight
est clew to the identity OF that indi-
vidual. In fact, 1t seemed that no
one but the bank president knew who
had made the plates, and while he
made a complete confession on all
other points, he was as mute as
an oyster ON this subject.
Some years had passed since the
stamp case was closed. when l accept
ed an invitation to visit college mate
in one of the cities which lie on the
Mississippi river. / was determined
to have a complete rest and did not
even let the department know my
whereabouts. l did not want to be
disturbed with professional matters
during this vacation. 1t was n de-
lightful place to visit, rare old
southern household where every men,
Der of the family made the visitor feel
that each was individually honored
by his presence, and soon forgot my
work, the department, and everything
connected with 1t, in the real pleas
ure OF my vacation.
"One afternoon / strolled down to
the river front to watch the negro
rousters unload the rampant of cotton
bales from a big river packet. A pretty
houseboat was tied up near by, and
while ! smoked contentedly. seated
on recumbent bale>of cotton, n car
riage drove down the steep, rock-faced
surface Of the levee and stopped at
the gang-plank, scarcely 20 feet from
my position.