The Elbert County tribune., 1909-05-27
A New Thought" Offense
BY George =. Butler and Herbert MsSev ,----
Detective
'urhivall. Where Police Methods F all

exclamation from the room, followed
by the sounds of fierce struggle,
and Rugersom. throwing himself again
and again upon the door soon burst
it in. Banning and Ring were rolling
on the floor pounding and clawing
each other, in the midst OF torn bed
clothes, overturned chairs. smashed
table and mass Of broken bottles
and glasses.
Ine detectives presence seemed to
COW the fight all out of Ring. for he at
first sat on the floor staring at him
and then arose and stood sheepishly
eying his adversary. Banning jumped
up in rage.
Arrest that mani" he cried. point
ing at Ring. He was a slim youth of
23. light haired and weak eyed. whose
naturally pale face was now pallid
from confinement except where the
clerks fingers had marked 1t with
red Arrest himl" he repeated,
hotly. IF you are an officer, 1 give
him in charge to you. He has been
Keeping me here week. He wants
money It's blackmail. and I'll put
him over the road for it, no matter
what it costs"
The detective walked up to the
abashed clerk
Ring" he said, you must be nut
ty to do thing like this. Why, 1t
amt like you. l thought you had more
sense"
The clerk held out his wrists with
out word, but Rugersom waved them
aside
Il won't give you the wristers," he
said. You'll come along all right.
For old sake's sake I'll see what I
can do for you up at"
He stopped suddenly and leaped to
one side as the gas went out, and
threw up his arm. But he was too
lase. A stunning blow fell on his
head and he dropped senseless to the
floor.
'Dr. Furnivall," said Lawyer Ran
dali, Il have come to you on a singu-
lar errand. Whether your unique pow
er is what l need l don't know. but If
is. And in that case / should be COM
PEELED to stop proceedings. which
would prove downright calamity"
The case is this" the lawyer went
on, the doctor making no oral response
to his statement: Some two months
ago young Courtney Banning-you
know, the Childs-B -Bannings, that fam
ily-began going wrong. Originally
he was fine fellow, not vice in the
world, I'm sure. and not a bad habit
even. Seemed to be just harmless
sort of average youth, who would
never set the world afire. nor drown it
either. l saw a good deal of him in
his boyhood and can speak from per-
sonal knowledge. At his majority he
received three millions In his own
right and became guardian of his sis
ter, subject to advice from a board
of trustees, of which / am one. He
conducted himself so sanely, with such
good will and ability. that we never
interfered with him. He was left
practically with free hand in the
disposal of five millions. For two
years. or until last June, he ran as
steady as clock, giving every day
to his business interests and the even
ings to such society as rich young
fellow of good family would naturally
select. Then one day was informed
that he had unaccountably changed
his whole course of life. None of his
friends had laid eyes on him for
weeks, and it was limited that he was
going the fast pace in vile resorts.
There were whispers of a love affair,
and 1 thought that very likely there
was something in that view. I'm not
sure l don't still think SO. A week
ago his sister came to me in hyster-
les, saying that he had not been home
for two days and was not to be found
anywhere. She had searched high
and low, with all his friends helping
her, but to no purpose. Not a word
could be heard of him. He had van
ished utterly, without leaving a trace
behind. After making a still hunt on
my own part, which resulted In moth
ing. quietly called in the police, who
found him at once. But the circum-
stances are such that it is impossible
to determine whether he was in hid
ing or held by force. II the former,
1t is necessary / should know the rea-
son; If the latter, somebody should
be made to sweat for it. And 1 come
ter, or to find If you have any way of
getting at it."
Isn't the matter of rather too
trivial an order to set the wheels of
science whirling for?'. DR.. FurnivalI
remarked. dryly.
ssI GOO that 7 rnuct r,,a1rr ~ ,z-asa.t