The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-10-25

We Will 80 " the GlenOale apdrI-
ments," announced my friend abruptly.
1t was only through determined per-
sistency that Marvel was able to at
last prevail upon Miss Garnet Druse,
through her maid, to admit us. Every
thing bespoke refinement as we en-
tered room where sat frail delicate
girl whose face and manner bespoke
wistful gentleness that appeared to
both of us. Her face was pale, her
bosom heaving, her eyes expressed q
hunted dread. She had not yet re
covered from the great strain Of the
episode to which we had been a wit
ness. sB0l
Miss Druse," spoke my friend, ~
am Resilius Marvel of the United
Bankers Protective association. This
| gentleman" and he indicated myself,
sis the private secretary of the bank
upon which that check is drawn. Our
mission is confidential and we ask an
| explanation that will be entirely help
| full to you"
| For q moment the fair young crea-
ture gazed at us as If her tongue was
| guled to the roof of her mouth and the
life currents turned to ice. Then her
head sank upon her arms outstretched
on the table before her. She uttered
two despairing, heart-rending words
"Save us!"
I noted the humane, sympathetic
face Of my friend soften. He made a
quick motion to me which / under
stood and passed into the next room,
leaving the two alone. AS stood at
the windows looking out into the
street / could catch the echo Of the
tones of Marvel-low, persuasive, al
most fatherly. Finally, broken, sob
bling intonations mingled, the current
! of words became more steady. At the
end of half an hour when my friend
rejoined me, knew that master mind
of his. had prevailed over the shrink
ing, fearsome mood of the beautiful
| girl, stricken with the weight of some
dread secret, and had conquered the
| clouded situation. Now it was clear
as crystal.
Ainslee Druse, sanguine, lightly
balanced, invested with liberal wealth
for the first time in his life, had stray
| ed to the seance chamber Of the Mir
vasa. Her fascination, it appeared,
had less to do with his constant visits
than her speciOus influence In making
him believe that through a judicious
| investment he could assist The Oldest
Man in the World to develop and
| mature his ability to manufacture gold
from waste substances. Nirvasa had
| evidently secretly given him some sub
| tie elixir under the guise of rare In
dian wine that had completed his sub
iugation. He had revelled in a fools
paradise. His sister had discovered i'm
part his infatuation. She had followed
him that day to the home of Nirvasa,
to see him give the check to the wom-
an upon which her name was forged.
She had broken in upon them, seized
the check, and the end of her wild
| flight we knew.
ssMiss Druse will strive to find her
brother through friends tonight and
send US word tomorrow" explained
Marvel. s'She has begged nae to allow
her to make this effort, which she
hopes will succeed, so that no scan
dial may result"
A hurry call reached me at the bank
lust after the directors meeting the
next morning. 1t was from Resilius
Marvel and requested my immediate
presence. I was at his Office in a few
minutes. noticed in his inner Office
the flutter of white handkerchief. My
friend closed the door as entered the
| room.
ut is Miss Druse," he said to me at
once. ga new complication has arisen
in the case. hope and believe have
acted in time. want YOU to go some
where with me-"
I knew where 1t was, after he had
held brief consultation with his Wis
itor. 1t appeared that Miss Druse had
come to his Office less than half an
hour previous in a great state of ex-
element and alarm. She had been
unable to find her brother, and a
| thought had come to her mind that had
| driven her to come downtown early In
the morning to visit the safety de-
| post vault where the plate, jewelry
and family papers of the estate were
kept. Only she and her brother held
keys to the section where these val
| uableS were. She had made all appall-
ing discovery. Family diamonds con-
tanned in chamois bag to the value
of over 100000, most of them former
ly the property of her dead mother,
were missing. Fooled in securing capt.
| tai for his mad scheme of wealth,
Ainslee Druse had secured the jewels.
They were doubtless by this time In
| the possession of the conspirators.
81 have had two men acting on or
ders at the seance studio since last
evening" reported Marvel as we spun
along toward our destination. There
Is my man now" he added as, reach
| ing the front of the building we had
so strangely visited the day previous,
a prim, severe-faced individual came
to the side of the machine.
"We have detained the lady," re-
ported this ally Of Resilius Marvel.
"At midnight we saw the crowd had
taken alarm and were bent on flight.
You left open orders, and acted on
my best judgment"
"Very good"
mo sign of the young man you de-
scribed. We were careless about the
general crowd, but only one or two OF
/ them made off"