Ije tmcs, New Bloomftelir, pa
CATCHING! A COUNTERFEITER.
A Detective's Adventure.
MY name is no matter I am called
Tony. " I have never been a mem
ber of the regular polico, and I hoie the
vanity will be pnrdonod when I Bay that I
consider., my occupation a grade or two
above it. ,
I have a partner in business whoso real
name 1 have no right to make public. He
is a coarBO-featnred person and is capable
of converting himself by means of dress
into one of the most rough-looking and re
pulsive of men. Wliilo in one of the
meanest of his disguises, some one gavo
him the name of " Slouch," and this rath
er repulsive title, attached to him at first
in a spirit of pleasantry, is now about the
only namo by which I address him. Ho is
a good-hcartcd fellow ; muscular and coura
geous, and he has, in more than one in
stance, rescued mo from great peril, if not
actually saved my life.
Slouch lias a rcmarkablo faculty of read
ing crimo on tho face. His conclusions nro
generally correct yet how ho arrives at
them has always been . a mystery to mo.
My owii suspicions are mostly tho result of
some theory, and I will freely confess that
my imagination has often led mo nstray.
It is different with Slouch. A single look
at the suspected person seems enough for
him. Ho has ofton upset a nicely woven
tissue of apparently corroborative incidents
for ino by a glance at the party suspected,
a shake of the head and a gruff and pro
voking dissent. Only one instance occur
red where I was right nnd ho was absolute
ly wrong ; but as its recital would be a
digression, I shall reserve it for another
timo.
We are sometimes together, and at other
times widely separated. There is not a
railroad, caual or steamboat lino in tho
United States that ono or the other of us
has not traveled over in the pursuit of our
calling. Recently wo have been sojourn
ing in San Francisco.
Some timo since tho officers of tho F
bank, in tho city of New York, gave infor
mation to the police, that their notes had
boon extensively counterfeited, in a man
ner so alarmingly perfect that many of tho
spurious bills had passed through their
own hands without detection; in fact, the
first intimation of tho crimo was tho per
ceptible inflation of paper in circulation.
Every lino and shade of tho original bill
was reproduced in the counterfeit in such
a manner that without tho aid of a micro
scope, detection was utterly impossible.
Ouce discovered it was plain that no other
counterfeiting process could so completely
imit:jto tho genuino but tho art of photo
graphy,' and in that science tho nianipulo
' tors must have been skilled.
Slouch and I wont to work at once, led
by .tho incentive of a largo conditional re
ward. We labored for many weeks with
out success. There was not a single pho
tographic establishment iu that largo city
that escaped our visits in disguise, and in
my zeal to succeed in tho undertaking, I
studied tho art from beginning to end. Near
ly three months had been fruitlessly spent in
this way, when ono evening a messenger
was sent to us in haste from tho cashier of
the bank requesting us to hurry to his
room. Ho informed us that two passenger
tickets had been purchased that day at the
California steamship oflico, every dollar for
which had boon paid in tho spurious bills.
Ho had made some inquiries himself in the
matter, and informed us that the ticket
agent had no recollection of tho persona
from' whom ho had received the money,
and that tho steamer would sail at nine
o'clock on the following morning. Slouch
and I took the matter into consideration,
and urgod by tho advice and counsel of tho
bank officers, wo determined to take pas
sage in tho same boat. A trunk apiece was
hastily packed with our motley wardrobe,
and after agreeing upon our disguises, we
sallied out the next morning, taking dif
ferent routes, and proceeded without any
show of haste to tho vessel.
I hesitate to say that I was much dis
guised on this trip, because my appear
ance, as near as I could make it up, was
that of a well-dressed gentleman of for
tune travelling for pleasure, and, of course,
the first cabin was chosen for my quarters.
Slouch had solocted a very repulsive dis
guiso, and might have been scon, as tho
steamer left tho pier, awkwardly striding
about among the passengers, the most per
fect semblance of a sneak thiof I ever saw.
