The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1916-05-27

She took an envelope from the desk
and returning to the draw1ng-room
slipped the duplicate mortgage within
It and sealed 1t carefully.
When, a few minutes later, tall,
dark, stolid-faced young man appear
ed, with large dressmaker's box, she
placed the envelope in his hand.
For Mr.. Blaine" she whispered.
See that it reaches him Immediately"
A half hour afterward, Ramon Ham
office, and heard the detectives voice
over the wire.
"Mr. Hamilton, have you among the
atters and documents at your office
he signature OF the person we were
discussing the other day?"
why, yes, think so. I will look
nd see. If have do you wish me to
md 1t around to you?"
NO, thank you. messenger boy
III call for it in a few minutes"
Wondering, Ramon Hamilton shut
ed hastily through the paper in the
geon-holes Of his desk until he came
10 a letter from Pennington Lawton.
lie carefully tore off the signature
I'D when the messenger boy appear
/, gave it to him. He would not
ave been so puzzled, had he seen the
reat Henry Blaine, when few min.
tes had elapsed, seated before the
esk In his office, comparing the sig
ature of the torn slip which he had
ent with that affixed to the duplicate
.lortgage.
A long, close, breathless scrutiny,
18th the most powerful magnifying
lasses, and the detective jumped to
lis feet.
That's no signature of Pennington
1awton," he exulted to himself 81
hought / knew that fine hand, per-
ectly as the forgery has been done
That's the work of James Brunell, by
he Lord"
THE SEARCH.
Henry Blaine, the man Of decision,
wasted no time in vain thought. In
jtanuy, upon his discovery that the
iignature Of Pennington Lawton had
oeen forged, and that it had been done
oy an old and we'll known offender,
le touched the bell on his desk, which
Drought his confidential secretary
Has Guy Morrow returned yet from
= hat blackmail case in Denver"
Yes, sir He's in his private office
now, making out his report to you
A moment later, there entered a
all, dark young man, strong, muscular
build. but not apparently heavy,
Nth a smooth face and f1rm-set jaw.
Il haven't finished my report yet,
sir"
THE report can wait. You remem-
Der James Brunell, the forger?'
James Brunell?" Morrow repeated.
He was before my time, Of course,
out I've heard of him and his ex-
oloits. Pretty Slick article, wasn't
le! I understand he has been dead
.or years-at least nothing has been
heard of his activities since l have
been in the sleuth game
Did you ever hear of any of his
associates"
Il can't say that have, sir, except
Crimmins and Dolan; Crimmins died
n San Quentin before his time was
Up; Dolan after his release went to
Japan"
II want to And Brunell. His closest
associate was Walter Pennold. I
.hink Penold is living somewhere in
Brooklyn. and through him you may
be able to locate Brunell--"
Morrow shrugged his shoulders.
"A retired crook in the suburbs
That's going to take time"
Not the way we'll work it. Listen"
The next morning, a tall. dark young
nan, strong and muscular in build.
With a smooth face and firm-set jaw,
lppeared at the Bank of Brooklyn &
Queens and was Immediately installed
Is a clerk. after a private interview
With the vice-president.
His fellow clerks looked at him
(skance at first, for they knew there
lad been no vacancy, and there was
| long waiting list ahead of him, but
he young man bore himself with
uch a quiet modest air of compare
lerie about him that by the noon hour