Afewyearsago，the“Hon。“JohnWhimperyBrass，ofGeorgia，oneofthe“thoughtfulpatriots“oftheperiod，whonowandthenfoundtimetolayasidethecaresofstatecrafttonurselittleprivatejobsofhisown，alluredbytheseductiveoffersof“Wogan&Co。“
　　ofNewYorkCity，wrotetothatsomewhatmythicalconcernproposingtobecometheiragentforthecirculationofthe“queer。“Evenafterreceivingthefirstinstallmentoftheirwares，thehonorablegentlemandidnotcomprehendthatthefirmdealtexclusivelyinsawdust，notincurrency。Hewroteagain，complainingthat，afterajourneyofsixtymilesoveraroughroadtothenearestreliableexpressoffice，hefoundnothingbutaworthlesspackage，marked“C。O。D。，“awaitinghim。DidWogan&Co。distrusteitherhispartsorfidelity？HeventuredtoassertthatnomanintheStatecouldservethemsoeffectually。HehadjustrunforCongress，andthoughbeatenatthepollsby“fraud，“intendedtocontesttheseatwiththechancesofsuccessinhisfavor。Themountaineersamongwhomheliveddidnotcarewhetherthemoneyintheirpocketswasgoodorbadsolongasitcirculated。Hecouldputthousandsofcounterfeitsafloatwithouttheslightestfearofdetection。Hisconstituencybelievedinhimandwouldstandbyhim。Currencywasveryscarceinthatcongressionaldistrict，anditwouldreallybedoinghispeopleagreatfavortogivethemmore。Aftersettingforththemutualbenefitstoaccruefromtrustinghim，heappealedtoWogan&Co。withthevehemenceandenergyofthesewing-machineman，orlife-insuranceagent，tosendonthegoodswithoutfurtherdelay。Theyshouldneverregretdealingwithhim，hischaracterandstandingbeingasufficientguarantythathecouldnotplayfalse。Hewasactingingoodfaith，andexpectedliketreatmentinreturn。
　　Unfortunatelyforthepoliticalaspirationsof“Hon。“JohnWhimperyBrass，theauthoritiesnotlongaftermadeadescentuponthedenofWogan&Co。，findingagreatmanylettersfromcredulousfools，andalargesupplyofsawdust——theironlystockintrade。Themissivesoftheprospectivecongressmanwerepublished，thusgainingmuchmoreextensivecurrencythanheproposedtogivetotheimitationgreenbacks。Itwassupposedthatthenoisyfellowwouldslinkawaytosomecaveinhisnativemountains，andnevershowhisbrazenfaceamonghonestpeopleagain。Buttheimpudenceof“Hon。“JohnWhimperyBrassrosetotheleveloftheemergency。
　　Insteadofhidingorhanginghimself，hepublishedacardrepresentingthatheembarkedintheschemeforthepurposeofentrappingWogan&Co。andbringingthemtojustice。
　　Patheticwasthespectacle，showingtheconfidenceofaningenuoussoulinitsownprowess，ofthevolunteerdetective，diggingparallelsonthesouthernspursoftheBlueRidgeforthecaptureofthewilyswindlerathousandmilesaway!Armedwithakernelofcorn，thedoughtygoslingsetsforthtocatchthewickedfoxthatispreyingontheflock!Iftheboldmountaineers，theconstituencyof“Hon。“JohnWhimperyBrass，cannotcommendthediscretiondisplayedbytheprojectoroftheenterprise，theymustcertainlyadmirehispluck。Infaceoftheodds，fewgoslingswouldvolunteer。
　　Perhapsthecardmighthavebeenacceptedbythemoretrustfulclassofadherentsasasatisfactoryexplanationoftheletters，hadnottheaspiringstatesmanincourseoftimefallenunderthebanofthelawfordefraudingwidowsoftheirpensions，thecampaignagainstWogan&Co。havingsocompletelyexhaustedthevirtueoftheamateurwhoplanneditastoleavenoresiduetofructifyinsubsequentoperations。
