The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-14

, The Bond Ste0lerS
A Siory Told Under The Green Lamps
D0o.C..0..C.09..C..0...s

is in excellent preservation. As you see, the name of the original owner, the C. bank has been skillfully erased with acids and the name J. Lansing Fownes substi- tuted
 Half an hour ago." continued Mr. Mercy, tersely, this bond was presented for veriheation by this messenger from the A bank. l went over the list of the caveated bonds. United States con- sols, series of 1880. From Nos. 22Sl to 2260 were the ones stolen from the e. bank This bond is, as you see, numbered 225i
 What have you done?' I demanded quickly.
 "All l could. I phoned the A bank to detan the presenter of this bond. Tie president. MT. Andrews, said that MT. Browning offered 1t as collateral with note attached for a loan of $1S,OO0. The president agreed, mad while believing the security gilt-edged, had the precaution to send it here for verifcation.'
 "Yes, yes, but the presented, MT. H5own- ing?' Iasked imperatively.
 Mir. Mercy shrugged his shoulders , MT. Browning had gone before l sent for you. The president said he promised to-"
 But before he had finished l had e;,- cused myself and rung up the A bank on the telephone.
  vice." l explained quickly over the wire to President Andrews. That bond you sent to the treasury for verification Is no good. If MT. Browning, the presenter, comes back tell him it is O. K, ani that you will advance the loan. Kindly hold him if you can. I'll be up in fifteen minutes"
 Then thanking MT. Morey for his prompt service, I swung out for the A banN
 When l entered Mir. Andrews private office he waS in conversation with a slightly built gentleman of medium height, blond, curly hair and a Van Dyke beard. He wore spectacles, a Fedora hat and a long loose, paddock overcoat. It is my business to be obserVant of trifies and de- tails.
 MT rowning-Captain Smith of the secret service" said President Andrews with dramatic quietness.
 Not a shadow passed over the slim gen tlemans face. He nodded to me with po- lite indifference Circumlocution is dot one of my attributes.
 MT Browning" l said curtly, "1 must ask you 10 explain how that bond you presented for security came to be in Io1r possession"
 Am l to infer-
 Anything you like, MT. Browning That bond is stolen property You will nave to clear yourself of a charge of conspr- acy. if not actual robbery"
 Mir. Browning eyed me with cold dis, favor and then passed slim, wen-gloved hand over his face. l noticed that, though a blonde, the eyes behind the glasses were quick and dark.
 q am entirely innocent of any wrong doing" he said with dignity. He spoke tn ierky little sentences 'I ma man of means and standing in the west. Last week. in company with In ywife, l came to New York My wife is in i'll health We stopped at the H. house. Whhe there 1 made the acquaintance of Mir. ani Mrs. J. Lansing Fownes. He is capltal' ist with vast holdings in southern lum- her tracts MT. Fownes and l got qulte friendly Finally it developed that ne had an odd hundred thousand he would like to invest in some gilt-edged security I interested him in the Balvanera Mining company of Mexico. of which l hold con trol. He agreed to purchase a block or stock for SIPS. .O00 Then he asked me If had any objection to United Etates gold honds bearing interest at 1 per cent Sald if would save him the trouble of selling them and the brokers commissions. agreed He paid me the first S2OOoo bona yesterday. I was temporarily short or ready cash. Today 1 opened negotiaVohs with the A bank for a loan. the boud and my note as security. l assure you,