River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-01-12

my store and walk the rest of the
way, as it would not do for them to
be seen in little store like this. They
have recognized the fact that make
the SWEETEST bonnets and sell them at
about half the price asked in the large
millinery parlors."
We'll, declare" said the old gen.
tleman; that is about the kind OF a
bonnet / want
81 thought you would fall in love
with it," said the little milliner, "as
it is beautiful The woman hasn't
called for it, yet even if thought she
would, will sell it inasmuch as 1t IS
going out of town and can make her
another just like it,
After haggling about the price for
a time the old gentleman concluded to
buy it.
81 will take it along with me-" said
he, as he laid down a twenty dollar
bill of the National Shoe &c Leather
bank to pay for it.
The milliner picked up the note and
looking it over for a moment, her
face lit up with a smile of pleasant
sarcasm, as she said, Look here, old
fellow, this bill won't do"
The curious expression upon her
face was certainly amusing, and the
countryman thought he noticed Turk
ing smile upon her countenance that
betokened sympathy and indicated
that she was posted on that kind of
money.
Look here, know that stuff as
well as you do, SO you just keep 1t and
give me something else"
They stood and looked each other
in the face There was mutual
sympathy-two souls with but single
thought.
my name is David Kirkbride,"
naming well known counterfeiter.
Good gracious" exclaimed the
woman" why didn't you say SO?
have never met you before, but have
often heard my friend Eva Cole talk
about you. What were you thinking
about when you came in here?"
ooh, just about what l told you;
besides l thought it was a good
chance to shove twenty.
why" said she, 81 buy these bon
nets at Johnson's and keep them for
stall. If you really want this ones
you are welcome to it"
AS she became more confidential,
she said, putting on peculiar s1n.le.
Suppose l had given you your change
in a bill like this one," as she pro-
duced a five dollar bill.
"Well, WE'LL" said the old fellow,
at would have been all right with me.
But am keeping pretty shady at this
time; carry my stuff concealed in
my tobacco pouch and only keep q
little on hand at time"
ooh" said she, "you men think you
are smart at doing things, but you're
slow. I was arrested in Cincinnati
by the city detective because l offered
a counterfeit bill in payment for
pair of gloves, but they searched me
at the police station and couldn't fine
any of the queer about me. / put up
nice spiel and was very indignant,
and Jim Ruffin, the the chief OF po-
lice, got scared and turned me loose"
"What do you think! | had more
than a thousand dollars of those five
dollar bills with me at the time, but
they couldn't begin to find them. Just
look here" she said; and reaching
her hand into an opening in her dress
she pulled a string and drew her bus
tie to the front.
This on being opened at the end
contained a pocket. The widow, by
pulling the string, could move the bus
tie around her waist at will.
what is this contrivance for%
Kirkbride inquired.
"You can put your hand into it and,
He pulled out a handful of clean
five dollar counterfeit notes. AS he
did so he expressed great amazement
at the ingenuity of her plan.
"I have carried 'phoney' with me for
years." she said, "but no one has ever
discovered or even suspected it."
At this moment the Jersey farmer
reached out and grabbed the widows
hustle. Unbuckling the belt that held
it, he pulled it from her person. She
was greatly surprised when she real
lied that she was at last fairly caught
red-handed.
This charming little widow was now
escorted to my branch office on
Blocker street. After long and te-
dious questioning and convincing ar
gument on my part, she so far yielded
as to turn "squealer'' and assist the
government.
This little woman with the spark
ling brown eyes was fair sample OF
exquisite female shrewdness. The lie
tie dodge she played upon the de
tective who in parlance was "gun.
ming" her in the car, was this. She
stepped into the retiring room, let
down her hair and braided it. Throw
ing her bonnet out of the window, she
put a small worsted cap on her head.
Turning her dress (that had been
specially made for the purpose and
artistically arranged so as to make
it long or short) inside out, she bore
the appearance of school girl. AS
Stunning a look of innocent childhood,
she could meet the gaze of the officer
and pass along without discovery.
She was now the entering wedge
to the arrest of number of persons
connected with the Miner gang Of
counterfeiters, and the government
was amply compensated for the
money expended in running her down