Ellsworth American., 1920-04-28
A NOVEL
SIGNATURE.
By cENEvIEvE uLmAp
tcopyrlEht. &c. wsstsrn N".s.s'~-1S1ocE

eo'e'ous oi ms many diamonds sns
expensive attire and the free ana aHa
way In which he flung about his n,.' sas'
but begrudged him the favo. 'uey,
good will he had won from tha aug
family in the world In which Oue
lnterested-Mr. and Mrs. Robert p,.' ~S
don and their daughter, Adela.
Dysart had flashed in amonz
little brokerage group, made m wv
young fellows who had yentnraa ~.
Independent business with LITTLE con,.',
but high hopes. He had Appeared ls' ,s.s
no one knowing anything Of bis ... u
cedents. claimed to have been w,,s
leading eastern bond house and ho,s,.s
OF wealthy. and even titled roIa.V.
In London. He rented an elsbnra,a -
ice, made money from the star, ~.
attracted many friends. 1t was rs. '
capusated by his friendly ways in,,.
ducei him to the Brandons ,oo Ia..
regretting II, for, unconsciouslv ~
haps, he won away from me- nv Ia.
love.
Not that I had any claim on Adj,
aid not that she seemed por,tcpl,.,n
taken with him. but his glare a.
glitter caught the old folks and ,bsI,
manner plainly showed that thev q,
'ored his pretensions. bore Dvso,.
no grudge because he had sunn,an,os
me, for I doubted II he or ANYBODY ,ls.
guessed the secret of my prefarens.
for Adela. However. as became bo,,
ter acquainted with him analvzed NJ,
nature more studlously. and | no,sa
half hidden defects and learned tb,,
some OF his claimed former connections
would not bear close scrutiny.
l had practically about abandoned
the field so far as Adela was coD.
cerned, for her father tacitly ignored
me when we met and Mrs. BraDdo,
exerted herself to make bysart vel.
come. My calls at their home began
to he restricted and infrequert and
whenever met Adela In society she
was friendly and tndulgent
/ shall never forget the day when
new client entered my u9te with
sailor like gait and uutlaali,hlr mis-
fitting garments. although Of rich tex.
ture, He was swarthy. time beaten.
evidently a foreigner. and when he
spoke employed a brokcH. almost On.
Ineligible lingo. However he sn
the tape on the ticker through his fn.
gers In way that showed he was not
unfamiliar with Il and prop9uuded the
query:
Market eIghty-seyen on Union Con
solldated?"
"Yes," l assented. "wl'b accrued
dividends"
Buy me one hundred shares" he
ordered, and placed a carl before ne
bearing the printed legend "Zeno
Blecha. Hotel Elisnore." Then be irew
out check book did some agurln2
presented the sum Of his calculation
for the shares and added
Fiji out the amount vN roU;"
"Why. do you not write ! inquired
curiously.
"oh, can sign all r'-'-' he -
piled casually. and took ba.e ae cheek
when I had done his bidia-
Then this unique client hrongh
an unusual and interestln- program
He picked up the pen / hef 0,ei and
iaboriously and clumsily spelled out
In print letters the name @Zeno
Blecha." That done, he produced a
small metal box and opened ., cover
revealing an ink pad saturated with
dark red liquid. Into ,h, Le pressed
the thumb of his rather urca.n,y right
hand. AS he did so, I canza, sight Of
its surface. Some injury haI left
deep criss-cross star on 'he abrased
flesh. He pressed the thumb against
the pad, tried an impress on the desk
biotter, and then upon the cheek direct
ly under his signature.
"You see" he explained with
whimsical smile. anybody could prlo'
out the signature of q man who does
not understand script, but my thumb
mark Is an unquestlonable iienlibea-
ton. | will call for the stock tonoT>
row." and he strolled TO the inner once
TO look over a financial journal
moment later Rolfe Dysart appeared
a memorandum slip In his hand.
ANY Commonwealth Preierre1t ne
asked, and then gave a great start.
saw him pale. shlver, and his eyes
bulged as they rested upon the inumn
print on the blotter.
Where did you get that" he gasped
The man In the other room uttered
cultural cry and dashed Into the outer
Office.
You scoundrel I" he shouted 10 WIG
rage, but Dysart had turned ah1
sprung through the doorway, his pur-
suer more elumsily following him.
| had not recovered from my amaze
ment when. pale and breathleSs, Zen0
Blecha returned. He asked the use
OF my telephone. 1 listened while nc
called up the police, gave descrip
tion of Dysart, who had swindled mm
out OF large sum In New YORK, anu
offered reward for his Apprehension