As a precaution, lie bore abetter of intro
duction to the master of the vessel, endors
ed by the Chief of the New York police.
Slouch and I were, of course, apparent
strangers, and were as widely as possible
separated on board the ship.
Only a few days of our voyage had pass
ed before I had succeeded in winning the
good opinions of my companions iu the
cabin, while my partnor, in the same time,
by his manner! and appearance, had made
' himself an object of suspicion and distrust
to the whole steerage. There was an unus
ually small number of us in the cabin, and
among them not a single person whose de
meanor could create a suspicion of crime.
The women, without exception, were ex
tremely hidy-liko and entertaining, and I
was inclined iu (heir society to forget the
grand purposo of my voyage ; but Slouch
got me occasionally aside, and talked busi
ness so intensely that I beeame a little
more vigilant and attentive.
Among the male passengers was one who
especially engaged my observation. lie
was a person of conspicuous nppcarauce,
not unhandsome in face, faultless in figure,
and rather foppishly attired. Ho wore a
dark imperial and mustache, a brilliant
upon his scarf, two or three diamond rings
upon his 'fingers, and carried a delicate
ratan caiio with a deal of graco" "There
was an assumed air of dignity, and a pat
ronizing manner about him that disgusted
me, the more as I could detect in his ex
pression of features a weak and shallow
mind. This person gavo his undivided at
tention to tho lady passengers, was prodigal
in compliments to them, and was fast bo
coming a favorite. Ho appeared a perfect
stranger to mo until about tho sixth day
out, when seeing him early ono morning
heforo his toilet was made, his face became
invested with nn old familiarity. I becamo
suspicious at once that he was playing a
false part, and I began watching him more
closely. On tho first occasion that ofTcrcd
I engaged him in conversation', and it re
quired no little skill to bring out the asser
tion that ho, too, was traveling for pleas
ure. I noticed also that ho had a lively cyo
upon a certain quiet nnd very handsome
lady, who was apparently without a pro
tector, and whoso costly silks aud abundant
jewels indicated no lack of funds. IIo was
freo to tell mo his name was Ross, and was
particular to hint on every occasion how
fortune had favored him with wealth. Tho
lady spoken of had attracted my attention
and I confess to feeling nt tho time a littlo
tender partiality toward her. Tho reader
will therefore not bo surprised that I was
observant of Ross' gallantries to her, and
that I was somewhat annoyed when I saw
that sho seemed to regard him with favor.
Perhaps it was tho stimulus of a rival, per
haps tho woman's charms alono that arous
ed me to regard her; but at any rato 1 fell
to gazing upon and thinking of her, and
that, too, after only two or thrco short and
rather cool interviews, wherein I utterly
failed to exchange a single tender look.
Meantime, Ross, to my utter discomfiture,
was admitted by her to tho most confiden
tial interviews.
It was about tliis time that I began to
scrutinize Itoss more closely with tho view
of detecting his complicity in tho crimo I
was employed to diso over. Tho more I
rellectcd, the moro I becamo convinced of
tho reasonableness of my suspicions. His
business, whatever it might have been, was
never onco alluded to by him, and any
method by which I could obtain a cluo to it
was to be sought for. Did ho understand
the art of photographing? If ho did, ono
good point was made. I had failed iu
every attempt to find out his occupation,
until the following opportunity occurred,
in availing myself of which I claim some
credit for sagacity.
Ross came limping "to me onn evening
bearing au expression of pain. I inquired
what the matter was, at which ho dropped
into a seat beside me, and iu a coarse man
ner began cursing his corns, which appear
ed to bo the cause of his lameness. While
ho was lamenting his misfortuno an idea
occurred to mo. I had been troubled with
corns mysolf, and had eradicated them with
uitrftto of Bilvcr, a chemical much used in
photographing. "Mr. Hoss," said 1 ' 'you
can be effectually, relieved by an article
that you have probably used, and quite
likely to havo with you."