　　THEFORTUNEOFSETHSAVAGE
　　Atonetimethebogus-lotterymendroveathriftybusiness，buttheefforts，virtuallyco-operative，ofthepost-officedepartmentandofthelegislaturesoftheolderstates，havelatterlyprettyeffectuallyforcedthemintothewilderness。Themanagersforageonthesameclassofpeopleasthesawdustswindlers，procuringlistsofnamesinthesameway。Acommonmethodofprocedureistoinclosewithadvertisementsannouncingtheprizes，togetherwiththeplaceanddateofdrawing，oneormoreticketsdulynumbered。
　　Greatconfidenceisexpressedinthepersonalfitnessofthepartyaddressed，whoisrequestedtoactasagentforthesaleofthetickets。Afewweekslateranotherletterissenttotheintendedvictim，informinghimthattheticketofagivennumberforwardedtohimatsuchadatehaddrawnaprize，thevalueofwhichisvariouslystatedfromafewhundredtomanythousanddollars。Heisthenrequestedtosendimmediatelytendollars——moreorless——
　　fortheticket，perhapstenortwentymoreforadditionalcharges，whenthefullfacevalueoftheprizewillbeforwardedpromptlybyexpress，checkonNewYork，orinanyotherwaytherecipientmaydirect。Heisalsotoldtoantedatetheletter，theintermediarypromisingtoblurthepostmarktocorrespond，sothattheremittancemayappeartohavebeenmadepriortothedrawing。Inconclusionthewriteradroitlysuggeststhathedesiresthefortunatemantoexhibitthemoneytohisneighbors，statinghowheobtainedit，andmentioningparticularlytheaddressoftheagentfromwhomtheticketwaspurchased，theobjectbeingtocreateanexcitementintheplacewithaviewtolargesalesforthenextdrawing。
　　Evenofatrickastransparentasthisthevictimsarecountedbythousands，exposuresandwarningsbeingalikedisregarded。TheinfatuationofacertainclassofignorantandcredulouspeopleiswellillustratedbythecaseofSethSavage，apoormanpossessedofafewacresinthevicinityofasmallvillageinVermont。Oneday，whenaspecialagentofwideexperiencehappenedtobevisitingthepost-office，Sethreceivedaletter，theperusalofwhichthrewhimintoafrenzyofexcitement。
　　“Whatisthematter？“inquiredthepostmaster。“Youseemtohavegoodnews。“
　　“Looka-here，“repliedSeth，holdingforththemissiveinhisshriveledandbonyfingers，“fornighontosixty-fiveyear，Mr。
　　Martin，I’vefitandwork’dandwork’dandfitjestformyvittlesanddrink。NeowwhenI’mtewoldtew’joyit，afortincomestome。“
　　“Isthatso？“answeredMr。Martin。“Iamveryglad；buttellme，whatisit？Yourneighborswillallbegladtohearofyourgoodluck。“
　　“Readthat，“saidSeth，handinghimthelettertriumphantly。
　　Thepostmasterreadthemanuscript。OneDewittofNewYorkCityassuredMr。Savagethatacertainticketsenttohimamonthbeforehaddrawnaprizeofthreethousanddollars；thatonreceiptofthirty-fivedollarsinaletterantedatedaccordingtodirections，thefullamountwouldbeforwardedtohim。
　　“Surely，Seth，“expostulatedthepostmaster，“youarenotgoingtobefooledinthisway。Dewittisahumbug，aswindler。“
　　“Neow，heowdewyeouknowthat？“inquiredSeth。“Hasheeverfool’dyeou？“
　　“Idon’tdealwiththatsortofpeople，“repliedMr。Martinmildly。
