Barbour County index., 1909-07-07
CHAPTER V.-continued.


Maitland accepted the card and ele.
vated his brows. "Oh!" he said, put.
ting it down. his manner becoming per.
ceptibly less cordial. 'I say, O'Hagan.' y
"Yessor?"
Il shall be busy for Will 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.
80" said Maitland. turning to face
the man squarely, you are from police
headquarters"
"As you gee" Mr.. Snaith motioned
as he called it.
Well?"-after moments pause.
Il am detective, you understand" !"
Perfectly" Maitland assented, un-
moved.
His caller seemed partly amused,
partly-but very slightly-embar-
rassed. x 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 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-"an hour,
and must dress"
I'll detain you no longer than is es-
seEtial. or course you under
stand how keen we are after this man
Anisty."
What puzzles me-" Maitland inter-
rupted, 'is 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, eyi-
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. 81
forgot to phone Higgins
That is why l called. Your butler
did not know where you could be
found. You had left in great haste,
promising to send constables; 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 its normal color and
then began to abuse Higgins for a
thick-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, il you will
permit me to say So" Snaith was
studying his hosts face intently. "Hig.
gins, poor fellow, had his faith shaken
to the foundations. This Anisty must
be 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
over with the butt of a revolver.
jumped out of the window and van.
ished. By the time the butler got
his senses back. Anisty, presumably
was miles away. 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 Greenfelds, &C.
cording TO year promise?"
Maitland laughed uneasily and looked
down, visiDly embarrassed, acting
with consummate address, playing the
game for all he was worth; and enjoy.
ing it hugely.