The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1917-09-13

Co. stand behind the proposition on a
strong guarantee"
He looked at Marvel in some de-
fance. The latter took the challenge
mildly. His hand went into an inner
pocket and drew forth slip Of tissue
paper He passed this to the bank
president.
II sent the day before yesterday"
he said, ito the commercial agency
for report on Ralston & Co. You
observe what the agency reported:
Open for rating"
It was not the first time Mr.. Drew
had heard that technical agency
phrase. In a vague way it was gen.
orally understood to indicate an inves-
| tigation pending, lacking vertical
ton of antecedents, or anticipation Of
promised statement.
"As 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 reorganization
or for some other transitory condi-
tion."
Today" pursued Marvel steadily,
II 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
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
last evening Ralston & Co.. which
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.
II had not heard of that" he said
huskily.
"You will, in the afternoon papers"
explained Marvel. 1.-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 Rals-
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
showing the white feather. Just now
he disdained all self-restraint or ego
tism.
DO something's" he said in hoarse
broken tone.
II intend to-" replied Marvel. "You
have done all the talking so far-let
me do some. will tell you what
very few know.
1.-THE bonds we're invalid in the first
place; a signature is lacking. Think
cam obtain it. If I do, the bond
holders will not lose. AS you quoted
from the prospectus, the physical Sc
curity behind the deed of trust is am
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
in feverish haste. Then he took up
his check book.
"You understand-of course" he
began significantly.
when the case is through" inter-
rupted Marvel. Il want our friend here
for a week." and he placed his hand on
my arm. II need some help"
smiled at Marvel in depreciation
I had been so fortunate as to be his
companion in several cases he had
worked up. To speak Of help-and
from me! I laughed outright. The
only suggestions I 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 have
found you silent but willing buffer
in the midst of developing ideas I
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
| lie IGdl LIduolCASASS VI SAOO6AS3 yOO
know"
There was always something inter-
esting going on at Resilius Marvers
office. On the present occasion
/ looked around It to catch any 1ndica-
ton there might be Of suggestion
of the. unusual. It's proprietor notioned
me to chair in the outer apartment.
In less than a 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. I watched
him as he halted where they lay, then
touched them. I 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. I
had known him to scent the germs of