The Washington times., 1913-10-03


The little mans eye.
sparkled. and he smiled again, ane
I'VE shall need your help for a few
minutes" continued vinton, but 1 will
not keep You from your work any long
er than Is necessary: I should explain.
complishments. In some things he has
qualities that approach genius. For In
stance. he Is a most wonderful penman.
He may not be able to speak our Ian
gnage without a little Of the accent
sure you that he can write it without
the shadow Of an accent"
Even before he proceeded I got an
inlklinR Of what was in his mind.
We must have a written order to OBJ
house. Vinton proceeded. "Mr. Msns-
fisld does not feel inclined to write
such an order, 30 we must do the best
we can. Fortunately. he has supplied
US with his signature"
Vinton took up from the table q check
which he had found In my wallet.
had filled 1t out and signed It several
days before, intending to cash II my
self; but had not needed the money. and
had neglected to destroy. it. I was
in Ninton's hands.
You might start practicine the sig
nature. Lazare. while I get the order
ready. I'll be gone only moment or
two. Meantime. Mr.. Prrvis will act as
Vinton left the library and went un-
stairs. / could hear him unlociethe door
of the study, where Mary was a prfs-
oner. and then close 1t after him. A
moment later the faint sound of type
writer explained why he had gone to
the study.
Puryis not SO confident of me as
Vinton, drew his big revolver the mo-
ment the latter left the room and
placed It upon his knee. after giving me
significant look. / could not help
smiling at the mans precaution.
Meanwhile. Lazare was studying the
check with a professional air. Then he
seated himself at the library table, Sc
lected a stub pen with care. and reach,
the check before him. studied my sigma
ture again. and began to write: l
watched him curiously, but not until ne
had been at work for half minute did
1 notice that he had So placed the
check that the signature upon It was,
to him, upside down. and that he was
writing from right to left!
My amusement at this unusual per-
formance must have attracted his at
tention. for presently he looked up and
smiled.
Peculiar. you think?' he said. 1T
is the proper way. Why. know not;
but IL is the best way and easier. The
mind Is not distracted by trying to
make one letter look like another. The
letters you do not notice In this way;
1t is just like copying drawing. See"
He held up the sheet Of paper. and
could not repress an exclamation. Half
q dozen times he had written Daniel
Mansfield" the last two signatures be.
ting so startling!y IKE my own that !!
genuine, save for the fact I had act
ually seen them written By another
hand.
''Some time you will try it." said La
zarre. 'It is an excellent way. truly"
Purvis was looking at the perform
ance with as much astonishment as 1.
and / heard him mutter an expletive
under his breath. Then the door Of the
study upstairs opened and closed again.
and I heard the key turn in the lock.
When Vinton came into the library he
Miss Donaldson sends her compli-
ments to you," he said to me. with the
satirical look I had seen In his face be-
fore.
Then he went over to the table to in
spect Lazare's work. and nodded his
with the forgeries.
go ahead! he said. laying the type
written sheet before Lazare.
The little man placed the check upon
1t, upside down. as before. and pro-
ceeded to write my name with an ease
and certainty that were astonishing.
When Vinton viewed the result he was
c! ,arty satisfied. for he complimented
Lazare upon the excellence of his work.
Even you could not deny It," he
see. It was brief. typewriter order
upon the warehouse. to deliver to the
bearer the box deposited in my name.
and the signature at the bottom of 1t
was perfect. 'Purvis. you'll have to
take this" added Vinton. folding the
his work. I'll entertain Mr.. Mans
field"
Purvis took the paper with nod.
put it in his pocket, picked up his hat
and coat from chair. and left the
house. Lazare went downstairs again,
taking his monkey wrench with him.
and a moment later I could hear him
at work again. I was alone with Vim
There were moments when he ap-
tention, frequently turning his back |
upon me as he moved about the room: |
vet I knew that he was constantly |
watchful. The man seemed to pos |
sess some sixth sense. Once or twice |
made a movement when his head was
ayerted, .tust to test him. he always
turned about Immediately. not In n
,ta rtled way, hut quickly. nevertheless.
There was something feline In the ease
II his movements.
More than once. when he was close
n me. I could have grappled with him
,eSore he could have reached the gun
n his pocket. but I had sense enough
rot to attempt 1t. In the first place. l
vas satisfied that physically I was no
match for the man; and then. even IL
had been, there was Lazare down.
tairs. VINO would instantly respond to
cry or to the noise OF a scuffle. Moth
ne was to be gained by an attack, I'M
ess I could strike swiftly to win, and
ha opportunity for that had not vet
resented itself.
II was about noon when Purvis left