Tombstone epitaph., 1915-07-25

at full length on a roomy davenport. IL was after midnight when he stirred tor the first time. stretched languidly. and opened his eyes. In a moment he realized that he was in his own rooms, and the discomfort of having slept in his clothes became apparent
 A softchiming clock in the next room sounded in unison with the door bell
 The door-bell rang again. Poe lis tened for his man to answer. but there was not step to be heard in reply.
 Couldn't be anybody but a night watchman at this hour-or-Burns!" exclaimed the banker, straightening his rumpled clothes and stepping into the hall. With anticipatory eagerness he flung wide the apartment door.
 Hello. Burns!" he cried. Guessed 1t was you. But you ought to be home in bed"
 No No. had enough sleep. can't drug myself with it as you do. was at the office by three this after noon" Burns hurried in, slan:ned the door behind him. lootca about anx- iousiy to make sure that Poe was alone. glanced at his friends clothes. and smiled
 You lave been sleeping since l tef.s" ne queried.
 Every minute!" exclaimed Poe. And l feel like a boy. Though l would like to pull these things of and get into something decent"
 Keep 'em on. keep 'em on," said Burns. dropping into loungy leath- ern chair and exhaling long. pent- up breath
 Poe stood tall and straight by com parison to his friend punched in the chair. though he was little below av- craze height Stepping to switch in the wall. he turned on a light which illumined Burns face.
 Something new in the badmoney line9" he asked as Burns pulled forth his right hand. which had been thrust deep in his pocket, and threw open his clenched fingers. displaying three gold coins on his moist palm.
 They're badly worn!" observed Poe.
 Its Uncle Sam's own money this tIme," answered Burns You're right they're worn. And look at the date!"
 Poe picked up the double eagle which lay between two single ones, and whistled his surprise as he read the date, 1913"
 Worst of it is." continued Burns. they stuck our own bank on them. Every branch uptown had been talk ing them for a week or two" A worried look came into his face; he leaned forward anxiously. looking at the coins. T can't make head nor tail out of this thing"
 Head and tail seem to be about the same" replied Christopher Poe, weigh ing the coin on his finger tips, sensi- tive through years of actual money handling ;n bsnktellers' cages. and still kept in practice by his avocation of solving crimes against banks.
 Feels like the vintage of '72. and yet dated this year" he continued. They must have used an entirely new process !n sweating Ii cant be acid: the edges are never worn this thin. and the letters would be sharper. You see that it is quite smoothed down, particularly at the centers."
 Yes. know. I had an idea or two on the thing myself. but I'm all balled up on it." agreed Burns. They're all this years coins that have been tam pered with, and they're worn as con sistentIy smooth as that ten-dollar gold piece you read about. with which the fellow paid back what he had Dor rowed from his friend. and the friend paid his tailor. the tailor paid the coin to the doctor. the doctor gave it to the grocer and the grocer"
 By the way" cut in Poe. hefting another of the reduced coins on Dis sensitive finger tips, didn't lot oi this light stuff come in through the groeers?"
 Why. yes." cried Burns Howe YOU know that? Confound 1t! worked all evening getting information on that. I knew Id never be able to handle this alone"
 Good, The minute you said up town thought of the grocers in thai particular part of Manhattan island There's A reason. You'll know why later.
 cbristopher Poe smiled dreamiiy his violet eyes. usually vivid, became vague, and he absently picked up granite paper weight. placed one o' the gold coins nat on its face asaiIs the stone. and rubbed it back and fortf for two or three minutes musingiy- Al length he turned to Burns. who sa with fingers knit contempiatively. hi gaze fixed on the paper weight an' coin in Christopher Poe's fingers
 There's been nobody at all sweat ing coins since that Denver gang va caught three years ago, has there! Poe asked
 No. 1 can't remember even an. smal sweating being reported
 Christopher Poe smiled broadly. tn corners of his lips joining his nostrii in deep wrinkles, as they invariaoi Aid when he was lost in thought
 New York is such silly place TO any ore to try passing frightened soi eoins Now, as a criminal. one mign fancy San Francisco. Denver. Seatti'