The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-09-19

final letter, only to see the money
paid, the incident closed, the thing
ended For Randolph Mason It was
not a defeat only, 1t was capitula-
ton, a rout. His standard had been
dragged of the field by a variety &C
tress and a red-light detective. / was
unspeakably bitter and depressed.
MY train to New York left over the
Southern at twelve o'clock. would
go to the post Office for some letters
sent after me, get a little lunch and
hurry out of this city. went into
the post office, got my letters, and was
coming out when a deputy marshal
touched me on the elbow and asked
me to come up to the district attor-
ney's office. knew then that Masons
trap had sprung, and hurried with
the little man up the iron stairway.
Mr. Robert Henderson was boiling
in picturesque expletives when | en-
tered the ante-room of the prosecutor
for the government. HIS collar was
wilted down, his wonderful waistcoat
crumpled, tiny threads of Precipitation
lay along the fat folds Of his chin. He
broke out louder when he saw me.
That's him. That's one of the gang"
he shouted Nov get the other one.
Get this Caroline Pickney woman, and
we'll land them in the penitentiary."
AT this moment, tall, gracious man
with soft, drawing accent that
purred dangerously like a cats, ap.
peered in the doorway of the district
attorneys Office. May l inquire" he
said, who it is that is about to send
Miss Caroline Pickney to the peniten-
tiary?"
Its me-" said Henderson. 'Her
and this yegger have been shown the
queer"
your language is unintelligible,"
said the man.
why, green goods" growled Hen
derson. "Passin' counterfeit money,
that's what mean"
1t was my turn to be astonished. So
the packs were counterfeit! Surely
Mason could not have made SO danger.
Gus a blunder. He knew the laws OF
the United States. He could not have
opened the doors of the penitentiary
wider to us. The mere possession OF
counterfeit money was crime. Per-
haps he did not believe that Madame
Versay would dare come to the Off
GERS of the law with It. Perhaps some
other arm of his plan had broken
down. was amazed and alarmed. The
man in the door looked inquiringly at
ne. / took out my card and handed
| 1t to him. He bowed. II am the dis
trict attorney" he said. Then he spoke
to the deputy marshal Go outside,
close the door and see that am not
interrupted" He turned then to the
/ detective. Now, my man." he con-
tinued, what is all this furore about?"
Henderson gave the matter swiftly
in detail, translating his Tenderloin
terms as he proceeded. When he had
concluded the narrative, the district
4 attorney asked to see the money. Hen
derson unlocked his satchel, took out
a pack, stripped off the gum band at
either end OF it, and, holding the end
of the pack in his fingers, shook out
the bills before the district attorney.
/ TIE lawyer had been listening with
the closest attention, lis face clouded
and distressed. Now, 1t cleared like
a summer morning. Are the others
like this2" he said.
"The same" replied Henderson, "a
coed tenner on the top and bottom
and the rest queer"
Then" said the district attorney,
the laws of the United States have
not been violated. These bills are not
counterfeit"
Mr.. Henderson mopped his wet face.
What" he calculated. 1T amt good
money; is 2"
NO" rerlicd the lawyer; 1T is not
money at ALL
Astonishnent drove Mr.. Henderson
to his primal tongue. Hell, mani" he
said, "'Taint good! 'Taint bad!
You're stringln' me"
The district attorney was amused.
lie took the pack of money and spread
i out on the table. These" he said,
are bills of the Confederate States
II America. They are in no sense
.ounterfeit. The passing OF these bills
FOR money OF the United States is no
crime against its laws. The Federal
courts have time and again SO decided.
although these bills closely resemble
certain banknote issues of the Federal
government and have been more than
once complained of by the treasury
department"
Then he added, with courtly bow
to Henderson, My dear sir, you have
in your hands the promise Of van.
ished republic 10 pay you some ten
thousand dollars. Once upon time,
these bills might have purchased you
an excellent lunch and perhaps cigar
with 1t. I doubt 1t little, now. You
might try Moseby Taylor on the corner
below. Mention JubaI Early"
Then he turned to me. "Mr Parks"
he said, as you have not these potent