The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-07-23

| tht VuNh VI
"Forgeryr
"Surc," said Bailey.
| Farnsworth paced a turn or two and
then addressed Bailey.
go out and bold Martzsll a couple
OF minutes before you let him In. Then
90 over TO Kneelands detective agency
and have him send good man over"
/ Bailey vanished. and Farnsworth
turned 10 Miss Clarendon.
"was Bob In Boston Tuesday,"
She flushed and hesitated, then an.
swered steadily, YES"
I'm this Officer
EYES"
"Camc early, before got hereT'
"Yes."
Bob knew that that check was com.
Ing from Hartzell. He may have
known that II would bc mailed on the
18th. Wnitw
He opened the door and looked into
the outer Office.
"Mr. HartzelIl'' he called. "Come in, :"
A slender, keen eyed man OF forty
entered.
when my nephew called on you n
month ago about the Gorham deal, did
you mention any date when you would
probably settler
Hartzell stroked his chin.
Il may haye mentioned the 18TH"
said he, II told you over the phone"
"You told me the GOTH" said Farms.
worth, unless I've forgotten. But
what did yon tell himf That's tho
point"
II think l said that Gorham would
probably pay on the 18th"
VERY good. Did you call at the Corn
on your way up here7'
"Yes: they're looking the matter up,
Farnswor'h sat down TO the tele.
phone and called up the Corn. There
was brief conversation. at the close
Of which Farnsworth pulled open
tall drawer iu hls desk and took out
check book
"Well," said be at last, 'here's the
joker A leaf containing three checks
signed In blank has been cut from this
book. and didn't notice II. shrewd
work, HartzelI, You see, that check
OF yours was too big 10 be safely han
died at your bank. 10 the rascal de-
posted II In mine. That gave me a
balance OF $i.T00 more than knew
about, so OF course | wouldn't draw
against II. Then our thief filed out
my blanks to bearer and cashed them
at my bank. The way | play this
game, Hartzell. any smooth fellow can
cash bearer check OF mine at the
Corn for couple Of thousand without
ever being asked to indorse II. pre-
fer to make some Of my payments that
way, and the bank knows t."
'Indeedv' said Hartzell, and he
stroked his chin again. ''I'm afraid
you're stuck. Farnsworth,
IIe turned to 20. and Farnsworth did
not detaln him. AS he passed out
James Kneeland, the detective, entered,
and he gave the departing form a half
glance.
'Do you know Hartzell?" said
Farnsworth.
Il met him some years ago." re-
sponded the detective thoughtfully.
"Has Bailey told you about this
game that's been played on mef'
Kneeland nodded and winked his
eyes behind his big round spectacles.
Now, the point of It," said Farms.
worth, 'is that Hartzell's letter, with
the check, was intercepted and opened
In this Office"
"If It ever came here" said Knee
land.
81 tell you the thing was done here.
Checks have been taken from my
book Who could have done that ex
cept some one who knows the ropes /
here?"
II could have done It," said Knee
land complacently. "a good many peo-
Pile know where you keep that book"
"But the forged lndorsement-how
do you account for that2"
probably traced. You haven't the
check, Of course%
"Yes, Hartzell brought 1t up from ,
his bank Here 1t is" \
"Hartzell left 1t here,' said the de-
tective. "Well. that's good evidence"
"Evidence2"
"That he didn't do the trick himself"
"I'll tell you who did do It." said
"My nephew did It. It's
no trouble for him to forge my name
Ask this young lady here. Is Bob's
writing like mine?
Remarkably So" said Miss Claren-
don calmly.
Important coincidence" said Knee
land 'Have you got a specimen Of
his hand? am tolerably familiar
with yours"
There's a letter from him some
where here" said Farnsworth,
Miss Clarendon went into the next
room and returned Immediately with
III open letter.
Here Is sample of Mr.. Robert
Farnsworth's writing" said she and
gave page to the detective, who read
IS follows, Farnsworth reading over