"
"But you haven't passed, or tried to pass, any of it in this place?"
"Certainly not! Why do you ask such a question?"
"Because I have taken a liking to you. Have not you in your possession
a note of identification from a certain Iowa Sheriff?"
"Yes; I have such a note from a Sheriff named Riley, of Dubuque; but
how did you know anything about it?" asked Billy Brackett, greatly
surprised.
"In a very simple way. Sheriff Riley happens to be my brother, and he
wrote to me all about your little affair up the river. So I know you
to be an honest man, and want to give you a warning. You may be very
sure, however, that I should not do so were I not confident of your
innocence."
"Innocence of what?"
"Passing counterfeit money. A good bit of it has suddenly appeared in
circulation here, and your raft has been identified by some men from
up-river as one on which suspicion has already fallen in connection
with a similar state of affairs elsewhere. You have made a good many
purchases to-day, and at least one bad bill has been traced directly to
you. Of course you may have received it in change, and passed it again
unknowingly. I believe that is how it happened. If I did not, I
should hold my tongue and let you suffer the consequences. In addition
to this, all sorts of queer stories regarding you have been circulated
about town to-day, and such a feeling has been aroused against you that
a number of the worst characters in the place have determined to pay
your raft a visit to-night.
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