Nogales international., 1930-06-03
Second Installment
SYNOPSIS

Margaret Leferre, engaged to rnarr
Luke Madison, wealthy banker, is wit
him when he encounters Gunner Haynes
~ American crook, apparently by accidcn
n London hotel lobby. Danton Morel
a friend of Margaret brother Rex,
watching them, and wonders whether th
0-inner recognizes him after seven year.
&!iat night Rex is found dead with a r.
~nlver BY his side and note addressed
s.:s sister saying that he has been ruine
by taking Luke Maddisorl's advice. Morel
aells Madison later that Rex cashed
check for Eighteen Thousand Pounds o.
sensibly signed by Madison.
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY.
my name was forged to it. I dit
not give Rex check for that amount
I have been making inquiries. | tine
that he was heavily ickso!ved in
derelict West African gold-rninins
syndicate, most of the shares of which
you bought for song less than yeal
ago. He has been buying these share:
on margin and they have been steadily
dropping in value. On the day ne paie
you eighteen thousand FIVE hundred
pounds there carRe another demand foi
a larger amount"
Danty's heart sank though he gave
no visible evidence of his perturbation
This man knew more than he hac
dreamed could be known. Here was Z
crisis in Mr.. More1l's affairs which
might easily lead him to ruin and undo
al those fine schemes Of his.
II do not exactly know what yot
arc suggesting" he said. my inter
est in the company is very slight
one, and I was Mortified when ]
learned that Rex had been gambling In
the shares. l give you the fullest per-
fc,ission to make any investigation you
.ish"
Luke opened the drawer of his desk
and took out check. From where he
sat Dainty thought the signature was a
tolerably good forgery. He had
thought SO when Rex had brought the
check to him. 1t is the simplest thing
in the world to forge name, and SO
far as he had been able to judge there
were no flaws in Rex Leferre's essay
in that dangerous game.
'You realize what is wrong with
this check?" asked Luke.
The other shook his head.
Are you suggesting that I knew the
check was forged?" he asked.
Before he could reply there was a
tap at the door and Luke looked up
anRrilv,
come ill.," he said.
It was the apologetic manager.
k pa oQgxS k interrupt ypu If
@son, but viii you see Mr.. Bird
I Scotland Yard?"
In spite Of his self-possessiop DAINTY
&f rose from his seat. The Sparrow
ms the last man in the world he
Anted to meet that morning.
Luke thought for a minute.
lust moment"
he rose and opened the door leading
t. the corridor.
r u shall want to see you again about
,,::h;s check, Mr.. Morell," he said.
7 Why not see me now?"
Il was a challenge, but Luke Mad
olson could sense its insincerity.
,.Mr. Bird has come to see me or
quite another matter" he said. "Ir
due course we will interview him to-
gether."
He closed the door on his visitor al
the Sparrow was shown in through
the other door. Mr.. Bird came heavily
into the room and favored every cor.
,1er with long scrutiny.
''Havin' visitor, Mr. Madison?
thought I saw somebody come ii
whilst I was waiting in the street out.
side"
Luke nodded curtly.
Mfr DantoSf Merell,' he said. "Dc
you know him?"
The Sparrow smiled.
''As one knows the Lord Mayor
from a distance. I'm humble. Yor
never find me bargin' in on society
I've had one dress suit seventeen year:
ar wear it twice year-once' for the
Police Dinner and once to give the
moths cold.'
do you know anything about him ?
The Sparrow's wide smile grew
wider.
His name an address-an' that's a:
much as any policeman wants to know
about anybody. Bad business, thi:
young Leferre case, Mr.. Madison
Eou don't want to appear IN it, l sup
poser"
Luke looked at him, startled.
81? How on earth do I come into
it,"
Mr.. Bird coughed.
We'll, you do and you DON'T" h.
said Il happened to search the body
an the room. / found three loost
checks on the Northern & Southern
Bank-that's where you keep your
private account, amt it? An this
Very leisurely he took out fat ane
worn leather case from his pocket, laie
it fiat on the desk and rummaged II
the inside. After while he foune
what he was looking for-two foldet
sheets of paper. evidently torn from :
school exercise book. He smoothee
these fiat and Luke saw a succession
of signatures, one under the other
Luke Maddison-Luke Madison"
Looks almost as though you'd beer
scribblin' absent-mindedly." The detec
tive's shrewd eyes were on the young
banker. "But at the same time
couldn't imagine business man lik'
you doin' anything so sillyI IF you'll
excuse the liberty. / called at th'
Northern & Southern Bank yesterda,