“Four” is another easy amount to alter.  It is done by extending the second part of the “u” into a “t,” and adding the “y” loop to the “r.”  “Five” is changed into “Fifty” and “Fifteen.”  “Six,” “Seven,” “Eight,” and “Nine” are changed into “Sixty,” “Seventy,” “Eighty,” and “Ninety” by simply affixing the syllable “ty.”  “Twenty” is another easily changed amount; all that is necessary to make “Seventy” of it is to make an “S” of the “T,” and change the first part of the “w” into an “e.”  To make the alteration perfect, the top part of the “T” must be erased with chemicals.

In regard to the chemicals used to erase ink, much depends upon the ink.  For most writing fluids and copying inks which are in daily use, a saturated solution of chloride of lime is the best eraser known, and when properly made is very quick and effective in its work.  It may be applied with a glass pointed pen, to avoid corrosion, or with a clean bit of sponge.  It acts as a powerful bleach, and with it the face of a check may be washed as white as before it was written upon.  When inks have become dry and hard, sometimes carbolic or acetic acid is used effectively with the chlorine.  The application of any alkali or acid to the clean polished surface of a check will, of course, destroy the finish and leave a perceptible stain, but the work of covering up these traces is quite as simple as removing the ink in the first place.

A favorite trick of forgers and check and draft raisers, who operate on an extensive scale, is for one of them to open an office in a city and represent himself as a cattle dealer, lumber merchant, or one looking about for favorable real-estate investments.  His first move is to open a bank account, and then work to get on friendly terms with the cashier.  He always keeps a good balance—­sometimes way up in the thousands—­and deports himself in such a manner as to lead to the belief that he is a highly honorable gentleman, and the bank officials are led to the belief that he will eventually become a very profitable customer.

Occasionally he has a note, for a small amount to begin with, always first-class two-name paper, and he never objects—­usually insists—­on paying a trifle more than the regular discount.  At first the bank officials closely examine the paper offered, and of course find that the endorsers are men of high standing, and then their confidence in the “cattle king” is unbounded.  Gradually the notes increase in amount, from a thousand to fifteen hundred dollars, and from fifteen hundred to two or three thousand.  The notes are promptly paid at maturity.  After the confidence of the bank people has been completely gained, the swindler makes a strike for his greatest effort.  He comes in the bank in a hurry, presents a sixty-day note, endorsed by first-class men, for a larger amount than he has ever before requested, and it generally happens that he gets the money without the slightest difficulty.  Then he has a sudden call to attend to important business elsewhere.  When the note or notes mature, it is discovered to be a very clever forgery.  This has been done time and again, and it is rare that the forger has been apprehended.