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LOLA FAXON ALLRED
    Over in the left-hand corner appeared the signature of Maurine Milford, and another signature of Lola Faxon Allred.
    The check in an amount of five thousand dollars had been signed Lola Fawn Allred, then endorsed Maurine Milford, and under that endorsement appeared the signatures once more of Lola Faxon Allred and Maurine Milford.
    "What do you make of it?" Pawling asked.
    Mason gave the letter frowning consideration. "Do you have a magnifying glass there?" he asked.
    "A very powerful one," Pawling said, and opened the drawer of his desk.
    Mason studied the signatures, said, "I'm no handwriting expert, but I would say that these signatures have not been made by the same means as the forged signature on the twenty-five hundred dollar check."
    Pawling nodded.
    Mason went on, "The fact that Mrs. Allred went to such pains to see that Maurine Milford was provided with a means of identification is some indication that it might have been difficult for Miss Milford to have secured any other identification. In other words, Miss Milford is quite evidently a stranger here."
    Again the banker contented himself with a mere nod.
    "And, quite apparently, there was some necessity for haste in connection with the transaction," Mason said. "I see that the letter and the check were dated last Saturday. The documents were presented this morning."
    Mason turned the letter over, noticed a rubber stamp announcing the hour of receipt by the bank and said, "Apparently it was presented a few minutes after ten o'clock. Perhaps it would be a good plan to find out whether the cashier knows Maurine Milford."
    Pawling started to press the button, then checked himself, picked up the letter and the check, said, "Excuse me a moment, Mr. Mason," and quietly opening the mahogany gate in his office walked unhurriedly along the long length of the corridor, to pause before the cashier's window.
    When he returned, he was carrying a slip of paper on which he had apparently jotted down the description which the cashier had given him.
    "Maurine Milford," the banker said, "is apparently a rather striking young woman in the very early twenties, a decided brunette with dark eyes and long lashes. She was wearing a powder blue suit and dark blue suede gloves. She had a blue suede purse and an eccentric hat with red trim which perched on one side of her head. She took off her gloves when she presented the check. The cashier took the precaution of having her sign an additional endorsement to show she had received the money, and then paid her the money in hundred dollar bills. Tle cashier remembers that she was well-formed, slim-waisted and athletic-looking. She seemed thoroughly at ease, perfectly in command of herself and the situation. She smilingly parried all questions as to what she intended to do with the money. It was, of course, none of the cashier's business, so he was tactful. He merely asked her whether she intended to establish a residence here, whether she would like to open an account, what denomination she would like the bills in, and things of that sort.
    "The only thing which the cashier noticed that was at all conspicuous about her, aside from the fact that she was quite beautiful, was that her make-up was quite heavy, particularly the lips. The lipstick seemed to be rather vivid and the natural shape of the mouth had been radically distorted and thickened. As soon as her check was paid, she put the money in her purse and walked out.
    "And that, Mr. Mason, seems to be about all we know concerning the transaction. I shall, of course, have a handwriting expert immediately check this letter and the signature on the check, but you will note there are three signatures-- one on the letter, one on the face of the check, one on the back of the check under the endorsement of Maurine Milford. Each one of those signatures seems to be entirely genuine."
    The banker paused, inviting Mason's further confidence.
    The lawyer pushed back his chair. "Will