Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 854 — page 2: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

2 oe oe ee Uncle Sam s Detective in bhicago; OR, THE COUNTRY POSTMASTER } AMONG BUNCO-MEN. A Story of the Underground Counterfeiters’ Den. BY GEORGE C. JENKS, AUTHOR OF ‘‘ GIT THAR OWNEY,” ‘* DOUBLE- CURVE DAN,” ‘* IRON HAND,” ETC. CHAPTER I. ON THE WAR-PATII. INSPECTOR JOHN GRiPP sat in his private office in one of the great Government build- ings in Washington.. He was one of the most trusted and influential officials in the Secret Service, and he had earned the confi- dence reposed in him by the heads of his De- partment by more than one clever job, that had resulted in placing slippery rascals in the Penitentiary. He touched a hand-bell on his big, official- looking table, and abstractedly glanced at the dirty windows that looked upon a blank wall at a dozen yards’ distance, as if he were trying to read the result of the mission upon which he was about to send a man to Chica- go. ‘Send Ralph Rapier to me,” said the in- spector, in the quick, stern tones of a man accustomed to command, without looking at the colored messenger who answered the ring. “Yes, sah.”’ ! ‘Ready Ralph. Always ondeck,” mused the inspector, as he arose from his seat and mechanically traced the name on the dirty window panes with his forefinger, ‘‘ Yes. He is only a boy, but at the same time he is the only one on my force that I could trust with this job. Well, well. What matters the age, so long as the ability is there?” ‘‘ Inspector, I’m'on deck!” were the words, in low, but decisive tones, that disturbed his reverie, and caused him to rub out the words on the window with the palm of his hand in some confusion. ‘‘Oh, you are here, eh? You leave for Chicago on the 7:20 train to-night,” said the inspector, carelessly, as he looked scrutiniz- ingly at the young fellow who stood before him, ) Ralph Rapier was an ordinary-looking | young fellow of perhaps twenty years of age, with an innocent face that would deceive the sharpest observer, unless he took particular note of the keen gray eyes that had the fac- ulty of seeing everything at one sweeping glance. He was not tall, but the stout frame suggested considerable strength, and one could fancy that it would require the exer- cise of a great deal of force to knock the lad off those firmly-planted, sturdy legs. His face wore a healthy glow, that deepened into a tan on his cheeks and chin, and most per- sons who saw Ready Ralph Rapier would say that he was a sailor, judging him by his complexion alone, without taking into ac- count tht peculiar roll in his gait that is characteristic of the Jack tar. Ralph Rapier had acquired his sobriquet of * Heady ” from the simple fact that he could never be taken by surprise, but was always ready for whatever might turn up, whether in the way of work or frolic; his favorite expression, ‘‘I’m on deck,” being warranted by the promptitude with which he always came forward at the right time, It was little wonder that he was regarded by John Gripp as the most valuable man on his staff for the delicate detective work that falls to the Secret Service officers in so many cases. | i John Gripp did not waste time in giving his orders, and in five minutes Ready Ralph understood that he was to find out the man ’ oe who was producing a very dangerous ten- dollar counterfeit greenback that had been put out rather extensively in the World’s Fair grounds, and Chicago generally, and, having discovered the plant, to arrest the man and his confederates, “ “That all, inspector?” said Ralph, quietly, when John Gripp ceased talking as he made one or two entries in a small note-book, with as much uncontern as if’ he were being sent to the next street to purchase a loaf of bread, instead of taking upon himself a task that would have seemed hopeless to any but a trained detective, with an unlimited suply of nerve. ‘¢You will need money. Here are two- hundred and fifty dollars. If it is not enough, the Department will send you more, of course.” The lad took the roll of bills handed to him by the inspector, and placed them safely in a ‘small leather pouch, under his shirt, that hung from his neck by a cord, and ob- served, carelessly, as he turned toward the door: ‘Any clue?” ‘é No. ” ‘Suspect anybody?” The inspector knitted bis black brows in thought, ere he answered: ‘‘Smasher Jim’s term at the Columbus Penitentiary expired three months ago. He has not been heard of since,” ‘‘Thanks,” said Ready. ‘*You needn’t thank me, Idon’t say he is in this thing, although the Department has pretty good information that the jobis being operated by one man, and | don't know any one but Smasher who could turn out such good work, The plates are near enough to deceive any ordinary person.” ‘‘What is Smasher’s full name?” asked Ralph, with his note-book in his hand. ‘‘ Entered at Columbus as James Wilkins,” answered Gripp, shortly. ‘‘ His name may be anything.” ‘‘Good-night, inspector.” Detective Ralph was at the door, with his note-book in his pocket, and he nodded cheerfully to his superior as he passed out and made his way through several corridors to the street. John Gripp sat looking at the door that os boy had