Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-07-01
CHAPTER v.-continued.

a MIR. Snaith.'
CHAPTER v.-continued.
Maitland accepted the card and ele-
waited his brows. "Oh!" he said, put
ting it down, his manner becoming per-
ceptibly less cordial. Il say, O'Hagan."
"Yessor?"
Il shall be busy for VIII half an
hour satisfy you, Mr.. Snaith?"
You are most kind" the stranger
bowed.
In half an hour, o'Hagan, you may
return"
"Very good, sor." And the hall door
closed.
$50" said Maitland, turning to face
the man squarely, you are from police
headquarters?"
"As you see." Mr.. Snaith motioned
~delicately toward his business card
as he called it.
"Well?"-after a moments pause.
81 am a detective, you understand"
Perfectly" Maitland assented, un-
moved.
[. His caller seemed partly amused,
partly-but very slightly-embar-
raised. Il have been assigned to
cover the affair Of last night" he
continued blandly. Il presume you
have no objection to giving me what
information you may possess"
Credentials"
The mans amusement was made
visible in a fugitive smile, half-hidden
by his small and neatly trimmed mus
tache. Mutely eloquent, he turned
back the lapel of his coat, exposing a
small shield; at which Maitland
glanced casually.
Very we'll" he consented, bored but
resigned. Fire ahead, but make it as
brief as you can; I've an engagement
in'-glancing at the clock-f'an hour,
and must dress"
I'll detain you no longer than is es-
sential. OF course you under
stand how keen we are after this man
Anisty."
What puzzles me-" Maitland inter-
rupted, sis how you got wind of the
affair so soon"
Then you have not heard?" Mr..
Snaith exhibited polite surprise.
Il am just out of bed"
"Anisty escaped shortly after you
left Maitland Manor"
"Ah!"
Mr.. Snaith knitted his brows, evil
IDENTIFY at a loss whether to ascribe
Maitland's exclamation as due to sur
prise, regret, or relief. Which pleased
Maitland, who had been at pains to
make his tone noncommittal. In point
OF fact he was neither surprised nor
regretful.
".Thunder!" he continued, slowly. II
forgot to phone Higgins"
That is why / called. Your butler
did not know where you could be
found. You had left in great haste,
promising to send c%onstables; you
failed to do so; Higgins got no word.
In the course of an hour or so his
charge began to choke-or pretended
to. Higgins became alarmed and re-
moved the gag. Anisty lay quiet until
his face resumed it's normal color and
then began to abuse Higgins for a
t~hick-headed idiot"
Mr.. Snaith interrupted himself to
chuckle lightly.
You noticed a resemblance" he re-
sumed.
Maitland. too. was smiling. Some
thing of the sort"
1T is really remarkable, If you will
permit me to say SOL Snaith was
studying his hosts face intently. "Hig-
gins, poor fellow, had his faith shaken
to the foundations. This Anisty must
be a clever actor as well as a master
burglar. Having cursed Higgins root
and branch, he got his second wind
and explained that he was-Mr. Matt.
land! Conceive Higgins position.
What could he do?"
What he did, / gather"
Precisely"
And Anisty?"
"Once loosed, he knocked Higgins
,ver with the butt of a revolver,
ished. BY the time the butler got
his senses back, Anisty, presumably,
was miles away. f. Mr.. Matt
land!" said Snaith, sharply.
"Yes?' responded Maitland, elevat-
ing his brows, refusing to be startled.
why" crisply, didn't you send
the constables from Greenfields. ac-
cording to your promise?"
Maitland laughed uneasily and looked
down, visibly embarrassed. acting
with consummate address, playing the
game for all he was worth; and enjoy
ing 1t hugely.
why I Really.
Mr.. snaith, l must confess"
"A confession would aid us materi-
ally" dryly. THE case is perplexing.
You roundu up a burglar sought by the
police of two continents, and listlessly
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
clined his head atirmatively. why
to tell the truth, / was a bit
under the weather last night; out with
a party of friends, you know. Dare
say we all had a bit more than we
could carry. The capture was purely