The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-09-27

IdlluS pOSSlDle. cannot understand
the furry in those bonds. Ralston &
Co. stand behind the proposition on a
strong guarantee"
He looked at Marvel in some de-
f1ance. 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, TO the commercial agency
| for a report on Ralston & Co, You
observe what the agency reported:
Open for rating"
1t was not the first time Mr.. Drew
/ had heard that, technical agency
phrase. In vague way it was gen
/ orally understood to indicate an inves-
tigation pending, a lacking vertical
| ton OF antecedents, or anticipation of
promised statement.
As you know" observed Mr.. Drew,
/ closely scanning the bit of fimsy,
they are a comparatively new firm.
/ Very often a rating is withheld or
suspended awaiting a reorganization.
or for some other transitory condi-
ton"
Today" pursued Marvel steadily,
Il 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 a
/ 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
Il had not heard of that" he said
huskily
You will, in the afternoon papers, "
explained Marvel. The laggard in
I 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 Rails
ton is public property
The bank president was pacing the
floor in sheer agitation Always
hitherto he had posed TO me as a great
man handling big events and never
showing the white feather Just now
he disdained all self-restraint or ego
tism
DO something!" he said in a hoarse
broken tone
Il intend to-" replied Marvel You
have done all the talking so far-let
me do some | will tell you what
very few know.
The bonds were invalid in the first
place; a signature is lacking think
I can 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
pIe-provided the title is right 1t
is quite the reverse, but I hope to
rectfy it."
Marvel was done. Too many times
had Nj Drew consulted him not to
know that. He drank a 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. Il need some help
I 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! l laughed outright The
only suggestions | had even ventured
to make to him had been based on
stupid deductions.
q don't think you understand" he
said, locking his arm in mine as we
left the bank. "Metaphysically | have
found you a 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
/ the real transference of thought, you
/ know
There was always something inter-
esting going on at Resilius MarveIs
Office. On the present occasion I
/ looked around it to catch any indca-
ton there might be of a suggestion
of the unusual. It's proprietor motioned
me to chair in the outer apartment.
! In less han a minute Lott, his handy
nan, seryitor and assistant, came from
Il side room. He greeted me with his
usul reserved yet graceful obeis-
ance Lying on a table was a cane
and a womans handbag. | watched
him as he halted where they lay, then
touched them l noticed those deli
cate nostrils Of his culver, contract
and relax. A strange man this Lott,
7 gifted in his peculiar sense of smell.
. still more remarkable in the theories
he adduced from an exercise of it.
had known him to scent the germs OF
pestilence in a closed packet l had
heard of his aualyzing ownership, by