The newspaper., 1909-02-05


permit his escape. Why"
Il would rather not be pressed"
said Maitland. with evident candor:
but. since you say it is imperative.
that you must know" Snaith in
clned his head afiirmatively. why
to tell the truth. I was a bit
under the weather last night; out with
/ party of friends. you know. Dare
say we all had bit more than we
could carry. The capture was purely
accidental: we had other plans for
he night and-well," laughing shortly.
Il didn't give the matter too much
hought. beyond believing that Higgins
would hold the man tight
Il see. 1t is unfortunate. but
you motored back to town"
1t was not a question. but Maitland
so considered 1t.
We did" he admitted.
"And came here Directly"
"I did"
Mr.. Maitland. why nos be frank
with me? My sole object is to capture
a notorious burglar. | have no desire
20 NEEDLE with your private affairs.
but You may trust in my dis
erection. Who was the young LADY,
To conceal her identity" said Matt
land. undisturbed. lis precisely why
j have been lying to you"
You refuse us that information
Absolutely have no choice in
he matter. You must see that"
Snaith shook his head. banied. in
finitely perturbed. TO Maitland's hid
den delight.
of course" said he. the policeman
AT the ferry recognized me-
You are well known TO him. ad-
mitted Snaiih. But that is d side Is
Sue. What puzzles me is why you let
Anisty escape. IL is inconceivable."
From police point of view"
From any point OF view said
Snaith, obstinately. The man breaks
into your house. steals your Jewels"
This is getting tiresome.' Maitland
interrupted. curtly. is Il possible
that you suspect me OF conniving at
the theft OF my own property"
Snaith's eyes were keen upon him.
Stranger things have been known.
And yet-the motive is lacking. You
~ ' hbA ~
far as We can determine. at least
Maitland politely interposed his I'm
gers between his yawn and the de-
tective's intent regard You have
ten minutes more. I'm sorry to say
he said. glancing at the clock.
And there is another point. more
significant yet"
.'Ah?"
Yes" Snsith bent forward, elbows
on knees. hat and cane swinging. eyes
implacable. hard. relentless. "Anis;y.''
he said. slowly. left a tolerably com
pieie burglars kit in your library
.Well-he's a burglar. isn't heg"
Not that kind" Snaith shook his
head
But his departure was somewhat
hurried. I can conceive that he might
abandon his kit
But II was not his
Not Anisty'sg"
-Anisty does not depend on such
aLtiquated methods. Mr.. Maitland:
save that in extreme instances. with
n particularly stubborn safe. he EN-
ploys a high. explosive that. so far as
we can fnd out. is practically noise
less. Its nature is mystery
But such old-fashioned strong boxes
IA yours at Greenneids he opens by
ear. so TO speak-listens to the combi-
nation. He was once an expert. repu-
tably employed by a prominent Arm
OF safe manufacturers. in whose SER
vice he gained the skill that has made
him-what he is
But. Maitland cast about at ran
dom. feeling himself cornercd-"may
h,. not have had accomplices7"
Hes no such fool. Unless he has
gone mad. he worked alone. presume
you discovered no accomplice?'
II? The devil. no."
Snai.h smiled mysteriously. then fell
thoughtful. pondering.
You are an enigma" he said. at
length. Il can not understand why
you refuse us all information. when
I consider that the jewels were
yours
Are NINE" Maitland corrected.
NO longer"
Il beg your pardon: ! have them"
Snaith shook his head. smiling in
Maitland flushed with
annoyance and resentment then on
impulse rose and strodc into the ad-
Joining bedroom. returning with
small canvas bag