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During the flush times that followed the war； immense fortunes were
suddenly acquired by a class of cheats who operated on the
credulity of the public through gift enterprises； lotteries； and
other kindred schemes。 Most of the large concerns established
their headquarters in New York City； flooding the entire country；
particularly the South and West； with lithographic circulars；
written apparently with the pen for the exclusive benefit of the
recipient； and showing how fortunes could be securely made by
remitting specified sums to the houses in question。 Some of the
bogus firms simply pocketed the cash of correspondents without
pretending to render any equivalent whatever； while others； no more
honest； but a little more politic； sent forth worthless jewelry and
other stuff by the bushel。
One of the most villainous and at the same time successful devices
was built up on the offer of counterfeit currency at a heavy
discount。 In substance； the circulars； emanating from different
parties； and from the same parties under different names； were all
alike。 They usually began with an insidious compliment to the
person addressed； to the effect that from trustworthy sources the
writer had heard of him as a man of more than ordinary capacity and
shrewdness； and； emboldened by the high estimate placed upon his
abilities by persons well qualified to judge； had selected him as
the very individual to aid in securing a fortune for both with
〃absolute safety。〃 The circular usually goes on to state that the
writer is a first…class engraver；indeed 〃one of the most expert
in the United States；〃while his partner is a first…class printer。
Hence the firm possess unrivaled facilities for imitating the
national currency。 The recipient is particuarly cautioned to
beware of a class of miscreants who infest the city of New York and
advertise throughout the country the goods that he manufactures；
but send nothing except rubbish。 The 〃original Doctor Jacobs〃
excoriates unmercifully the whole tribe of swindlers whose
rascalities debauch and bring odium upon the trade。 He exhorts the
gentleman of great reputed 〃shrewdness and sagacity〃 to observe the
utmost caution in conducting operations； and gives him explicit
directions how to forward the purchase…money。
Several years ago a preacher of the gospel； stationed not far from
the northern frontier of the republic； received by mail one of the
seductive missives of Ragem & Co。； of New York City。 The douceur
opened with the usual complimentary references to the peculiar
personal fitness of the clergyman for the proposed enterprise； and
went on to state that； in exchange for genuine greenbacks； Ragem &
Co。 would furnish in the proportion of fifty to one imitations so
absolutely perfect that the most experienced bank officers could
not distinguish the difference。 Rev。 Zachariah Sapp；for such was
the euphonious name of the preacher；after an attentive perusal of
the flattering proposal； deposited the document in his coat…pocket
for convenience of reference。 Having pondered the subject for a
day or two； he decided to write to Ragem & Co。 for more explicit
information。
Divining with the peculiar instinct of the guild the character of
the fish now nibbling at the naked hook； the cheat resolved to risk
a little bait； and accordingly sent by return mail a genuine one…
dollar note； with a written invitation both for a reply and a
personal conference。
Never before did the Rev。 Zachariah Sapp subject a piece of paper
to such scrutiny。 Both with the naked eye and with a microscope；
a relic of collegiate days；he studied the engravings and filigree
work。 Detail by detail he compared the supposed imitation with
bills of known genuineness without being able to discover the
slightest point of variation between them。 Paper； printing； and
engraving seemed to be absolutely perfect。 While the study was
progressing； the imagination of the clergyman soared through the
empyrean of dazzling expectations。 Why continue to toil hard for a
small pittance when the golden apples were hanging within easy
reach？ Why drag out an existence in penury when wealth and its
joys were thrust upon him？
Zachariah； however； was prudent and thriftyindeed rather more
thrifty in the estimation of parishioners than befitted one who
held by right of faith a title…deed to mansions in the skies。
Almost as soon would he risk his future inheritance as peril on a
doubtful venture the few hundred dollars snugly saved up for a wet
day by prudence and economy。
Not willing to rely entirely on his own judgment； he rather
reluctantly decided to call on a banker in an adjacent town； with
whom he enjoyed a slight acquaintance。 In thinking the matter over
he was greatly perplexed to determine how to introduce the subject。
Of course it would not answer to allow the cashier to fathom his
secret purpose； and yet he was oppressed with a vague consciousness
that only a translucent film hid his thought from the world。 Once
or twice； in driving over on the unfamiliar errand； weak and
irresolute he half resolved to turn back； but greed finally
prevailed； and he kept on to the village。
With a strong but unsatisfactory effort to appear at ease； he
sauntered into the bank。 After the usual interchange of greetings；
he nervously remarked； 〃Brother Hyde； as I was coming this way to…
day to call on Brother Tompkins； I have taken the liberty to drop
in to ask you a question on a matter in your line。〃
〃Very well；〃 replied the banker； 〃I shall be happy to serve you。〃
〃I had a transaction a few days ago；〃 resumed the clergyman； 〃with
a peddler；an entire stranger to me；who； in making change； gave
me a number of bills which I have reason to suspect are
counterfeits。 I desire your opinion。〃
〃Please let me see them；〃 said Mr。 Hyde。
He took the one…dollar note from the hand of the unfaithful pastor；
and after scanning it a moment； inquired； 〃What is the matter with
it？〃
〃Is it good？〃 queried the anxious owner。
〃I wish I had my safe full of the same sort；〃 answered the banker。
〃There is nothing bad about the bill。 What makes you think so？
Perhaps you have shown me the wrong one。 Let me see the others。〃
〃I must have left the rest at home；〃 replied the preacher； fumbling
among the compartments of the pocket…book。
Having accomplished the object of his mission without perpetrating；
as he thought； any disastrous blunder； Mr。 Sapp brought the
interview to a close with a few commonplace remarks； and hurried
away to enjoy in solitary self…communion the thick…crowding visions
of future affluence。
With the last doubt satisfactorily overcome； the plans of the
prospective millionaire rapidly took shape。 He could raise five
hundred dollars； which at the proposed rate of interchange would
purchase twenty…five thousand of the 〃absolutely perfect
imitations。〃 The sum seemed vastincalculable。 His imagination；
hitherto bound down by the narrow circumstances of remote rural
life； staggered while trying to grasp the conception of so much
wealth。 Like the mysteries of time and space； it appeared too
grand for comprehension。 Then his reveries strayed into another
channel。 What noble fellows were Ragem & Co。 Why； among forty
millions of people； did they pick out him； an unknown clergyman；
living in an obscure place hundreds of miles from the metropolis；
to be the favored recipient of untold wealth？ Surely； this is a
special Providence。 Not a sparrow falleth to the ground without
His knowledge。 He watches over his own。 Suddenly the erring
clergyman feels a terrible pull at his heart…strings。 What right
has he； about to betray a sacred trust； and engage in operations
branded as infamous by the laws of the land； to claim the watchful
care of Providence？ Will not the all…seeing eye follow him？ Will
not the omnipotent hand strike him heavily in wrath？ The poor man
wipes the cold perspiration from his forehead； and wonders if it
will pay。
But he has paltered too long； and now the devil claims him for his
own。
Returning home； Sapp wrote to Ragem & Co。； stating the amount of
his available resources； and saying that upon a given day and hour
he would meet them at the appointed rendezvous。 On the following
Sunday the congregation were startled at the close of the afternoon
services by an extraordinary announcement from the pulpit。
Before pronouncing the benediction the pastor said： 〃I take this
opportunity to communicate to you collectively a piece of personal
intelligence which I have hitherto kept secret。 Under the will of
a relative who recently died in the State of Michigan； I inherit a
large sumto me； with my humble wants； a very large sum。 By
appointment； I am to meet the executor of the estate this week in
New York City to receive the first installment of the legacy。 I do
not propose to leave you；