to you in
private." With this he led the way into a room behind the office,
where, after the other had entered, he closed the door.

"What's up?" asked the young engineer, wondering at these proceedings.

"Have you or any of your companions any counterfeit money in your
possession?" asked the operator, abruptly.

"No--that is, yes. One of my friends has quite a lot of it that was
passed on him for genuine this morning, and I have a few samples for
purposes of comparison."

"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. I don't know what they intend doing, nor
do I think they know themselves, but I am certain if they find you the
result will be most unpleasant. They are to be led by a couple of
strangers, who have been secretly watching you all day. These men
claim to be 'river-traders,' who have suffered serious losses through
you, including that of the raft now in your possession, which, they
say, was stolen from them. I can't tell you how I gained all this
informa