The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-09-21

he saw the announcement in the
newspapers that certain counterfeit
800 treasury notes of 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 that together, my client reasons
that you have also the plates. He
must have them"
Again groan from the lips of the
| tortured man.
| We heard tottering step cross the
| floor. Marvel was at my side as the
draperies We're agitated. He reached
me in swift glide and drew me be-
side him to a curtained alcove in the
library as Arnold buckingham entered
and turned on 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 key, opened strong
box safe, and from some inner recess
drew out two oblong pieces of metal.
In fash Marvel was at his side.
ION your life, not world" he abb
jured the shrinking, well-nigh stricken
millionaire. Il will deal with the
wretches who seek to blackmail you"
l pressed to the side of Buckingham
and supported him, or he would have
fallen. saw Marvel hold the plates
toward the light He drew magni-
flying glass from his pocket and
looked them over.
What was the significance of the
quick, momentary smile that crossed
his lips, / knew not then. Before l
could even conjecture cause, he had
parted the draperies, and heard the
lawyers metallic voice exclaim:
"Resilius MARVEL"
you know me-" was the stern re-
ply. And / you, Israel Craft, dis
barred attorney, fen }, go-between
and agent of the hunted and lost. You
do well to strain the limit of justice
to the danger point"
Il am within the law" cracked
from the mean, servile lips
Admitted. What l wish to know
is-have you the aff1davits you boast
ed of to Mr.. Arnold Buckingham a
minute SINGER"
Il have
"Will you add statement of your
knowledge of this unfortunate BUSH
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 l saw Resilius Marvel receive
into his hands four documents. Ht
,, scrutinized them closely. Then h
q said:
=, There are the plates. Now you
men and my men are-quits.'
- was amazed-more than the
~ petrified. l saw Marvel accompan
- ing the lawyer to the door. The
- returning, he drew Buckingham asiG
:, He conversed with him in low tone
At the end of ten minutes / saw hol
- and courage come into the face of Il
10 old man. 1t was the relief and graf
= tude of person drawn from the edg
~ of fearsome precipice.
d 1.-THE nephew who passed thos
4 notes, and who recently came froI
3 the son in Paris" explained MarYe
r as we left the mansion, was told b.
!. Percy buckingham that he nigh
= have what he found in his old home
i room. He stumbled across those
, counterfeit notes. The son is in hap
/ py ignorance of that blighted year IL
T his life. The father need bear nc
. further anxiety. He will reimburse
/ the banks gladly, the affair must be
: hushed up, and the man who gets the
] plates"
: He paused in an impressive way
( Then Resilius Marvel laughed-a low
/ strange laugh of intense satisfaction
3 But they have them! l do moi
4 understand" I foundered.
/ "They have them, yes" assentec
7 Marvel, and so much worthless
Q trumpery they are"
Il do not yet comprehend you"
$ "They bear a sure record, that in
d his lucid awakening the night of his
:. escape, Percy Buckingham placed
d upon Them" said Marvel. They are
/ as useless as old metal"
n You mean-?"
|. when these knaves come to prin
e their issue, they will find that, finely
a but plainly engraven across front anC
; back plate, is one warning word"
S You mean?"
/ Counterfeit
Y