The Carlisle independent., 1917-10-04

admiringly.
 Flaw two-I offered Senor Marco Valdez cigar after we had talked awhile" resumed Marvel. but did not offer him light He took out his own match box. Exhibit three, those match stubs wonder represent the discarded burned lucifers. Next to them the dozen or more ends are those found in my letter box. They bear resemblance, eh?"
 Manifestly," acceded, after an in- spection. You mean that your visitor must have been the person who bdrned up the letter in your mail boxf"
 Precisely. While I was conversing with him door was closed noisily iu another apartment I feigned fear of an intrusion. Step in there for a mo- ment,' 1 directed my visitor. opening the door to that anteroom wonder. Instantly, taken off his guard, he seized the reverse knob and held to it as 1 pushed the door shut Then I had my man down in black and white. Unconsciously he had followed the prison rule of drawing to and hold ing tightly the door until the tier locking bar falls in place. When an- nounced false alarm and called him back into the room, had ready. spread over the blotter on my desk, a paraf- fined sheet of paper. Just set your thumb on that corner while I tack it down. I suggested. He did so, and that piece of it you see has the inn press of his thumb. l made ado to do some scribbling on the sheet to subdue any suspicious he might entertain. He went away satisfied that by night l would be on my way on fools er- rand"
 And later?'
 "The identification bureau. Thanks to his thumb impression and my ability to describe my plausible visitor, was practically convinced that I had been honored by call from no less per sonage than the notorious Rex Ma ginn. alias the Human Spool"
 "A strange pseudonym," observed,
 sSo awarded" explained Marvel, Ion account of his brilliant record as an expert smuggler up along the Cana dian border. This man was once cap- tured by the Detroit police. They dis robed him to find some thousands of yards of fine lace wound round and round him. They began turning him in a circle. They reeled of vast auan- titles of the stun, until he fell down diz1yr o0d ovh fhox- had %r give him frequent rests before they un- wound the discounted human spool"
 "A known criminal, then?"
 'Yes, but quiescent for few years. the record runs. That is his system. however. He generally satisfies him. self with pulling off two or three big things in a decade"
 And is probably preparing for one of those signal events at the present time." I ventured
 Beyond doubt. In plain English, this man and his associates are bent upon some big scheme, probably in the bank line, where my absence is an es- sential. wired the state prison. Gu. Brazilian friend was there this morn ing, and visited a long termer named Dorchester Ickes. who is serving time as bank embezzler"
 If I can assist you" I suggested, hoping that Marvel would let me.
 T will cable you." was the response, with a dry, dry smile-"from Rio"
 Itwas case of while the cats sup posed to be away the mice will play" to my manner of thinking. looked for something to happen immediately. Three days passed by, however. and Resilius Marvel, according to the schedule, should be forty-eight hours out on the Brazilian steamer Express, bound for Rio. While was sure that some big bank trick was about to be pulled of. as the saying goes, won- dered where the lightning might strike, how and when. and doubted not that Rex Maginn would be in evidence when the continuation arrived. The Human Spool did not put in an ap- pearance, however. wondered if Marvel had already nipped his scheme in the bud
 The third evening. found myself headed in the direction of Marvel's apartment and I quickened my steps as l turned a corner to come within view of the house where Marvel lived. At the side of one of the shades of his library there was . glint of light The shade had becomo disarranged in some way. drew back, walked forward. stopped. and then got upon hitching block to acquire the exact focus l needed.
 At last-there was Resilius Marvel. In his accustomed easy chair. Stand ing near a table in front of him was a stout man wearing full white beard and silk hat. He was drawing on his gloves as if about to depart. I walked around the corner. posted my self in an open doorway adjoining the apartment house, and waited.
 Almost immediately I saw the man with the high hat come out into the