The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-10-04

that the first word impaired over the
wire met his anticipations. Then l
heard him ask in rapid succession:
Letters-numbers-
He penciled rapidly on his shirt cum
as the replies came
Verify" were his final words: E
296.7O1, Series of 1906 Very well,
and hung up the receiver and arose
to his feet. Come with me" he add
ed simply, and l knew that the great
head of the United Bankers Protec-
tive association was started on an
other case"
E. 1906" l observed with a sud
den shock of memory as we reached
the street-"if that applies TO one
hundred dollar treasury note"
1T does," vouchsafed Marvel terse-
~.
"Then you probably have the man
IF instructions have been followed,
yes replied my friend.
who is it,
The Central National"
That makes ten"
you keep good tab" complimented
Marvel-"exactly ten. What an Opt
mist this original shower of the queer
must be-"
Briefly within a week ten counter
felt 500 notes had been passed upon
The city banks. On a certain Monday
morning a spruce, sprightly young
man of about twenty-five had come
into our institution and had presented
himself at the paying teller's window
with five 500 treasury notes. He
asked to have them changed into bills
of smaller denominations and was
readily accommodated. The teller
had noted they were comparatively
new, that their serial numbers were
consecutive. An expert glance salts
fed him, however, that they were all
right. They were placed with other
hundreds to make up a package Of
twenty or $1,000 and nothing more
was thought Of it.
Four mornings later Resilius Mar
vel came into the bank with No. 296,
COS of the same series. Across its
face was stamped the word Counter
felt" in broad red letters taking in
the full front surface Of the note.
Have you any of those?" he In
quired, placing the bill before me.
"a will find out" I replied, and then
rather wonderingly scanned the note.
1t would have passed muster with me,
and l counted myself something OF a
specialist in my line,
It took half an hour to go the
rounds of the cages 1t is almost sec
ond nature for a teller 10 remember
any bill he has handled, especially
those Of large denomination. The
man who had changed the treasury
notes for a stranger soon had the five
question in evidence.
Two more of the 500 notes turned
up twenty-four hours later at another
institution. Then two other banks
each contributed like bills. in each
case a smiling. easy-mannered young
fellow had passed the notes. Marvel
had named progress to me as it cul-
minated. Now tenth note had
turned up. l accompanied him to the
Central National.
The floor officer was waiting for
Marvel, and knew him. There was a
futter of Importance and excitement
in his manner at being concerned in
a professional transaction with the
great head of the United Bankers
Protective association. He took US
to the paying teller. saying nothing,
but looking the part of an humble
instrument of justice who had coop
Grated in capturing a crook" The
teller, looking wise and keen and in a
suppressed way exultant beckOned to
US, and we went beyond the railing
and around into an anteroom, where
he joined US.
There is one Of the hundred you
tagged for US, Mr.. Marvel" he said,
and handed 500 bill to my friend.
Resilius Marvel nodded, gave the
bill a close scrutiny, and returned it
TO the teller with the words: Cancel
1t and preserve it for evidence
Where is the man."
The teller slipped the note into his
coat pocket and took out key.
This way" he directed, and We
followed him down a narrow corridor
AS he started to open a steel-studded
door Marvel halted him.
"One moment" he said-"tell me
the circumstances Of the matter"
why, your warning had prepared
US all, of course" explained the bank
man. when the fellow with his note
presented it, pretended to be called
by my assistant in the next cage. l
quietly pressed the call button, sig
mailing what l wanted to the chief
clerks desk He and the floor officer
came up quietly. The man at the
window looked amazed and indignant
as the officer seized his arm. He de
marded to know what his arrest
meant When l told him that the bill
was counterfeit, it seemed to me as
ii all of q sudden some frightful sug
gestiOn drove his face ColoTless. He
nearly fell TO the floor Now? Yes,
Mr.. Marvel" and the speaker un-
locked the door Re started back as