The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-09-20
OPEN FOR RATING

phrase. In vague way it was gen.
orally understood to indicate an inves-
LEGATION pending, a lacking verif1ca-
ton of antecedents, or anticipation of
promised statement
LAS you know" observed Mr.. Drew,
closely scanning the bit of flimsy,
"they are a comparatively new firm.
! Very often a rating is withheld or
suspended awaiting a reorganization,
or for some other transitory condi-
tion."
To-day" pursued Marvel steadily,
81 have learned a somewhat peculiar
fact The reporter who held that
rating open the next day went to the
office of Ralston & Co. to receive a
promised statement. He withdrew
the rating owing to some suspicious
he did not impart to his chief. He
has never been seen since. His name
is Clinton Durham, and he has mys-
teriously, utterly, disappeared"
"And you infer from this-?" ques-
toned Mr.. Drew.
"Blackmail, briefly, or foul play, for
means Bernard Ralston, drew out
every dollar they had in the local
banks and have evidently closed
shop"
The bank president sprang to his
feet.
81 had not heard of that" he said
huskily.
you will, in the afternoon papers"
explained Marvel. "The laggard in
terest money, suspicion, a sense of in
security, have caused the first raid
on the Jebel River bonds. You can
fancy what the Stock Exchange will
do when the disappearance of Rails
ton is public property"
The bank president was pacing the
floor in sheer agitation. Always
hitherto he had posed to me as great
man handling big events and never
he disdained all self-restraint or ego
tism
do something!" he said in hoarse
broken tone.
Il intend to-" replied Marvel. "You
have done all the talking so far-let
me do some. l will tell you what
very few know.
1.-THE bonds were invalid in the first
place; a signature is lacking. I think
/ can obtain it. If l do, the bond
holders will not lose. AS you quoted
from the prospectus, the physical Sc
| ~ ic
ple-provided the title is right. 1t
is quite the reverse. but I hope to
rectify it"
Marvel was done. Too many times
had Mr.. Drew consulted him not to
know that. He drank glass of water
his check book.
"You understand-of course" he
began significantly.
when the case is through" inter
rupted Marvel. II want our friend here
for a week" and he placed his hand on
rly arm. Il need some help"
l smiled at Marvel in depreciation.
l had been so fortunate as to be his
companion in several cases he had
worked up. To speak of help-and
from me! 1 laughed outright. The
only suggestions l had even ventured
to make to him had been based on
! stupid deductions.
81 don't think you understand" he
said locking his arm in mine as we
left the bank. "Metaphysically l have
found you silent but willing buffer
in the midst of developing ideas. 81
sometimes think you are valuable in
catching them, and by some telepathic
sense extracting their values. They
percolate through your mentality and
come back to me clarified. That is
the real transference of thought, you
| know"
| There was always something inter
! esting going on at Resilius Marvel S
office. On the present occasion
looked around it to catch any indica-
ton there might be of suggestion
of the unusual. It's proprietor motioned
me to a chair in the outer apartment.
In less than minute Lott, his handy
man, servitor and assistant, came from
a side room. He greeted me with his
usual reserved yet graceful obeis-
ance. Lying on table was cane
and a woman's handbag. 1 watched
him as he halted where they lay, then
touched them. l noticed those deli
cate nostrils of his CULVER, contract
and relax. A strange man this Lott
gifted in his peculiar sense of SMELL
still more remarkable in the theories
he adduced from an exercise of it.
had known him to scent the germs OF
pestilence in closed packet. 1 had
heard of his Analysing ownership, by
the same highly developed trait, of q
roll of disputed bank bills. / augured
that the cane and the handbag be
longed to present visitors in the pri
vate office. The cane was such as q
born dandy might carry. The hand
bag was crude in material and clum
sy in shape. 1t was made of alligator
hide and was ornamented with shiny
notified scales of some gaudy trop
ical fish
4 At one side of Marvel's desk anC
within its shadow was a woman.
could only divine this from her ap
parel. Nothing of her features show
ed, for she was deeply yelled. | made
out that she must be squat to the
point of obesity. Her hands were
splay, but stumpy. wondered wha
the handbag and cannibals could have
to do with her.
/