The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-09-29

the furry in those bonds. Ralston q
Co. stand behind the proposition on
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 a slip OF tissue
paper. He passed this to the bank
president.
Il 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 1t was gen.
orally understood to indicate an inves-
tigation pending. a lacking Verlhca-
ton of antecedents, or anticipation OF
a promised statement.
AS you know" observed Mr.. Drew,
closely scanning the bit of flmsy,
they are a comparatively new firm.
Very often a rating is withheld or
suspended awaiting a reorganization,
or for some other transitory condl-
ton"
To-day" 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. THE laggard IN
terest money, suspicion, sense OF In
security. have caused the first rait
on the Jebel River bonds. You car
fancy what the Stock Exchange will
do when the disappearance of Rails
ton is public property"
The bank president was pacing thu
. floor In sheer agitation. Always
hitherto he had posed to me as grea
man handling big events and neve
showing the white feather. Just nov
,, he disdained all self-restraint or ego
tism
: DO something!" he said in hoars
: broken tone.
Il intend to-" replied Marvel. "Yo'
. have done all the talking SO far-le
me do some. | will tell you wha
very few know.
: 1.-THE bonds were invalid in the frs
place; signature is lacking. Thin
:, I can obtain it. If I do, the bond
: holders will not lose. AS you quote
from the prospectus. the physical 81
:. curity behind the deed Of trust Is an
!. ple-provided the title is right.
. is quite the reverse. but ! hope t
rectify it."
Marvel was done. Too many time
had Mr.. Drew consulted him not
know that. He drank glass OF waite
in feverish haste. Then he took u
his check book.
= "You understand-of course"
began significantly"
: when the case is through" int
! rupted Marvel. Il want our friend her
= for a week." and he placed his hand
- nv arm. II need some help"
&c I smiled at Marvel in depreciation
I had been so fortunate as to be b
r companion in several cases he ma
r worked up. To speak of help-ar
.. from me! I laughed outright. III
:. only suggestions / had even venture
20 to make to him had been based
~ stupid deductions.
le 81 don't think you understand"
le said, locking his arm in mine as '
v left the bank. 'Metaphysically ma
n found you silent but willing bull
a. in the midst Of developing ideas.
nd sometimes think you are valuable
n, catching tnem, anu ny SoAo t0iopo."
ch sense extracting their values. In
"a. percolate through your mentality a.
cil come back to me clarified. That
he the real transference of thought, y
know"
3D. There was always something Int
esting going on at Resilius Marve
Ir. office. On the present occasion
nd looked around it to catch any indl'
in ton there might be Of a suggestl
res Of the unusual. Its proprietor motion
iv, me to chair in the outer apartme
:. In less han a minute Lott, his han
Of nan. servitor and assistant, came fr'
nil. a side room. He greeted me with
g., usu-l reserved yet graceful oDs
on ance. Lying on table was ca
of and a woman's handbag. l watct
,s" him as he halted where they lay, II
= a touched them. I noticed those d
vel cate nostrils of his culver, contr
and relax. A strange man this l.
ank gifted in his peculiar sense OF SIN
ing still more remarkable in the theol
ion. he adduced from an exercise OF 1t.
had known him to scent the germs
RI nestilence in closed packet. /
ous heard of his analyzing ownership,
hen the same highly developed trait,
is. roll y disputed bank bills. sugu