Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-31

grasp she had left something harsh'
| metallic.
lie looked at IT,
THE blue buckle" he exclaimed
"The blue buckle-bue buckle number
| two" she cried.
lie stared at 1t. She was right rms
was the genuine artlcle--the open sesame
that they'd sought for.
How did you get it," he demanded.
Just came. by mail" she answered,
| She was eXultant.
plain sailing now" she said. Craig was
puzzled, but he said nothing about his
| doubts Butt all looked too easy for
him. The good fortune seemed too omin-
/ Gus.
"You know what this means" he ex-
claimed 1T means another trip to Flori-
| da. Come on"
They went back TO Miami by the first
express. They walked, eide by side, into
the Miami bank.
"Td like to see the president" said
Craig They were ushcred into the presi-
dents room A strange man was sitting
there.
II wish to see the president" said
Craig.
II am the president" returned the
strange man.
"But-the other man" eaid Craig.
"The other man has resigned" explain
ed the stranger. Il nave Deen preslueht
for two days now"
"At any rate" said Craig, I'll state
our business"
He stated 1t, laying the two buckles
side by side.
I'm familiar with the matter" said
the new man. My predecessor put me in
possession of the facts. Let me go over
the papers, If you please"
He went over the papers, scrutinized the
n
laid them down. Then he nodded.
Follow me-" he said. They followed
him. He stepped to Il huge safe and un-
locked an inside drawer. He took there
from a key.
Follow me-" he repeated, They fol-
lowed him. down a winding staircase, into
a stuffy little vault.
Box seven" he repeated. He handed a
key to Billie Ballantyne.
Insert that key there" he said. lie, in
turn inserted another. The lock yielded.
He Withdrew the box.
Perhaps" he commented, ''it is more
comfortable upstairs in my room
Billie. clutchlng the box firmly to her,
preceded them. They clustered about 1t
as she laid 1t upon the table Of the new
president.
open it," said Craig.
She opened 1t.
1t contained nothing-except many
strips of paper cut the size of folded
stocks and bonds.
Billie fell back with an exclamation Of
alarm.
II thought So" said Craig to himself.
lie turned to the new president
MIR. President" he said, may | ask
II this bank has recently changed hands ?"
The president eyed him coldly.
Are you a stockholder in this bank,
Mr.. Rutherford" he queried
Il am not sir"
Under the circumstances then, sir no
information can be vouchsafed. l can
tell you nothing sir"
He told them nothing. Craig and Billie
the latter weeping hot tears of mortifi
cation-went back to New York.
At a glance Craig understood what had
happened Helderman had bought the
bank, had exercised dominion over It, had
unlocked drawers, procured keys, rIhed
box number seven, and then, in his OK
ultation, had sent blue buckle number
two to Billie Ballantyne. Rutherford
could have killed the man with pleasure.
But he contained himself.
Craig rang up Crowder Immediately on
his arrival in New York-and again was
both astounded and annoyed to receive
assurance that the New York fnancler
along.
Look here, Crowder, have you seen
him with your own eyes?"
Not tonight. Sims is on the job to-
night; and he reported to me- not half
an hour ago, that he had seen him in the
big room"
"Can you go up there right away?"
Yes. If it's urgent. What do you
know?"
II don't know what I know yet-but it's
important I'll meet you up there on the
corner, inside the hour I'm able to navi-