The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-09-16
CHAPTER v.-continued.

CHAPTER v.-continued.
Maitland accepted the card and ele-
waited his brows. oh" he said. put
ting IL 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. oHagan, 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 II.
'Well?"-after a moments pause.
Il am detective you understand"
Perfectly" Maitland assented. I'M
moved.
His caller seemed partly amused.
partly-but very slightly-embar-
rassed. 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
glanced casually.
Very we'll" he consented, bored but
resigned. Fire ahead, but make II 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 thas is es-
sentisl. OF course you under
stand how keen we are after this man
Anisty"
what puzzles me-" Maitland inter
rupted, lis 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. Il
forgot to phone Higgins"
That is why 1 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
MT. 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. II you will
permit me to say So" Snaith was
studying his hosts face intently. "Hig-
gins, poor fellow, had his faith shaken
20 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"
q Precisely
"And Anisty?"
y "Once loosed he knocked Higgins
over with the butt of a revolver.
Jumped cut OF the window and van
ished. BY the time the butler got
his senses back. Anisty, presumably,
was miles away. Mr.. Malt
land" said Snaith, sharply.
"Yesf- responded Maitland, eleyat-
ing his brows. refusing to be startled.
why" srisply. didn't you send
the constables non Greenhelds, ac-
cording 70 yopr promiseg"
Maitland laughed uneasily and looked
down, sisibly embarrassed. acting
with consummate address. playing the
game for all he was worth !; and enjoy
a. A. huoQlv