, 1917-09-20
n FHEN Resilius Marvel, head Of
MAJ the United Bankers Protective
wv association, came into our in
..s,,.io, %hnt panrpfnn 7 nntn1

mat ne maue Jne TOunuS OI lne OIl-
GERS desks more like a man of leisure
than a person summoned on an urgent
n important case where his keenest
professional skill would be required.
AS secretary to the president and as
his own intimate friend and ardent adj
mirer, l was first to greet him as he
came past the railinged space. 1 led
him into the private office.
"a single individual possesses only
a limited scope" was his first re-
mark; "he sees only al n mind.
Several individuals with a multiplied
scope see as several minds. Hence a
fitting word or two along the line,
my friend, and some details from you,
which you always put intelligently."
Thanks" / bowed, drawing to-
wards me an envelope marked War
ner Clay"
You see, all that" added Marvel,
may be resultant of a double check,
aides is to see that an asset may not
lose what it possesses, and that 1t
may find its right place"
Thirty thousand has found its
wrong place Just at present. 1 OBJ
served.
so 1 understand. A forgery, 1 be-
lieve. Go n
Resilius Marvel fixed his y on
me and then upon the envelope which
/ had opened, out of which / drew a
strip of paper.
This is check 953, dated May %,
drawn upon our bank and signed by
Warner Clay" 1 stated. at is made
put in favor of Miss Geraldine Farrar.
Warner Clay is a wealthy man, a
widower, a client of our bank for
some years. Miss Farrar is, / believe,
4 distant relative and a sort of ward
of his. She has lived at his home,
has acted as his amanuensis and
~stenographer, and when he has been
Ill has attended to many details of
his business. She is known to the
paying teller, A to G section, to whom
she has presented checks as high in
amount as $780, 900. She has been
Mr.. Clay at all times. A week ago
when she presented that check, it was
cashed without the hesitation of a
moment"
Resilius Marvel turned the check
over to scan the neat feminine in
iorsement on the reverse side.
June 2, as is customary" I went
on, that check and all other May
checks were mailed to Warner Clay,
with a statement of his account to
late, as to all other clients of the
institution. Yesterday MT. Clay
:ame to the bank in a condition of
lone excitement and pronounced the
.heck a forgery"
Marvel arose rather summarily.
SHOW me the signature book" he
directed.
We went to the cage where tina
registers were kept. He had retained
possession Of the check. / waited
While Marvel compared the sigma
ures. / watched with interest as he
Employed his magnifying glass. I
wondered as he felt gently with one
jorefinger, not only the front but also
he reverse surface of check and
ignature page alike.
What else?" / inquired, as we
Itrolled back to the private office.
"a letter introducing me to Mr..
Clay as the representative of the
,ank. l must investigate that end.
Oh. trust me to make no complica-
ions by giving offense to a good Gus
toner of the bank. 1 suppose his
announcement that the check was a
'orgery was accepted by the bank
with the usual urbane complacency?"
"Of course Our policy is to accept
he word of a profitable client IN
.~quivocally, just as We correct a
claimed shortage without a bubble.
Mr.. Clay was informed hal the
.rihing irregularity' would be RENE
lied according to our rule"
That is, after the formality of d.
'ectorate sanction, the $4,000 would
be re-credited to his account?"
Exactly"
Very fne-that gives US thirty
lays"
What for?" 1 asked in my blunt,
stupid way-as / learned afterwards.
oh, a number of reasons" re-
Sponded Marvel lightly, but under the
surface 1 detected the merest shadow
Of a smile, and again noted how he
caressed the space given to the sigma
lure of the check, as If that portion OF
1t held some especial fascination for
his keen sense of touch. In the
irst place. though-what does this
Miss Farrar say?"
"Oh, that's the trouble" I blurted
out-"Miss Geraldine Farrar is not
TO be found.
"Ah, indeed?" observed Marvel,
very softly. This is getting inter
esting."
Yes" l hurried on, trying to make
mends for my negligence in not ap.
prising him of this feature of the
case at the start. cit WAS the dis