The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-05-17

new light come into the mans eyes. But
those of the woman flashed with hatred.
II sent her away" she said curtly. She
anneys the baron with her attentions.
She is nothing but a street waif at the
best and not worth one or the many pains
he is suffering for his foolhardy advent
ure."
Il told you 1 would like to see her when
she came again, Mollie," he said weakly.
She frowned at the name and apologized
for him.
"A pet name the baron has given me.
He forgets there IS a stranger present
The baron turned his head on the pillow
and Maitland thought he saw the shadow
of a smile fit across his features. Then
he turned his attention to the woman
and was successful in winning from her
an invitation to call again the next day.
That night thieves entered the barons
lodgings and carried away some $1,000 In
gold that he had secreted under the floor.
When Maitland heard of it he FASTENED
to his new acquaintances to offer his
sympathies He was shown the place
where the carpet had been ripped up to
get at the hidden treasure. And there In
the dust upon the board was the imprint
of hand, the hand with the long third
finger.
"They were not very sharp" said the
baron careless1y, or they might have
found more" Then he sent for a clerk
of a bank, had his man remove some
bricks from the chimney and take out
$4,000 in gold twenty-dollar pieces which
he had deposited to his credit.
That this was the money taken from
the express car, Maitland felt confident
and yet he had no proof. If the man on
the couch was the real bandit, how came
the imprint of that hand In the dust.
Had he robbed himself to create a sem
sation, or was he after all. innocent?
That hand under the bandages! He must
see that at any cost, and without delay.
Mollie went out and left them slipping
wine together Maitland looked across
the table at the arm lying stiff In its
splints and bandages. Then he got up
and went to the window, standing with
his back to his companion. When he re-
turned there was a look OF stern deter
mnation on his face. Let us drink to
the health of the little flower girl" he
cried. What a little beauty she Is
"a strange creature, surely replied
the other with interest. II had hoped to
see her and thank her for the flowers she
sends. But Mollie has frightened her so
that she dare not come. When this
cursed arm Is out of the splints I shall
be free and then
And then you will find your little adj
mirer ready to receive you. Cad, baron,
you ara a lucky fellow. And patient too,
If were in your place I should be tempt
ed to defy that old doctor and get out at
once. scur arm must be well knit by
this time
''Tfat's low 1t seems to me, hut he is
an obdurate old ass"
II wish | ight have a look at your
bruised member" said Maitland, careless
ly. II studied surgery once and might
find reasons for disagreeing with this old
sawbones. Spose we take a look at 1t,
anyway"
Gould you put it up again 50 that he
wouldn't suspect?''
Right and tight as a package of tea"
said the detective, draining his glass.
The baron poured out some brandy and
drained it at gulp. ITO 1t then before
stands In with the doctor to keep me
housed up here for fear I will see the
little girl"
Maitland needed no second invitation.
With his penknife he quickly cut the
stitches and rapidly unrolled the BAN
dages. His hand shook and his face
flushed as fold after fold he wound away.
The other watched him cody without
once wincing. At last the splints lay
bare. Maitland lifted them gently away,
his gaze riveted on the fingers.
What's the matter with you man? It's
the arm that is broken, up here. The
fingers are all right"
I THE fingers are all right repeated the
detective, setting his teeth to hide his
disappointment 1t isn't the same at all Z"
What isn't the same? They haven't
changed hands on me, have they?"
II could almost believe they had"
Maitland rejoined under his breath But
say, you don't need to be cooped up here
any longer. That old doctor is fraud
Your arm Is in fine shape. I'll put on
the bandages and we'll go out together
for an airing. What do you say to O.
drive out to the hill to see Mabel?"
I'm with YOU" cried the other Hurry
up and we'll get off at once"
That night Maitland paced his room for
hours, trying to find the end of tho thread
that would unravel this mystery The
deeper he had gone into 1t the more he
was puzzled. The hand of the baron was
not the hand of the robber OF that he
was certain. And yet the money he was
spending lavishly was no doubt the very
money taken at that time Had the
tramp been one of a company to commit
the crime his accomplices would have
shown up for their share of the plumber.
Yet here he was spending 1t openly and
In manner to attract the greatest pos
sihe attention to himself Then there
under the carpet. That was left by the
real thief. Who was he. and how did he
learn of the real secret hiding place?
Could 1t be Mollie-yes, why not? The
belief that the hand under the bandages
was the guilty hand had blinded him
She was an accomplice of the real thief
and was helping him to get the money
that he had somehow lost to the tramp.
1t was through her that he must work to
catch the real criminal
With this end In View Maitland visited
daily with the baron and encouraged the
latter's attentions to Mabel This was
not a difficult task. Mabel was such a
sweet little body that the baron was soon
head over heels in love with her. He
showered her with presents. dressed her
in silks and laces, took her to drive daily
and gave out everywhere that they were
to be married Mollie was furious but
her hold on the baron was gone. He re-
fused her entrance to his quarters sent
back her letters unopened and passed her
on the street with scarcely a nod Of re-
cognition. Maitland kept Mollie informed
as to their love affair. He wished to
make the baron so hated by his former
sweetheart that she would try to ruin
him. At the same time he was gaining
her confidence. After several weeks OF
this maneuvering he made an engage
ment with Mollie to meet him at dinner
She was also to bring her brother who
had but recently turned UP. and who
Maitland was very anxious to see. When
this was all arranged Maitland invited
the baron and Mabel to the same lunch
con.
Mollie came first and her brother fol-
lowed Something in the mans face or
figure seemed very familiar to Maitland
and VET he did No