The Carlisle independent., 1917-09-06

| - strong guarantee."
 l He looked at Marvel in some de- fiance. 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.
 T sent the day before yesterday" he said, ito the commercial agency for report on Ralston & Go. You observe what the agency reported: Open for rating"
 It was not the first time MT. Drew had heard that technical agency phrase. In vague way it was gen erally understood to indicate an inves- tigation pending. a lacking verifica- tion of antecedents, or anticipation of a promised statement. "As you know" observed MT. Drew, closely scanning the bit of flimsy, they are comparatively new firm. Very often rating is withheld or suspended awaiting a reorganization, or for some other transitory condi- tion."
 Today" pursued Marvel steadily. T have learned somewhat peculiar fact. The reporter who held that rating open the next day went to the office of Ralston & Co., to receive 8 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 MT. 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.
 "I 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 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." he said in hoarse broken tone.
 T intend to-" replied Marvel. You have done all the talking so far-let me do some. I will tell you what very few know.
 The bonds were invalid in the first place: a signature is lacking. think I can obtain 1t. If I do, the bond holders will not lose AS you quoted from the prospectus. the physical se- curity behind the deed of trust is am ple-provided the title is right. It is quite the reverse, but I hope to rectify it."
 Marvel was done. Too many times had MT. 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. for a week" and he placed his hand on my arm. T need some help"
 I smiled at Marvel in deprecation. had been so fortunate as to be his companion in several cases he had worked up. To speak of help-and from mel I laughed outright. The only suggestions I 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. 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 Marvel's office. On the present occasion looked around it to catch any indica- tion there might be of a suggestion of the unusual. Its proprietor motioned me to chair in the outer apartment. In less han minute Loti, his handy man. servitor and assistant, came from side room. He greeted me with his usu-l reserved yet graceful obeis- ance. Lying on table was cane and a woman's handbag. watched him as he halted where they lay, then touched them- I noticed those deli cate nostrils of his quiver, 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, had known him to scent the germs of nAafl1anca in q cInaad narkot had