Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-10

ing large bed, three chairs and
writing table. Several pieces of Eng
fish baggage were upon the floor,
packed ready for departure, and seated
at the window, looking toward us with
heavy face of mingled fear and doubt,
was an elderly gentleman whose ex-
preston seemed familiar to me, though
I could not recall where had seen him
before.
Crewe stepped forward with laugh
and took the heavy face between his
hands. Next moment he stepped back.
In either hand was a false, blue-black
whisker, which he had peeled from the
skin.
'Langton," ne said, mockingly. cal
low me to present to you our esteemed
friend, Sir Moresby Blount."
The expression upon the financier's
face was comical to witness. All his
dignity had deserted him, and he
la"ned back in the chair, breathing
stertoriously, apparently in acute and
craven fear.
I'VE nearly missed you. Randall"
said Crewe, turning to the secretary.
Tell me enc thing. Have you present
ed the check for payment?"
NO." Randall growled. "That was
to have been the last thing done"
81 thought So" answered Crewe.
Payment has been stopped. You
would have been arrested at the bank.
We had you either way"
"Wel what are you going to do?'
asked Randall, biting his lips nervous
ly.
The answer was supplied by the un
ceremonious bursting open of the door
A couple of policemen stood upon the
threshold and, behind them, peerine
over their shoulders alternately, was
the face of the landlady.
Il think we can fight the matter out
at the police station Crewe answered
The trial of Blount and Randall was
the year. Having recovered th'
amount of it's insurance the Salaman
der company decided not to put itsel
to the expense of a prosecution, sine
in any event the first claim upon tn
prisoners would have been that Of tn
federal government. The Arizona de
velopment scheme proved to be a g
gantic swindle. Blount was place
upon trial and sentenced to serv
seven years in the federal prison @
Atlanta, Ga. while Randall, his. too
escaped with sentence of three year!
1t was disclosed at the trial tina
Blount had been implicated in a sin
liar series of shady transactions
England. The crash of the Arizon
scheme was followed by the collaps
of seven of his banks in London an
the provinces. If the English govern
ment presses for his extradition whe
he is set free by the American govern
ment, doubtless further sentence wi
befall him.
1t appears that, rendered desperat
by the impending crash of his fortune
Blount had conceived the despera
scheme of feigning death, in order
obtain the insurance money and sta
life anew in some other corner of Il
globe. The plan had been laid skilfr
ly; the journey to America, whel
there was none to identify him pc!
lively, was a plot of genius. BY q
rangement a body had been remove
from an undertaker's, mutilated al
dressed in the financier's clothe
while he went into hiding until the S.
amander company should pay the
surance.
But what gave you the idea that
was alive?" l asked of Crewe. lilo
could you discover that the body WI
not that of Sir Moresby, when the fe
lures were mutilated?'
Crewe smiled. ut is so simple tn
| really hate to give the trick away
he said. perhaps you recollect Il
stained glove in my apartment"
Eyes, and 1 wondered what on ear
your object could be in dyeing it pu
pie"
The purple was a simple coal t
dye, used extensively for hardenil
and bringing out the salient forms
microscopic subjects" Crewe a
swered. Il knew the moment had
in my hands that the body at t
morgue could not be Sir Moresby
The ridges on the thumbs and finge
were what are technically known
'whorls.' The ridges on Sir Moresby
fingers, on the other hand, were ell
a teal They had been well imprint
" into the soft kid and it was necessa
IL only to turn the glove inside out a
dye it in order to bring them out
a marked detail"