' What is it?" inquired he, anxiously.
" It is a chemical that stains tho skin
and hair black," said I.
"Indeed," said Koss with foreed sur
prise, and apparently very uneasy.
, " It is an article indispensablo to tho art
of taking pictures by the solar light," said
I, gazing directly into his eyes.
" Yes," replied Hoss, without inquiry.
" Nitrate of silver. Did you ever uso
it?" I inquired. '
"No," said he curtly, and dropping his
eyes before my gaze, ho arose and left nio
unmistakably embarrassed and annoyed.
This interview nearly settled tho question
in my mind in regard to his criminality,
and tho prospect of bringing him to justice
pleased me. I observed him closer that)
ever. Ho appeared less lamo tho morning
after I had suggested the remedy, and on
the second day his lameness had entirely
disappeared. I ventured to ask, after con
gratulating him upon his improvement,
whether ho had obtained the chemical
aboard ; although he denied it, I had but
little doubt he had availed himself of my
remedy. Fortunately, to discover whether
he had was completely within my power.
If Koss had. applied the chemical to his
corns, a blackened, indelible stain remain
ed, which important fact I was determined
to find out. Slouch and I met frequently
to compare notes, and our interviews were
generally late at night. Ho always camo
to me upon the quarter deck, aud, as our
ill luck would huve it, had been observed
by Hoss trespassing upon the quaver for
bidden to the occupants of the steerage.
The extont of my perplexity can be im
agined wbeivwalting anxiously to have
an interview with my partner for tho pur
pose of dovislng a method to have a peep
at Ross too, Ross himself came to me in a
confidential way, and whispered ' that he
was keeping a eloso watch on that thievish
looking fellow (describing my partner), that
his scarf pin had been stolen, and tbat he
was suspicious it had been stolon by Slouch.
I managed with some risk and difficulty to
whispor a few words to my partner shortly
after, requesting him to keep away from
me till the next day. Meantime I set my
wits to work to get a look at Ross' , foot.
We were then sailing in a low latitude.
The nights were sultry and warm, and all
the windows and doors that decency would
allow open during slccpingliours, wore
left so. Ross' apartment being near niine;
I arose late in the night, and i taking a
lighted lamp, I held it concealed beneath
my hat, and stole noiselessly within his
chamber. Nothing but a sheet covered
him, and I gently raised its corner, and
thus exposing his foot, I set the rays of my
lamp upon it. A protty large spot, as black
as ink, disfigured one of his toes. His deep
and measured respiration emboldened mo
to remain still longer, and I gavo a good
look at his face, in a stato of repose. The
conviction again, and with more force, pre
sented itself that I had known hiin long
before. I returned to my berth puzzling
my brain to replace him iu my recollection,
but without success.
Having proceeded thus far, I contrived
on tho following morning to see my part
ner when I laid the whole matter before
him. I had no doubt of his approval of
my stratagem to implicate Hoss ; but he
surprised and mortified mo by shaking his
head in a dubious way. My nitrate of
silver tost went for nothing with him. The
Physiognomy of Ross hod already been
submitted to his wonderful scrutinizing ex
amination, and his judgment pronounced
him innocent of tho crimo. I argued and
endeavored to reason with him upon the
suspicious manner of Rosb when I had sug
gested tho remedy for his corus,and his in
explicable concealment of tho chemical,
which there could bo no doubt ho carried
with him, to all of which Slouch scarcely
deigned a reply.( Wliilo I was urging him
to carry the matter further, ho interrupted
mo with the following question :
" How would you liko to mako lovo to
the gal with tho pearl bracelet, Tony?"
I replied that I was about half in love
with tlio lady already, and that it would be
a pleasant undertaking ; expressing some
doubts of my success.
"Isn't sho pretty?" said I.
Slouch shrugged his shoulders, gave me
a sly wink, and then burst into a laugh.
"Mako love to her," said he.
