Old Specie, the Treasury Detective; or, The Harbor Lights of New York

OLD SPECIE, THE TREASURY DETECTIVE This issue presents the opening installment of "Old Specie, the Treasury Detective; or, The Harbor Lights of New York," a crime detection serial by Alexander Robertson, M.D., published as part of Street & Smith's Secret Service series (monthly, July 1890). The narrative follows a government detective operating under the assumed identity of "Anthony Swanzy," a Down East countryman. When summoned to the U.S. Sub-Treasury in New York, Specie is presented with a twenty-dollar gold certificate—a counterfeit so expertly executed that four bank tellers have declared it genuine. The detective identifies it as the work of August Delmar, alias Colonel Blood, and traces the note to a shop near the East River. Through interviews with the cashier, he learns the bill came from a tall stranger with inflamed eyes, a rasping voice, and sailor-like appearance who purchased rope and other items. The stranger left behind a distinctive cane. As the mystery deepens, the same man reappears at the shop, setting the investigation into motion.