　　“Idisliketoseeanyonewronged，especiallyaneighbor。Hereisagentlemanwhoknowsallaboutsuchmatters。“AndSethwasformallyintroducedtothespecialagent，whotookpainstoexplainthecharacteroftheswindlefully。
　　Theofficerleftthevillagewiththepleasantassurancethathisbriefvisithadcontributedatleasttowardtherescueofonepoorobjectfromthejawsofthedevourer。
　　Afterall，however，Sethwasnotconvinced。Bysellinghisonlycowhemanagedtoswellhisscantystockofcashtotherequisitesum，whichhesenttoDewitt，fullyexpectingtobeableinafewdaystoconfoundthepostmasterbytheactualdisplayofhisnewlygottenwealth。Thedupe，whohadinvestedagoodlyportionofhisscantymeansintheventure，waitedlongifnotpatiently。Atlength，aftertheexpirationofthelasthope，Mr。Martininquired，“Howdidithappen，Seth，thatyouthrewawayyourmoneyonthatlotteryscamp，whenweshowedyouthatthewholethingwasacheat？“
　　“Wall，neow，arterit’salllost，“repliedSeth，“I’lltellyeoujestheow’twas。Humannatur’isnaturallysuspectin’。Itho’tyeouandthatar’t’otherpostoffisfellahwant’dtogittheprizeforyeourselfs；an’Ididn’tmeantobebeatso。“
　　AWISHUNEXPECTEDLYGRATIFIED
　　Whenthebogus-lotterymenweredrivenoutofthelargecitiesbythevigorofthepostalauthorities，theytriedforawhiletooperatefromsmallcountrytownsbycollusionwithdishonestpostmasters。Asthedelinquenciesoftheoffendersweresuccessivelybroughttolight，theirheadsrolledintothebasketatthefootoftheofficialguillotine。Theswindlers，however，succeededinbribingfreshvictims，andforatimecunningandduplicitymanagedwithtolerablesuccesstomaintainafootholdagainstthepowerofthedepartment。
　　Amongothersimilarswindles，sealedcircularswereatonetimescatteredbroadcastoverthemoreremotestates，announcingthatonagivendatethedrawingforaseriesofmagnificentprizeswouldtakeplaceatLivingstonHall，No。42ElmAvenue，WingtonJunction，Connecticut。Patronswereurgedtoremitthepurchase-moneyforticketspromptly，astherewouldbenopostponementofthegrandeventunderanycircumstances。“Fortune，“continuedtheglitteringadvertisement，“knocksonceateveryone’sdoor，andsheisnowknockingatyours。“
　　Asusual，multitudesswallowedthebait，butsome，insteadofsendingthegreenbackstoHighfalutin&Co。，forwardedthecircularstothedepartment。ThereuponspecialagentSharrettswasinstructedtovisitWingtonJunction，withtheviewoflearningwhetherthepostmasterwasproperlydischarginghisduties。Takinganearlyopportunitytoperformthemission，healightedatthestationonemorning，andproceededtosurveythetown，whichconsistedoffourorfivehousesscatteredalongthehighwayforadistanceofhalfamile。“LivingstonHall“and“ElmAvenue“werenowherevisible。Itwasapparentthat“No。42“onanyavenuewasaremotecontingencynotlikelytoariseinthepresentgeneration。
　　Havingpreviouslyascertainedthatthepostmasterwasalsoswitch-
　　tenderatthejunction，andthatthecaresoftheofficedevolvedonhiswife，theofficerwalkeduptoakeen-lookingmaninfrontofthelittleroundswitch-house，whoseenergiesweredevotedexclusivelyatthatmomenttothemasticationofahugequidoftobacco，andwho，afteraprolongedscrutinyofthestranger，answeredhissalutationinanattenuateddrawl，’“Meornin’，sir。“
　　“Willyoubekindenoughtotellme，sir，whereMr。Morris，thepostmaster，canbefound？“askedtheagent。