closed after him, as he mutter- ed. . ‘“‘Tf itis Smasher Jim, as I believe, Ralph Rapier will have plenty of opportunity to display his nerve, as well as his readiness, before he gets through, or I’m mistaken. Well, thatiis what he is paid for.” With this philosophical reflection, John Gripp closed his desk, and strolled peacefully to his home in the suburbs, where he spent all his time when not on duty, for he was a domestic man, and liked to be with his family, where he could piay with the children, and suffer an occasional scolding from his wife with a mildness “that would have surprised some of those who only knew him as the stern man of iron who was such a terror to offenders against the Government. But Americans like John Gripp are to be found everywhere, if we only knew it, Detective Ralph lived with his mother, and was her only support. She had un- bounded confidence in her son, and when he took his seat in the Pullman sleeping car at seven o'clock, and waited for it to pull out of the station, he was not distracted by any scam that his mother was worrying about m. With the ease of an experienced traveler, he hung his stiff hat on the brass hook over his head and put onasoft cap, with the visor pulled well over his brows. Then he took out a Chicago paper that he had pur- chased immediately on leaving the inspector, and read with close attention for the third or fourth time an account of the way in which the spurious ten-dollar bills were being put around in Chicago, and how the Uncle Sam’s Detective in Chicago. ~~ ee banks had discovered them, and-had set the police to work to try and find out the counterfeiters, as well as those who were passing the notes—or, in thé language of the police and crooks, ‘‘shoving the queer.” ‘*Not much to be got out of that,” mutter- ed the detective, as he glanced quickly over his fellow-passengers in the car, ‘‘ but, from all that I can read, I guess the old man is right about the work being done by one man. Anda slick operator he is, too, as I can see already. Smasher Jim, eh? Here is his description.” He took from his pocket a sheet of paper with the heading of the Police Department of Washington and read it carefully. “Ah, I think I should know that man anywhere. Those fellows at the Columbus Penitentiary know how to put down the points of'a man’s face and physique, as well as to measure his fingers, his ‘thumb, his ears, his nose, and the rest of it, by what they call the ‘ Bertillon system,’” He returned the paper to his pocket, and was looking carelessly about the car, when he gave a start that he could not repress, al- though, asarule, he kept his feelings well under control. ‘‘Smasher Jim, or I’m‘a lubber!” was his muttered exclamation. The train started just asa rather rough- looking man’stepped into the car, squeezing himself around through the narrow space between the smoking-room and the side of the car, and then dropping into the first seat, with his back to Ready Ralph. The young Headquarters detective had had but a momentary glimpse of the face of the new-comer, but was as certain that it was that of the man suspected of the whole- sale counterfeiting at Chicago as he was that the stranger was evidently trying to avoid observation as much as possible, without appearing to do so. Ralph's brain was hard at work, and he was trying to make up his mind’ what to do under the circumstances It did not take him long to resolve that his only course was to keep quiet, and be watchful for the ee and to keep his eyes on Smasher im, The man in the end seat sat still until the porter asked him whether he was ready to have his berth made up. Then ke nodded and went into the smoking-room. Ralph waited a minute or two, and then strolled carelessly into the little corner re- served for smokers, himself. His man was sitting in a corner, with a cigar between his lips, which he was puffing vigorously, while he kept his gaze fixed out of the window. It was still daylight, al- though it would soon become dusk, and there was plenty of excuse for a traveler watching the scenery, and taking no notice of his fellow-passengers. ‘“‘T must get another look at his face,” decided the detective. ‘‘Iam sure it is he, but I want to see him again, anyhow. The longer I study his ugly countenance, the more certain I am to know him again. I don’t see why the Washington police did not get his photograph from the Penitentiar people, while they were about it. If this should not prove to be the Smasher, I will write to them for it myself.” Ralph took a cigar from his pocket, bit off the end, and, leaning toward his companion, asked him: | ‘‘ Will you oblige me with a light?” Without answering or turning his head, the other took the box of safety matches al- ways provided by the Pullman company from the little bracket between the windows and handed it to the detective. | ‘‘Thanks!” said Ralph, politely, as he lighted his cigar, adding mentally: ‘‘ That settles it, Heis Smasher Jim. He does not want me to look at him.” | The detective smoked slowly, and besides, seemed to have a great deal of trouble with , | Ame 4 rr. 4 o as ? ~~ ry «Lt . - = , Treagaens & haee Ss ign = S- eee a . rn tin 2 ba ; : Db. ts : Th bey {og , me fh ye i A a A ae | ‘ C 7 oe