Evening star., 1917-10-14

survived q thousand blOWS- II Gail
vive no blow like this. If the people
come to realize that their life savings
are still at the mercy of a buccaneer
like Conybear-God help Wall street;
Corybear, and if he won't listen to rea-
son. then it's up to you to make him
heed force."
You mean?''
Il mean that when one man can jeop-
ardize a nation, it's up to the guard
ians of the law to enforce it's spirit not
its letter. It's up to you to place dan
gerous megalomaniae like Conybear un-
der restraint
Herkomer shrugged his shoulders al
this phase of the situation.
First catch your rabbit" he said, Ia
confcally. Where is Conybear%'
Malcolm thumped the desk with a
knotted fist. Il shut UP that fool out
in Portsmouth," he snapped IT'S bad
enough for people to know that one man
can do a thing like this, but if they
realized that the kidnapping of one man
but that's absurd he ended. more
calmly. "Conybear has just decided to
get under cover for while. And you
want to drag him out
But his brokers-he left instructions
with them" asked Herkomer.
They won't admit 1t: they simply
grin and say nothing" was Malcolm's
reply. But I happen to know--one of
the governors told me this half an hour
ago-that list of brokers had sealed
orders from Conybear. to be opened this
morning. And those sealed orders con-
tanned instructions TO sell all along the
line until further word from him. That
is in the strictest confidence. of course"
And you think l can make Cony-
bear give that word?"
Il could il l were police commits
stoner," said Malcolm, savagely.
But you spoke of kidnapping. How
can that be If Conybear was ut your
vaults this morning? You saw him?"
Malcolm shook his head. mo; / was
down at the exchange comforting with
one of the governors on a private mat
ter-it has to do with a new course at
my golf club he grinned, reluctantly.
but Conybear came here, attended by
a band of retainers with suit cases, and
well, / entered his vaults myself u
while ago. They're stripped clean
And know what he had there. So he's
around town. and he passed that Anal
gamated dividend merely to pave the
way for this panic! If l.
Then Malcolm stopped short as his
telephone rang. He listened for a mo-
!nent and then he turned. with q queer
look in his eyes. to Herkomer.
ITS Symons, Halfway, Symons, pres
ldent OF Amalgamated. he said. duly.
and Symons tells me that he's calling
a conference of bankers. that Conybear
is kidnapped. and so are Larned
and"
Herkomer grabbed the instrument.
"Synons? This is Commissioner Her
say about Ine gentlemen just mention
ed don't say 1t over the telephone! You
understand
Il do cried Symons. "and I under
stand. further, that you've put me off
before on this matter. Your police force
is Incompetent Five of the biggest men
in America have Disappeared; panic fol-
lows upon their disappearance, and you
bid me keep quiet,'
But you must realize what public
me
ried Herkomer
can it possibly mean more than
what IS happening now?" cried Sy-
mons. You've had plenty of time In
store their victims; and yet when 1
telephoned your Office a moment ago
your man Kelcey, whom 1 talked with
nrst, tells me that there is nothing to
report as yet. Nothing to reportw
But you're talking to me now, not Kel-
cey said Herkomer. sweetly.
Wen. what have you to report? Have
you found Conybearr'
-, You gu DO do. Where? For Gods sake tell
"Msy "Easy' Il. I cannot g. tell you-yet"
DO you happen to remember that am
commissioner 81 of police?"
=. 7 don't tell department business to
every one; But you may take my word
Ior it-take my word for this: ii Bur
ton Conybear is not at his ONCE fomor-
TOW morning there will be new commits
panic can't be checked Let IL nm its
enough? 90 - 'A-Ns
II suppose it lnust be- grunted synons
May / tell that on your authority re-
my associates "
You may said Herkorner
he hung up the receiver. to meet the
amazed eyes of Malcolm
DO you know where Convhear ;so~
asked Malcolm Is
Herkomer shook his head He was
mere this morning. In the fastest auto
mobile he couldn't have gone more than
Few hundred miles from this bank, So
l know that much. He's in New York.
New Jersey. Pennsylvania. Connecticut or
earth this is, that's narrowing his where.
aoouts down quite a bit. don't you think
Are Are you joking? At time like this e''
lie. earing hair doesn't seem to have
heiped you much" smiled Herkomer.
Malcolm cast a rueful glance at the
door OF his Office. the glass panels of
which mirrored him fairly we'll He
smoothed his tousled head.
Can you locate Conybear before tonor-
row morning?"
IF l don't I'll resign"
That won't help much"
But I'd hate to resign" said Herkomer
Malcolm threw up his hands impatiently.
Never mind the cryptic stun now. ne
sad What are you going to do? You
hat
about those others?'' ~
Herkomer looked the yours. banker over
carefully. True, Malcolm WIS excited hut
so was Herkomer. though h. hid II a hit
better. And Malcolm had brains He
might be able to aid. Swiftly not WASTING
a word, Herkomer told the banker fbe
events that had transpired since Peter
Perkins had come into the COMMISSIONER
once with the note signed by ConybAar
Malcolm waited. with a patience
rather remarkable. considering his eY
citement. until Herkomer had finished
And now Malcolm was the keen, rta
soning man of affairs again
That note you mention? The one
you showed me?" o"e
Herkomer nodded
Let me see 1t again." demanded NAL.
colin.
Herkomer produced it from his
pocket. ''
Malcolm studied it only a moroen,
The signature is genuine" he an
nounced. but the body of the note
it's forgery"
1T doesn't look as though Conybear
had been kidnaoed, said Herkomer,
dryly. considering that he was in his
vaults here today.
But why such n silly foreervo"
unused Malcolm. He reached for the
telephone. He asked for the number
of the Portsmouth National Bank
III my friend out there knew ahout
tit was brought to you sealed?'
Herkomer nodded assent Another
mystery. added to those already con-
fronting them, was rather dazine
Neither spoke until Malcolm got the
Portsmouth banker on the telephone,
Malcolm asked only few Questions
laA