Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-10-19
MY LADY VITRIOL
esgE y s G

nothing in the exterior appearance OF
the package TO indicate tampering or
substitution.
Here was cold, clear fact, however
-$49,9J0 short. The Sub-treasury
agent looked over the opened package,
casually inspected the coverings, and
calmly called attention to three facts
that were incontrovertible: the string
was not government string, the wax
in the seals was not government wax
and the paper enclosing the package
did not bear the government water
mark. In other words, the govern
ment disputed ever delivering the
package to the Unity National. Some
one had substituted the one contain
ing the one-dollar bills a month back
two, three, siX-or yesterday, or to-
day. 1t was the duty of Alison Ran
done, for he was responsible for the
deeds and misdeeds of the depart
ment
Resilius Marvel had been called in.
~ IOOh MIN a Ooy W uCSioC tidb hO-
body in the bank had worked the sub
stitution. When he came to examine
the wrapper that had enclosed the
substituted bills, he found that it had
been a discarded covering for some
other package at one time, such as
were thrown into the waste room
The figures had been changed, but the
official stamp helped through the i'm
position. AS to the seals, they had
been broken in opening the package
so their recent real condition could
not be estimated.
AT the time | was a silent lounger
in a dark corner in Marvel's private
office when he held a rapid fire col
loquy with this same Alison Ransome
felt sorry for the young fellow. for
he was so artless, so distressed, sc
clear in his statements, that there was
not false note palpable in what he
said. He had brought the visitor s
register with him. Spread out on the
same glass-topped table where | now
confronted Marvel, the twain went
over it line by line.
There were foreign and Sightseeing
visitors, soon disposed of. The repre-
sentatives of country banks came un
der exposure with no results warrant
ing suspicion Every name on the
register was tailed off quite satisfac
torily until they came to a delicate
line announcing Miss Vera Tithenor
Credited to whom" Marvel haC
challenged, keeping his finger on the
penciled initials after the name anC
looking Ransome squarely in the face
who flushed like y schoolboy ant
blurted out: 4
Myself"
noticed Marve just there star
slightly.
"A friend-a relative?"
"A friend, yes" answered Ransomet
well, l might better say an acquaint
ance. / knew the lady only casually
at the time. She expressed a wish t.
go through the bank and of course
had to be courteous. Then sh'
brought a friend. She was very mucl
interested in bank details, saying he
father and her uncle had been in tina
line once"
Tall, fair?" insinuated Marvel, an,
knew he was prompted to pursue
the topic by the vagrant though
noted
Tall, fair-very fair" acceded tn
young fellow, with almost a sigh.
Light blue eyes-one disfigured?
continued Marvel.
why, no." exclaimed Ransome
with hard stare. What a strang
question to ask, sir! Blue eyes, Dis
| figured! Indeed, no, sir-eyes blac
as a sloe, and very bright and-be
witching. I've got to say it," e1
planned the speaker. with a Sigh
laugh, for to tell you the truth,
fancied | was in love with Miss 1.-THE
nor at the time"
And now" Intercepted Marve
mercilessly.
Il have not seen her for weeks.
understand she has gone abroad"
The color of the eyes seemed I
settle the matter with Marvel, and h
checked off the name. After tina
evening | considered the case abar
do. ed, for | had not heard Marve
| mention it since. The bank Quietl
buried the circumstances, but youn
| loft To- 70
| understood that he had joined som
small brokerage firm. There was n
imputation as to his honesty, but tn
luckless loss of 100000 to the ban
stood against him on the records.
And now Resilius Marvel, with hi
paper wad puppets and his mentio
of a half-forgotten name had revive
in my mind the facts have just sta
ed-to prepare me, l was sure, fo
the second volume of what | had a,
counted to be a closed book
He now said:
And so We arrived at a re-openin
of the Ransome incident. | use th
singular, for the substituted subtrea
ury package and the rifled ban
satchel were parts and parcels of on
plot, schemed out by one maste
mind. with more to come"
Il am interested" l said, and pr
pared to listen.
Marvel opened the broad drawer
the table to take out long. thin art
Gle. 1t was a cane, slight in look
but | found later on handling
strong and rigid as a steel bar
The cane you found in the CT
I where the satchel was rinDed omen