　　“Wall，Iguessmyname’sMorris。WhatkinIdofuryeou？“
　　“Mr。Morris，Ishouldlikeafewminutes’privateconversationonbusinessofgreatimportance，whichcanbesomanagedastoturnoutadvantageouslytousboth。Idonotwishtobeoverheardorinterrupted。Inthesetimesevenblankwallshaveears，youknow。“
　　Thelastsuggestionseemedtoserveasapassporttotheconfidenceofthepostmaster。Leadingthewayintotheswitch-house，heremarked，“Comeinheear。Neow，whatisit？“
　　“Thefactis，Mr。Morris，somefriendsofmineproposetogointoalittlespeculation，whichwillinvolvealargecorrespondence；andforreasonsthatIneednotspecifytoamanlikeyou，theydonotwishtohaveeveryragtag，bobtailpost-officeclerkporingovertheirletters，andaskingimpertinentquestionsatthedelivery-
　　window。Iftheycanfindashrewd，squareman，whoknowshowtokeephismouthshut，andwhocan’tbefooled，thatforahandsomeconsiderationwillputthelettersawayinasafeplacetillcalledfor，theyarewillingtomakeanarrangementthatwillbeprofitableallaround。Youhavebeenrecommendedasjusttheperson。Iamtoldthatyougenerallyknowwhichsideyourbreadisbuttered，andhavecalledtoseeifwecan’tarrangetopulltogether。“
　　“’Nuffsaid，“ejaculatedMorris，withaslywink。“Iknowwhatyeouwant，butmywifeistheonetofixthings。Idon’thavenuthin’todewwiththeletters。Sue’tendstoeverything。Thefolksaswe’sea-workin’forsaidwemustbeplagueykeerfulaboutthedeetecters。I’llbetnunon’emcan’tplayitonmywifetho’。
　　Iftheydew，they’llhavetogituparlyinthemornin’。“
　　Withthathethrusthisheadoutofthewindow，andyelled：“Sue，Sue!“
　　Asthesounddiedaway，atall，raw-bonedfemale，fromwhosecheeksthebloomofyouthhadfadedanumberofyearsbefore，emergedfromthesidedoorofatwo-storycottage，abouteightyrodsdistant，andwalkedbrisklytotheswitch-house，whereshewasintroducedtothestrangeras“mywife。“
　　Afteralittlepreliminaryskirmishing，sheinvitedtheagenttogoovertothecottage。Havingbeendulyusheredintothe“bestroom，“heembellishedforherbenefitthestoryalreadytoldtothehusband。
　　“IthinkIkin’commodateyeou，“shebrokeforth，“butyeou’llhavetopayputtywellfor’t。Lawsme，I’mtold——andI’vewayso’
　　heerin’’boutthesethings——thatthedeetectersarejestaslikelyasnottocomea-swoopin’deownennyminnit。Yeouknow，iftheyfeounditout，we’dbesmash’d。“
　　Hertermsweretendollarsaweek。Highfalutin&Co。paidsix，butsheunderstoodthebusinessagreatdealbetternowthanwhenshemadethebargainwiththem。Theagentthoughtthepriceratherhigh，butfinallyconsentedtocontractatthatfigure。
　　Then，asiftroubledbyanafter-thought，hesaid，“Madam，howdoI
　　knowbutsomeofthese’deetecters’maycomearound，and，seeingmyletters，getmeintodifficulty？“
　　“Why，lawsa’mercy，“saidshe，“don’tbeskeer’d。Yeoujestleavethattome。Theminnitthemairlettersgitshere，Ihides’eminthatbewro-draw’r，“pointingtoanarticleoffurnitureinthecorner。
　　“Isitasafeplace？“queriedtheagent。
　　“Yas，itis，“answeredthewoman。“Gotithalffullneow。Carrythekeyinmypocket。“
　　Shegaveagrin，intendedforaknowingsmile，inadmirationofherowncleverness。
　　“Ibelievethehiding-placeistolerablysecure，“repliedtheofficer，withtheairofonewhodesiredtobeconvinced，buthadnotyetreachedthepointoffullassurance。