"For what?" said I, becoming o littlo
uneasy.
"Ilusincss," answered my partner seri
ously. " Well," said Slouch, "you must mako
up to that gal in a sort of loving, serious
way, and we'll both see a littlo fun."
I was about to call for a further expla
nation from my partner, when I chanced
to observo Ross watching us from a dis
tance. I left Slouch at once and went
sauntering off in a careless way.
I felt a good deal annoyed by this inter
view with my partner. IIo had treated
my stratagem with indiflcrenco and had re
garded my affinity for a lady with levity.
The idea of my being requested to make
lovo to her as a cool business transaction
with a predicted result of witnessing fun !
Slouch was something of a wag, but I
knew from the manner of his request that
ho expected some result moro than amuse
ment. I had now an additional inccntivo
to make myself agreeable to the lady, and
I determined to bring all my art to boar
that success might follow.
I began paying her marked attention and
intruded upon her society whenever I could
find her opart. She treated me at first
with a suspicious reserve, but I persevered
because sho was really attractive, because
her iudU'erence iu a measure wounded my
vanity and for tho loss important reason
that it was furthering some scheme of my
partner to bring to justice the crimnal or
tho criminals uponwhose hunt wo had
started. My effort was not wasted. I
could discover after a whilo that tho wo
man was really becoming fond of mo. Her
manner towards mo became serious and
sho began to welcome my attention with
undisguised delight. My intimacy with
her, however, cooled my admiration. I
perceived in her u cruel, selfish nature,
impulsive and seusual, with only a shadow
of a conscience. A moro voluptuous figure
aud handsome face dressed up with art and
a few superficial graces. I soon became
cloyed with her company and would gladly
have retreated had not the business consid
eration induced mo to follow up the a flair,
which I did, I must confess, iu such nn
ardent,, heartless manner, that she aotually
declared her preference for mo above all
other men she hud met. At this stage I
became uneasy with my position, for hard
ened as I had becomo by contact with
criino.I do not think any poison can chargo
ino with cruelty to women. I accordingly
contrived to see Slouch, and demanding au
explanation, 'refused to proceed a step
further unless he gave it. 1
" Now, Tony," said my partner, " since
you talk of leaving tho gal, I'll tell you
how tho matter,stunds. That ero gal has
a husband. Ho is our game and you
must bring him out."
" A husband ! where?" I inquired. "
.". "On board this very ship," said Slouch.
' "Who is he?',' I anxiously asked.
' " He's a dark complected, wary-looking
chap in the steorago. ' I set my eyes on
him the first day out, and I have been
watohing him ever since. When Ross
came sideling up to tho gal I noticed he
watched him like a cat ; but, as I made it
out, he saw sho was only foolln' with Ross,
jest having a littlo fun all to herself, and
then he got easy again. Now, thinks I, if
Tony gets aftor tho gal in a serious sort o'
way, thoro'll bo a man I know in the stoer
ago bobbin' round awful."
" And how has he behaved during my
gallantries?" I inquired. ' "
"It's hotter than a play," said Slouch,
shaking )iis sides with suppressed laughter.
"That chap and I got to be chums you
know. So I took a scat alongside him
whilo ho's squinting toward you and the
gal, and I says, " There's a loving couple,
oin't they ?" Then ho looked at me and
says, " Maybe she's somebody clso's wifo."
" That is no hindoroncc," says I. " That
'ere gal, anybody can sce.has gone spooney
after that man, and widdor or wifo, he can
lead her where he likes."
" Then ho gets up, rolling up his eyes,
and biting his lips, and goes pacing back
and forth upon tho deck. Protty soon he
sits down and asks me what my opinion is of
women. " Wimmon," says I, "is not to
bo trusted." "Frailty, thy namo is wo
men." "Do you know who proposed
that 'ero toast?" " I can't say I do," says
he. "William Shakespeare," says I, "the
wisest man that ever lived. If there was
anything about wimmon ho didn't know,
there's no uso of any other man trying to
find out." Then says I, " You don't look
very well. Maybe the rough weather's ef
fectin' you." "lama littlo sick," says
he, and then ho muttered to himseif:
" There'll bo a sicker man than mo aboard
this boat soon. " Look out sharp, Tony.
