Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-09-21

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'-'teDse curiosity AMI inpatfsace to
drop Ia upon him On my way TO the
4 bank the next booming. i found htnl
With "a nevspaper folded sesoss htz
knee and his eyes regarding IL with
a yexed expression
did you see it2a he Inquired.
I guessed what. and told him 50
and ran hurriedly over an item an
nouncing that a new 800 treasury
note -counterfeIt-the particulars con
corning which. even to the approx
mate serial numbers, we're given
had appeared on the market.
Some one has babbled, scolded
my friend. 1T may make a compIi-
cation"
Gid not see low, Just then I
knew better-later. Marvel had moth
ing to impart to me Of progress or
importance in the case. but late that
afternoon there came hurry call for
me from him. l closed my desk and
was soon IN his company.
He handed me- 2 card which he
took from an envelope It read Sim
ply. in pencil scrawl: Il must see
you.-A- g."
4 may need you," observed my
I friend, and after a half hours spin
we arrived at the home OF the mil
I Iionaire
The servant who answered the SUN
mons at the door seemed to know
we were expected she led Us down
the hall TO sort Of library, saying
that Mr. Buckingham vas engaged.
but that she would announce our pres
ence shortly. Then she left us alone
in the room, half darkened by the ap-
preaching shadows OF eTentide
caught some rapid words from 4
room beyond the heavy draperies, ev-
identity a smoking apartment OF the
library. l noted, however, that Mar
vel heard them quicker than I, for he
moved from his seat to a chair closer
to the masked doorway. The words,
not in the tones OF Mr. Buckingham,
we're rapid, insistent, almost menze-
ing:
The plates-the plates!"
There was an utterance akin to q
groan, and It proceeded from the lips
OF the millionaire, I readily traced
Then the former voice, only elacking.
wheedling and menacing az the same
time, spoke again:
Mr.. Buckingham, an here in the
interests Of q client who has one
proposition to make to you Ny prom
Use ends with q distinct and final neg
alive or Affirmative. It places ne in 1
q regrettable and unfortunate posi- /
ton to be the representative OF men (
who are dangerous criminals, but T
I an a lawyer. Shall briefly state Z
the case?"
There was no reply, at least none /
audible TO Us. The speaker contin- /
ued:
Some years ago, your son Percival /
chief engraver for the
was taken i'll and re
moved TO sauitarium while you
were absent in Europe. Too close ap-
plioatio1 20 delicate expert work had
his mind He escaped from
the sanitariun1, and three men I viii
not name. but once known as the
most finished showers of the queer in
the world. got hold OF him They saw
their opportunity and improved it
They were shrewd, capable men and
made no blunders. What they did you
viii now learn for the first time.
Those men secured the upper floor
1f a lonely. secluded house. They
tilted 1t up as nearly as possible like
1ne OF the work rooms in the treasury
department. They took your deluded
son there, and made him believe that
he was producing new 1906 series
100 plates for the government For
learly a year that was his home
His mind did. not refuse 10 act ne
along the line eye and skill
lad directed for so many years. In
,rief. ne made two plates, so perfect
hat they were almost duplicates Of
he original government plates.
-welVe impressions were made, and
wo OF these were tested by being
laced in circulation. Today they are
omevhere in existence, their valid
y never doubted. Within that week
. must have been. while unguarded s
nd alone, your son had q fash OF his
Id mentality. At all events, when I
is three captors returned they found
i'm gone, and with him the two treas y
" plates and the ten printed 800 L
ills.
Now for your end OF the story, as
understand it: Your son appeared h
: this home. suddenly. Unexpectedly. e
.e must have brought the plates and U
lie notes. You believed him a eoun- a
srfeiter, for before he could explain
, you, his insane mood returned.
on at once removed him TO g private Il
;ylum. Later you sent him with q b
.lative, Alan Dean, TO Paris. He re- D;
aimed his reason Today he occupies
studio in the French capital, patron
ed by devotees Of high art. Happily
arried, all that year OF mental dark
,ss forgotten. restored TO his right