Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-10-26

Let me warn you. I will suffer nc
travesty or scheme to intrude upon
me-" warned Morgan In q strident
| tone
Resilius Marvel leisurely turned
away. His swift eyes swept over
the well-filled book shelves. He cool
| ly walked TO the nearest case, swung
! open its door, took out an ele-
gantly bound volume and brought II
to the desk The banker had no op-
portunity to resent Or resist the &C
ton before my friend had opened the
book. thumbed over a few pages and
turned to the view OF his unwilling
/ host a full page portrait with accom-
panying biographical matter on the
opposite page.
| knew the book at glance. II was
a volume devoted to Who's Who" In
banking. 1t contained the leading
financiers of the country, and a fac
smile OF the signature of every cash
Ter in the United States and Canada.
You wish to have me believe that
is your picture" observed the banker
in sneering tone. Allowing for
some resemblance"
Resilius Marvel boldly seized a pen
and a tab Of paper. He placed 1t be-
side the steel plate one in the book
Compare. If you please" he said.
you are thinking of another Resilius
Marvel whom you met. II you chance
to have any specimen Of his hand
writing. submit it to the test"
Habit was a strange sound
that clicked In the throat of the bank
president. His hand went to an in
side pocket. He brought out an en-
velope and scanned its enclosure.
some memoranda furnished by the Du-
plicate. or the like. He was on his
feet, shaking with dismay as a light
seemed to fash across his mind.
"What-what does this mean?" he
asked. hoarsely.
That a clever criminal has induced
you to give him full swing inside of
your institution" replied Marvel de
cisively. THE loose ends of the ex
PLANTATION you had best wait to explore
after you have made sure that he has
not already carried out his designs"
1t was half an hour later that the
banker let US into the bank. just as
he had introduced the Duplicate. He
led US rather nervously and hastily
into his private Office, then to a wait
ing room, thence across the counting
room and before the great steel
vault. He had told us on the way that
he had unset the system Of burglar
alarms for the police at the sugges-
ton Of the supposed Marvel-possi-
bly, the most effective system In use
in the state. The vault door was open
and he rushed beyond it. Then we
heard a clang as he fell against one OF
the inner doors.
'Gone!" he cried. "and-the strong
box looted"
One glance Marvel gave, then he
was out into the counting room, down
the steps and outside. followed
him.
Quick, my mani" he shouted to the
Waterman. Have you seen anybody
leave the bank?"
1.-TWO MIMI before you came-the
gentleman NJ. Morgan brought here
He had a satchel, the bank satchel
but | was ordered not to interfere
with him"
Which way?" demanded Marvel
quickly.
Down that alley"
Before knew 1t Marvel had disap
peared Twas no crack sprinter. and
I lost sight Of him before had set.
tied the point that might have been
Of some use to him. Morgan came out
Of the bank almost tearing his hair
He had weak spell from his excite
ment, and had to ease him to a stone
step while the Waterman ran into the
bank for some water.
We had about revived him when
Marvel reappeared. He carried a yell
low satchel in his hand He had
companion, but as the latter came
within the radius OF the street lamp
saw that he was not the Duplicate.
but ragged, trampish-looking fellow
He had Lleeding cut on one cheek
which he was nursing with a hand !
kerchief Marvel apparently had given |
him.