Year: 1875

Knew h'm for years before l could ever
prevail on him to recount any of his adven-
lures but meeting him in Boston, about a
year ago, | succeeded in getting several in
teresting stories from him, among them the
following. which he related in his modest
way


Not many summers ago, well executed
counterfeit fifty cent notes were widely
circulated in the Southwest, and for time
all efforts to trace them to their source
were in vain. Four detectives-Messrs.
Melhorn, Wilson, Baird and myself-had
followed fancied clue to Knoxville. Ten
nessee, where all traces disappeared My
companions were convinced that we were on
a false scent, and resolved to depart for
Richmond, Virginia from which base they
had reason to believe they could work sue
ccssfully, did not share their views and
remained in Knoxville, with an understand
ing that we should communicate by tcle-
graph, in cipher.


They departed, and had hardly time to
reach Richmond, when, just as [ was begin
ming togrow discouraged [ made discovery
that led me to believe in fact to feel sure
that the skillful countcrfciting was not done
in any city or large town, as we had conjec-
tured, but in the mountains of Eastern
Tennessee or Western North Carolina. |
Immediately sent an explanatory dispatch
to my friends in Richmond, and started
Southcastward, intending to do all I could
toward finding the location of the counter
feiters before my colleagues could join me-


Owing to the direction it was necessary
to take, | could not 90 far by railroad, and
so started across the country OF foot, for it
was likely that / might soon be in posi-
ton where even horse would be a bur
den to me. l carried only li5ht satchel,
and to all whom I corvcrsed with on the
way, | represented myself as agent Of Il
Western mining company, on my way to
the mountains to prospect for lead and cop
per You know it doesn't do for a detec-
tive to make his business knowon on ali occa-
sions. therefore made my inquiries at
the taverns l stopped at, as 70 what reports
had been heard Of indications of ores in the
mountains.


About four o'clock on the fourth day
from Knoxville, after climbing narrow,
winding mountain road all day, l found
myself high up in the Allegheny mountains,
and stopped at a tavern which | shall call
the Half Way House. 1t was an ordinary
country tavern, whose bar furnished only
whisky and cider, and whose table was
spread with plain substantial food. | told
the landlord l should take supper and lodg-
ing with him, and gave him my satchel,
which he placed on one end Of the bar-for
one room did duty as bar-room, sitting room
and Office.


While I was waiting for supper, several
persons came in and patronized the bar, the
last one being tall muscular man, in the
garb Of farmer | have made face read
ing business, and at the first glance |
detected an indescribale expression on the
conntenance, that told me there was some
thing hidden beyond. | felt a.still deeper
interest in him when he laid down new
ffty-ccnt note to pay for his drink. Hav-
ing received his change he sauntered out
bestowing mere passing glance on me.


II suppose that's farmer" | remarked
to the landlord, carelessly.


"Yes, l guess he is" replied the land
lord II don't really know him, he may be-
long in some Of the little farming valleys,
some miles away"


l was sitting by window looking to-
ward the east. | was anxious to see which
way the farmer went but | did not move
from my seat, knowing that should he go
eastward. / should see him, and that falling
to see hin go eastward, | might safely con-
clude that he had gone westward. he
probably stood minute in front of the tav-
ern for it was that length of time before
saw him stroll off toward the east. He
walked in a leisurely manner, never once
looking back.


| When he was out of sight, | went to the
bar and drank glass Of cider laying down
one dollar bill in payment. My object
was to get that fifty cent note IN change
and was not disappointed, 1t came, and
with it four well worn ten cent notes that
looked veay wretched by comparison.
thrust the change carelessly into my vest
pocket and resumed my seat by the window
from which | was soon afterward called to
/ supper.