The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-09-21

AOO Ddu' spOh0 MARVEL QUICKLY,
as he crowded past our guide and his
eye swept the room in his rapid, COM
prehensiVe way.
| l did not make out what Marvel
had taken in with that practised eye
of his at a glance, until / had got
nearly up to the desk, which / found
was one used In sealing money en-
velopes. A strong gas jet was going.
| Near 1t were the steel dies, wax
sticks and cord used in securing pack
ages. The prisoner had evidently
been busy during his brief period of
| forced retirement. A pair of small
scissors and safety razor lay on the
table. Also, under the gas jet was
quite heap of fresh, warm cinders.
The eyebrows of the captive were
! jagged and irregular, and his upper
lip was rough and scraped.
He has tried to disguise himself"
shouted the bank teller, instantly.
ITO disfigure himself. you mean"
interpolated Marvel "He has done
more than that. He has been busy
removing all Identification marks
papers, clothing tags-hello! what's
| this?"
From behind the man there sud-
denly sprang out a small lively dog.
He was of the fox terrier breed, and
barked at US Justify.
"Oh, the animal was with him when
he came into the bank" explained the
teller. Followed him in here. Be
longs to him, suppose"
i see," nodded my friend, thought
fully. Nov, then, my mani"
He fixed his eye sharply on the pris-
oner. The latter did not finch under
the cynosure. He must have been
a handsome appearing young man be-
fore he had jabbed those scissors into
his eyebrows. He was very pale, but
there was nothing of the cringing or
alarmed culprit about him.
i see it is useless to ask you your
name" observed Marvel. 1--WE will
make a search, but l fancy you have
fcrestalled what you were shrewd
enough to suspect awaited YOU
My friend was right. The man had
cut off even the laundry marks on his
linen, had removed every letter and
card from his pocketbook. and had
burned them on the marble top of the
sealing table.
You won't tell your name, O.
course" said Marvel. 'Will you tall
at all?"
II will make only one statement,
came the cool, composed reply.
; II shall be glad to receive it." re
piled Marvel.
81 did not know until half hou
since that I was passing counterfeit
money"
"You know it now?"
"Yes," came the response, accom-
panied with tremor of the finely
chiseled lips. II had ten 800 bills
and | have passed them ALL"
Where did you get them?"
Il will answer that question and
rest my case there" was the singular
reply. after that it is up to you to
do what you choose; and after that
shall absolutely refuse to say one
world found them"
: That was all-all at the start, all al
the finish. Argument, menaces, ca
jolery, sympathy-these went foI
nothing. Marvel studied the prisoner
+ silently. Then he whispered to the
l teller. The latter retired, to reappeaI
t with the floor officer Marvel gave
] this man some low-toned instructions
2 The officer placed come-along upor
the wrist of the prisoner.
"You can leave the dog" spoke Mar
|, vel suddenly.
The prisoner turned and his lips
; parted. He was evidently about t.
z | In, r,1n he continual
partnership of the little animal, whom
he seemed to regard with fondness
With something of sigh, he re
pressed utterance, however, pulled
his hat down over his eyes and stolid
Il ly accompanied the officer from tht
|, place.
Get me piece of stout cord" Mar
e vel directed the teller, and in anothel
{ few minutes we were on our way t.
u the offices of the United Bankers Pro
,. tective association. The little ANNA
whined and worried, but trottet
s along, guided by Marvel The latte
turned the dog loose in an empt.
e room and sat down in his own favor
r. tie chair in his private Office.
d There is some thinking to do" b.
observed, ''but should like to hav,
q you back here about an hour befor
dusk"
d was curious enough and intereste'
k enough to greet the invitation as
e favor, and said so.
d "And by the way, my friend" h
l called after me as l reached the door
: that young man we have secures
# told the truth-he did not know tn
II 500 bills were counterfeit until tn
e teller at the Central National told hin
it so.''
e. wondered how Resilius Marvel hat
1T found this out, but l knew he wa
II right. He usually treasured up his dc
Is auctions and discoveries until a cas-
l IL. IL