He's got a very jealous constitution, and I
can sco by his eyes that ho means mis
chief." " Well, Slouch," says I, " what do you
advise?" ,
" Goon with your lovo making, Tony :
lay it on pretty thick mid strong, I'll keep
wulo awoke that ho don't hurt anybody,
Pitch in strong and we'll bring him out.'!
Upon reflection I resolved to act in ac
cordance with tho recommendation of my
partner. Tho motive that could induce a
man and wifo to separate themselves, hold
no communication nor rccognizo each
other, upon a journey like this, was a sus
picious ono. Tho fact that two tickots
were purchased with tho spurious bills ac
corded exactly with tho case. So deciding
that tho end would justify tho means, I de
termined to push my advantago for this
fickle, inconstant woman, to test tho sa
gacity of Slouch and my own reasonable
surmises.
Tho following evening was calm and
clear, with just sufficient starlight to
create dim shadows upon the deck, and to
exhibit tho outlines of objects about. I
had been making myself as ogrceablo as I
knew how to the woman during tho early
evening, and about 10 o'clock at my sug
gestion, she took my arm for a promenade
upon the deck. Almost every person had
retired, save tho officers of tho watch and
a few straggling passengers who wore
alono. A man lay extended on ono of tho
seats, wrapped in a cloak, nnd apparently
asleep, whilo on tho scat opposite, another
person whom I recognized as my partnor,
Slouch, was stretched out in opparoutly
tho same somnolent condition.
Whilo wo sauntered forth in tho dim
starlight, whispering a lovo that was falso,
I held a constant eye on that figure in tho
cloak, and saw that it twisted and turned
as wo receded, and remained quiet only
when we approached it. Counterfloiting
the ardor of truo affection, I placed my arm
around tho woman's waist, and whilo
treading back and forth m this loving con
dition, observed tho figure by a side glance,
as wo reached tho greatest distance from It,
riso spasmodically into a sitting posture
and then drop again as wo returned and re
sumo its quietness. I proposed now that
we rest awhile, and after seating ourselves
a littlo distance from tho pretended slecpor,
I niado so bold to placo my arms around
her neck and give her a sounding kiss. Re
fore I could turn to observo tho effect, I
felt two powerful hands grasp my shoul
ders and without time to assume a position
of defence I was forced upon tho deck. A
man stood bending over mo with his knee
upon my breast, and grasping my throat
tightly in ono hand, lie placed his faco
near inino. "You wretch, what .are you
doing with my wife ?" said ho, hissing tho
woids between his teeth.
' "That'll do for tho present," said
Slouch, as ho turned my adversary over
with his muscular arms. " Civo mo the
cull's, Tony, and then go and call tho cap
tain." Tho captain camo at our request and
having shown- him our commission, ho
gave us permission to search the baggage
of both man nnd wire. In tho husbaud"'s
trunk was a comploto photographing ap
paratus, aud a largo number of counterfeit
notes iu a partly finished state. Among
the wife's effects wore found manv rolls of
the perfect bills, as well as the scarf pin
that had been stolen from Ross. Tho pris
oners wore returned to Now York, under
due course of law, and : are both at the
prosont time serving out their sentence at
Sing Sing. , ' "
The singularity of Ross' speech was well
explained, whon near tho termination of
our journey, Slouch . chanced to recognize
him as the once sandy-haired and whiskered
employee of a fashionablo hair dressing
establishment of New York.
As nitrate of silver was tho potent ma
gician that transformed his yellow locks to
a sablo hue, it was not to be wondered at
that ho should exhibit a sensitiveness at
its mention and deny its presenco in his
pack.
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