Year: 1878

During the year of 1913 the West wa'
flooded with counterfeit coiners. Ii
was so well manufactured that IL passed
readily. The evil at last became 50
great that the United authorities re-
quested that a skilful detective might
be sent to ferret out the nest of coiners.
vas fixed upon to perform this duty.


had nothing to guide me. The
fact, however, that Chicago was the
city where the counterfeit coin was
most abundant, led me to suspect that
the manufactory might be somewhere
within its limits. 1t was, therefore, to
the capital of the West that first pro-
ceeded. spent five weeks in that beau
tiful city, but without gaining the
slightest clue to the counterfeiters.


began to grow discouraged, and
really thought should be obliged to re-
turn home without having achieved any
result.


One day received letter from my
wife requesting that | would send her
home some money, as she was out of
funds. | went into bank and asked
fer draft, at the same time handing
a sum of money to pay for it, among
which were several half dollars. The
clerk pushed three of the half dollars
back to me.


"Counterfeit," said ne.


"What!" said |, "do you mean 70 tell
me those half dollars are counterfeit"


al do"


care you certain ~


"Perfectly certain. They are re-
markably well executed, but they are
deficient in weight. See fOr-yourself."


And he placed one of them in the scale
against genuine half dollar on the
other side. The latter weighed down
the former.


"That is the best executed counterfeit
coin ever saw in my life," l ex-
claimed, examining it very closely. els
all the counterfeit money in circulation
here Of the same character as thisH"


"Oh, dear, no." replied the clerk, "it
is not nearly so well done. These are
the work of Ned Willett, the famous
New York counterfeiter. know them
well, for have handled great deal of
them in my time. Here is some OF the
money that is in circulation here" he
added, taking several half dollars from
a drawer. "You see the milling is not
nearly so perfect as Ned Willett's al
though it is pretty well done, too"


compared the two together, and
found that he was right. l supplied the
place of the three counterfeit half dol
lars with good coin, and returned the
former TO my pocket again.


A few days after this received in
formation which caused me to take a
journey to village situated about thirty
miles from Chicago. l arrived there at
night and took up my quarters at the
only tavern in the place. 1t was a
wretched dwelling, and kept by an
old man and woman, the surliest couple
! think it has ever been my lot to meet.
In answer to my inquiry as to whether
l could have lodgings there for the
night, / noticed that the host gave pc
culiar look to his wife, and after some
whispering was informed in the most
ungracious manner possible that | could
have a bed.


have frequently in the course Of my
life been obliged to put up with
wretched accommodation, so | did not al
low my equanimity of temper to be de-
stroyed by the miserable fare set before
me, ard the still more miserable sleep
ing apartment into which was ushered
after | had concluded my repast.


The chamber was small in size, and
was certainly we'll ventilated, for i
could see the stars peeping through the
roof. The bed was simply bag OF
straw thrown into one corner Of the
room, without sheets or covering of any
kind. This last fact, however, was not
of any consequence, as it was oPpres-
sively hot.


stood for more than an hour
gazing out of the opening which served
for a window. Before me was spread
animmense prairie, the limits Of which
/ could not see. The tavern in which l
had taken up my abode appeared to be
isolated IRON all other dwellings, and
save the croak OF the tree frog and the
hum of the locust not a sound reached
my ears. IL was beautiful moonlight
night, and so bright that l could see to
read the smallest print.


AT last began to grow weary, and
throwing myself on nay pallet ! was
soon plunged intoa deep slumber. How
long slept | know not, but was
awakened by dull sound which re-
sembled some one hammering In the
distance. l suppose 1t was the pecu-
liarity OF the sound that swoke me, for
1t was by no means loud, but conveyed