, 1917-09-13

II know not how" continued the
lawyer, but my client, when TODAY
he saw the announcement in the
newspapers that certain counterfeit
800 treasury notes of a certain series
were in circulation, at once was
forced to an irresistible conclusion.
Those notes came from this house
they could come from nowhere else.
Your nephew, only recently arrived
from Paris, where your son Is living.
is missing from your home since yes
terday. A man answering his descrip-
ton passed the notes. Putting this
and hal together, my client reasons
that you have also the plates. He
must have them"
Again a groan from the lips of the
tortured man.
We heard a lettering step cross the
floor. Marvel was at my side as the
draperies were agitated. He reached
me In a swift glide and drew me be-
side him to a curtained a;cove in the
library as Arnold buckingham entered
and turned on a light.
The old mans lips were trembling
and he was whispering hoarsely to
himself. His eyes were those of a
man on the verge of losing his senses.
He produced a key, opened a strong
box safe, and from some inner recess
drew out two oblong pieces of metal.
In a flash Marvel was at his side.
"On your life, not a world" he alb
jured the shrinking, well-nigh stricken
millionaire. 81 will deal with the
wretches who seek to blackmail you"
pressed to the side of Buckingham
and supported him, or he would have
fallen. 1 saw Marvel hold the plates
toward the light. He drew a magni-
flying glass from his pocket Int
looked them over
What was the significance of the
quick, momentary smile that crossed
his lips, / knew not then. Before l
could even conjecture a cause he had
parted the draperies, and l heard the
lawyers metallic voice exclaim:
"Resilius Maxwell"
You know me-" was the stern re-
ply. And l you, Israel Craft, dis
barred attorney, fence, g%o-between
and agent of the hunted and lost. You
do well to strain the limit of justice
to the danger point"
81 am within the law" cracked
from the mean, servile lips.
Admitted. What 1 wish to know
is-have you the affidavits you boast
ed of to Mr.. Arnold Buckingham a
minute since?"
Il have"
"Will you add a statement Of you
LpouIadua pf fhtc nnfprtupafa husi.
ness?"
For the plates-yes."
Marvel led the man into the libra
ry. He pointed to an open desk, and
said simply:
Write"
1t was at the end of ten minutes
that 1 saw Resilius Marvel receive
into his hands four documents. He
scrutinized them closely. Then he
said:
There are the plates. Now your
men and my men are-quits."
/ was amazed-more than that,
petrified. l saw Marvel accompany
ing the lawyer to the door. Then,
returning, he drew Buckingham aside.
He conversed with him in low tones.
At the end of ten minutes / saw hope
and courage come into the face of the
old man. 1t was the relief and graft
tude of a person drawn from the edge
Of a fearsome p%recipice.
"The nephew who passed those
notes, and who recently came from
the son in Paris" explained Marvel
as we left the mansion, was told by
Percy Buckingham that he might
have what he found in his old home
room. He stumbled across those
counterfeit notes. The son is In hap
py ignorance of that blighted year in
his life. The father need bear no
further anxiety. He will reimburse
the banks gladly, the affair must be
hushed up, and the nan who gets the
plates"
He paused in an impressive way
Then Resilius Marvel laughed-a low,
strange laugh of intense satisfaction.
But they have them! 1 do not
understand" 1 fioundered.
"They have them, yes" assented
Marvel. and SO much worthless
trumpery they are"
Il do not yet comprehend you"
"They bear a sure record, that in
his lucid awakening the night Of his
escape, Percy Buckingham placed
upon Them" said Marvel. "They are
as useless as old metal"
you mean-?"
When these knaves come to print
their issue, they will find that, finely
but plainly engraven across front and
back plate, is one warning word"
You mean?"
"'Counterfeit.'"