concerned, with recovery of quantity of bullion stolen from Confederate Bank of Chicago and transported to this country. Was successful and claimed reward, leaving arrest of thieves to our own agent, Inspector Carn.
For some time afterwards, with assistance of four accomplices, became self-appointed agent for terrorizing criminals against whom we had been unable to secure evidence justifying arrest. Real identity at this time remained a mystery. Activities chiefly directed against vice. Was instrumental in obtaining arrest and conviction of leaders of powerful drug ring. Believed to have instigated murder of Henri Chastel, white slave trafficker, in Athens, at same period. Admitted killing of Golter, anarchist, in frustrating attempted assassination of Crown Prince Rudolf during state visit to London, following year.
Kidnapped Professor K. S. Vargan while War Office was considering purchase of Vargan's 'electron cloud.' Vargan was later killed by Norman Kent, member of Templar's gang, Kent himself being killed by Dr. Rayt Marius, foreign secret service agent also trying to secure Vargan's invention. Motive, established by Templar's subsequent letter published in the press, was alleged to be prevention of use in threatened war of what Templar thought to be inhuman method of slaughter. Both Templar and Marius escaped and left England.
Three months later Templar reappeared in England in connection with second plot organized by Marius to promote war, which was unknown to ourselves. Marius finally escaped again and is now believed to be dead; but intrigue was exposed and Templar received free pardon for frustrating attempt to wreck Royal train.
Subsequently continued campaign of fighting crime by criminal methods. Obtained evidence in several cases and secured arrests; also believed, without proof, to have caused deaths of Francis Lemuel, vice trader, Jack Farnberg, gunman, Ladek Kuzela, and others. Suspicion also exists in murder of Stephen Weald, alias Waldstein, and disappearance of Lord Essenden, during period when Templar was working to clear reputation of the late Assistant Commissioner Sir Francis Trelawney, under direct authority of present Chief Commissioner Sir Hamilton Dorn.
Activities continued, until he left England again six months ago.
Most of the exploits mentioned above, as well as many others of which for obvious reasons we have no definite knowledge, have also been financially profitable; and Templar's fortune, acquired by these means, has been credibly estimated at ?500,000.
Is also well known to police of France and Germany.
The photograph followed; and at the end of the sheaf were clipped on the brief reports of the departments through which the information had already been passed:
BUREAU OF CRIMINAL IDENTIFICATION: No record. Copies of photograph and description forwarded to Albany and Washington.
BUREAU OF CRIMINAL ALIEN INVESTIGATION: Inquiries proceeding.
MAIN OFFICE DIVISION: Inquiries proceeding.
The commissioner put up a hand and scratched his grey head. He read the letter through a second time, with his bushy eyebrows drawn down in a frown that wrinkled the bridge of his nose. His faded grey-blue eyes had flabby pouches under them, like blisters that have been drained without breaking the skin; and his face was lined with the same weariness. A grim, embittered soul weariness that was his reward for forty years of the futile battle with lawlessness—a lawlessness that walked arm in arm with those who were supposed to uphold the law.
'You think this may have something to do with the letter that was sent to Irboll?' he said, when he had finished the second reading.
Inspector John Fernack pushed back his battered hat and nodded—a curt, phlegmatic jerk of his head. He stabbed at another paper on the commissioner's desk with a square stubby forefinger.
'I'm guessing that way. See the monicker Scotland Yard says this guy goes under? The Saint, it says. Well, look at this drawing. I'm not much on art, and it looks to me like this guy Templar ain't so hot, either; but the idea's there. See that figger. The sort of thing kids draw when they first get hold of a pencil—just a circle for a head, and a straight line for the body and four more for the arms and legs, but you can see it's meant to be sumpn human. An' another circle floating on top of the head. When I was a kid I got took to a cathedral, once,' said Fernack, as if he were confessing some dark blot on bis professional career, an' there
