Tensas gazette., 1917-11-30

Mr. Resilius Marvel" ( began.
deeming an introduction in order. but
my friend held up a stern censuring
hand. made a half beckoning motion
and there stepped forward the
blind" man
Who is that woman?" challenged
Marvel. to my CONSERVATION and the
unbounded a.iazement and resentment
of Mr.. Dale. aid he pointed straight at
the original of the flashing portrai.
above her head.
Sara Bruhl," shouted the blind"
man. sPringing forward from the wake
of Marvel his face a writhing glow Of
triumph. revenge and hatred
The woman drew back with a sharp
cry. Her face became colorless. She
WINGED as though evading a direct
blow.
1T is folly. a plot-he cannot tell
for is he not blind?" gasped the
woman
How do you know that?" keenly de
manded Marvel.
Blind? Yes," raved the man
Bracey, it flashed into my mind-"I
am. indeed, blind, but only in the day.
time. BY some trick of nature the foul
drug you administered has left me a
nyctalOps, and can see at night. Oh
this is sweet triumph-to balk you in
your seeming hour of success. Only
to find your vile accomplice. Trego.
and then | am content"
His face worked horribly; his as.
pect was that of a demon infuriate.
The woman made lost gesture. threw
her arms in the air and fell sense
less heap at the foot OF Mr.. Dale. He
called for the servants. who bore her
from the room.
Wait" commanded Resilius Marvel.
this imposter must not be lost sight
of for a single moment until she has
disclosed the whereabouts of the kiG-
naped girl she sought to represent
Miss Dunscombe."
He made a barely audible sound
with mis- lips. In q trice the small.
alert man from headquarters was a;
his side. received his instructions and
followed the servants and their mani
mate burden into the hallway.
''What-what does this meant" de-
manded the millionaire, sinking into
a chair. overcome. And then my friend
told of his first suspicious discovery;
the fact that the box coverings re
moved from the portrait did not CORE.
spOnd to the box he had helped me
bring to the house the day previous.
The appearance of the blind man
had suggested something coincidental
with the letter sent by Bracey to the
millionaire. His watchfulness of the
nyctalops had resulted in the climax.
Then the real Winifred Duns-
combe-?" gasped the wondering
trembling millionaire.
He knew within the hour, for the
resuscitation of the Bruhl woman
meant a stringent interview with the
imposter She was held an unlocked
prisoner at headquarters until Marvel
was assured that her victim. Miss
hands of fellow consprators in a Sc.
cluded New Jersey town and on her
way to the arms of her anxious rela-
tive.
1t seemed that Trego, knowing of
the portrait and of his uncle's rlans
for the girl, had set up a specious plot
to kidnap her. 1t was he who had en-
tered the Dale mansion, removed the
original portrait from its inclosure and
substituted the presentiment of his ac-
complice To what evil lengths the
plot to secure the aged mans fortune
was still 10 go may ready be imagined.
A sweet-faced, gentle-mannered girl
thanked Resilius Marvel for all he
had done for her one week later at the
Dale home-myself. too, but | was toe
modest to believe that my part in the
case deserved much recognition. The
Bruhl woman and Bracey both faded
back into their old life somehow, and
one month later Basil Trego was shot
dead in a gambling house melee in
another city.
| have always regarded this case as
one of the most notable of the great
protector of finance. From nothing he
built up theory. from mere straws
cable chain of strong facts, that en-
abled him to save the life and the mil
lions OF worthy old man from the
cruel, greedy hands of one of the most
daring adventuresses of modern times.