The Elbert County tribune., 1911-10-13
oHAPrER vlIl.
Brftx Takes Action.

Brftx Takes Action.
Asutenant Britz occupied unique
position In the Detective Bureau. His
n6lcial grade was the same as that of
Donnelly and Carson. but, by sheer
eorce OF his ability. he had lifted him
seh so far above them that when
working on case they accepted his
orders like subordinates. Britz was
mo of the four or five men Of the
anfire detective force who could not
b classed Us "stool-pigeon man."
That Ii. he did not depend on the use
- stool-pigeons for his results. He
needed NO stan Of thieves to inform
him Of the doings Of other thieves.
HIS detective ability was developed
ho . high degree. combining an acute
analytic sense with remarkable indus
ty. These talents were reinforced by
. rare detective instinct, which often
led him irresistibly to the goal Of his
pursuit.
He was a bundle of twitching nerves
6oneath a placid exterior. Nature had
endowed him with an inscrutable
sountenance, an iron will. and a rest
hens energy that seemed to flow from
m inexhaustible inner fountain. He
matched his resourcefulness against
the tricks Of the criminals he pursued
and, having the keener mind. he in
variably won.
Britz's enthusiasm never bubbled to
de surface. He carried himself with
m appearance OF mastery ease. as If
he held his impulses in complete sub
lection There was nothing striking
IN his stature. yet he left an impress
don of hidden strength as Of a steel
framework behind light coating Of
plaster. His eyes, deep set beneath
The arched outline of his eyebrows,
seemed to emit mysterious, inex-
phcable current that circled around
cne and drew one closer within its
ponstantly narrowing circumference.
The shade of melancholy that gloomed
Aas nature was not hidden by the
mask Of superb Indifference that rest
ID on his well-defned features, with
their crowning breadth of lightly fur
Fowed forehead. It revealed itself
With the slightest twitch of his facial
muscles as well as In the dropping
Ane of his mouth. BY some peculi-
axfty of the blood. his complexion ran
. yellow ivory. never varying its color
under the stress of the strongest emo
eaons- 1t required superhuman cour-
aee to meet the steady gaze of his
syes and lie to him. Though some
what abrupt of manner and speech,
there was something engaging about
him. some subtle magic of personality
that brought one under the thrall of
his mind. Almost without the utter
ance of syllable, he could bend weak
natures to his will Only the strong
0st persons were able to resist his
2uu1natfon.
He was one of those strange beings
Who live mostly within themselves,
yo4 there were times when he felt
= dasolatfon Of heart. a longing for
ounpanionship. for intimate associa-
ton with his fellow beings. On such
occasions, his life seemed to lack
snDething of the beauty of other lives,
- II 1t had been cast in more SOM
bex shade. He could feel wave of
neaancholy coming on him, and to
svuad its depressing influence. he turn
d his mind resolutely to his work,
nsaBttng on the crime at hand as on
some tempting dish. Without knowing
Wy. the Missioner diamond robbery
hafd for him fascination more pow
sEfna than that called up by any other
0ame within his memory. He recog-
ni.ed surface indications Of a deep
clnnang in the conception and execu-
ttun OF the theft His experienced
90 saw that no ignorant or vulgar
mind had engineered the substitution
a those marvellous diamonds. The
pursuit of the criminal fairly sparkled
v1th exciting possibilities, and Britz
fezt the thrill Of the chase even before
he started the pursuit
Brttz paced neryously up and down
bis room. revolving the incidents sur
romding the discovery of the theft
fn his mind, but he was unable to pick
= clew on which to work. Nor did the
occurrences in which DonneIly and
Carson participated furnish any prom
Hing material.
TIL begin at the very bottom" he
purmured. "and work gradually to the
Bop" He sauntered out Of the house.
walking with the air Of one trying to
fengthen moments of reflection In
front of the Missioner home he
stopped. surveying the massive stone
walls. as II trying to figure the possi-