The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-14
By W. B. M. Ferguson
..o.o.<,.o.c.o.,.t,.ss.Cs-C,

gentlemen, l thought everything was per fecty legitimate"
 "Very good, MT Browning" I said However. for the present, you must con slider yourself under arrest. Meantime you will kindly accompany me to your ho- tel and personally identify MT. Fownes.'
 with pleasure" said the slim gentle man with unruffled courtesy.
 At the desk of the H. house, half an hour later, the day clerk, after inquiry, informed me that Mr Fownes was out.
 When did he go?' l asked.
 Don't know, sir. He didn't leave his key"
 .ls Mrs. Fownes in?' l asked.
 No, sir. Left her key here an hour ago Said if anyone called to say she would be back at o'clock. Any mes sage, sir?'
 "No." l said curtly and turned to MT. Browning. "I am compelled to bring you to headquarters Mr. Browning" l eX- plained Your bail will be agreed upon and then you can be paroled in custody of your counsel l will see MT, Fownes as soor us I can"
 Mr. Browning shrugged his shoulders with polite disgust.
 "'rhis is all very inconvenient and an en rely unnecessary outrage. But ] sup pose you must do your duty Permit me to exelain matters to my wife. She is not III very good nedll1, ana | ndTolN wish her to think me a criminal. My suite is on the second floor, No. 254. You can come up with me or stand guard at the elevator, if you think l contem- plate trying to evade the law" and he smiled with polite sarcasm.
 '''rhe lobby will do quite as well' l said dryly You can have ten minutes"
 With a grateful bow he stepped into the nearest elevator while I took a seat. secure in the knowledge that I com manded the situation of all the exits. waited fifteen minutes. No Mr. Brown ing. Then l strode to the desk.
 kindly phone to Mr. Brownings suite and say that Captain Smith is still wait ing"
 No Mir Browning registered here, sir"
 "Mr. Browning-the gentleman who was with me Suite 254, second floor" I eX plained angrily.
 Very sorry, sir There must be some mistake-254 is coupled by MT. Fownes and his wife.
 Like a thunderbolt long delayed, light broke ir on me With nasty eXplana- ton U the clerk and a flash of my shield 1 seized a bell boy and literally carried him in a rush to the elevator and up to suite 254 And then my worst fears were realized The rooms were empty. How, when and where my polite MT Browning
 
 At the desk I eltcited the informa ton that Mir. and Mrs. Fownes had registered five days ago. They had two dress suit cases with them, and explained that their baggage while on t1e way from Chicago, had gone astray. It was expected every moment. They had registered from that city and paid two weeks in advance. The clerk now remembered that when Mrs. Fownes had left her key at the desk, one hour ago. she had a dress suit case with her. MT. Browning was known in che hotel as a gentleman who sometimes wis tied the Fownes Mir. Fownes was slight, of medium height. with a white beard, stoop shoulders and slight limp. His wife was about the same height and. build, middle aged, very deaf and wore spec tacles The hotel was searched from roof to cellar for the vanished MT. Browning, but with no avail.
 After reviewing the affair calmly and dispassionately l came to the obvious conclusion that MT. Fownes and his wife could be no other than the famous professor and his consort. Their for tunes evidently at a low ebb, they had run the risk of negotiating one of the stolen bonds. In all probability many banks who had not taken the precaution of the A had before this loaned money on the foraeries and later had discreetly