The Elbert County tribune., 1911-11-24
CHAPTER xvI-(con.lnued.)

CHAPTER xvI-(contlnued.)
We've got the motive for the
crime" the two men shouted in one
breath.
Britz assumed an attitude of eager
interest The prosecutor looked sig
nifcantly at him.
What have you discovered? he
asked.
That man Fitch is mixed up In the
case Just as ! always thought" Don
nelly informed him. "She stole those
diamonds for his sake It's another
case Of the girl turning thief to help
her lover"
We've run the whole thing down
and we have 1t here in black and
white" His fingers clasped three or
four letters which he Haunted tempt
ingly before the eyes OF tho prosecu-
tor. They confirm our suspicion that
Fitch is at the bottom of the whole
case. Rather. that he's the man high
er up"
Mott gathered the contents OF the
missives in three or four sweeping
glances as ho handed them to Britt.
He perused them closely, as II weigh
Ing their import while noting their
contents. His impassive face masked
the emotions they aroused In him.
and he returned them to the assistant
district attorney with an air of indif-
ference
These letters are conclusive" Mott
pronounced.
Conclusive of what7" demanded
Britt.
That Miss Holcomb was the tool
Of her fiance. and that the two have
combined to enlist your sympathy"
Il guess It wasn't bad bit of de-
tective work to get those letters"
Donnelly smiled.
Il guess not" agreed Carson, anx.
ious to Justify his partners little out.
burst Of self-adulation.
Britz turned to them abruptly.
Their flippant tones irritated him. His
nature revolted at the ill-bred rejoic.
ing over the prospective degradation
OF woman.
How did you get the letters?" he
asked brusquely.
Donnelly. ready to burst with the
Importance he had gathered. needed
no urging to impart the desired in
formation.
Il had Doctor Fitch shadowed from
the day he appeared at headquarters
to inquire about Miss Holcomb." he
said. That's how l got on that he
was negotiating with a real estate
agent. Luckily. the agent was q
friend Of mine. and he informed me
that Fitch had purchased and paid
for site on which to build a mod
ern sanitarium. Yes. sir. he put UT
$4,000 for the ground; and the build
tngs and furnishings, learned, are te
cost nearly a quarter of million. II
wasn't easy to get the agent to turr
over Fttch's letters, but told him
he'd have to produce them before
the grand jury under a subpoena, sc
he handed them over"
Have you tried to learn where ht
got the money! Britz demanded.
TITS plain enough where he got thu
money. The Individual stones OF the
necklace would bring all the money
he needed for the deal"
But have you tried to make SURE
that he sold the diamonds?" Britt per
sisted
'T'll get all that without muci
trouble" was the confident reply.
We'll. go ahead and get it, Brit
ordered
When the two detectives left tn,
room Mott found 1t impossible to re
strain his qualification
II guess you'll admit you're on tn,
wrong lay?" he jeered. You've be
wildered yourself with your own zeal
This is the sort OF stuff want" h,
declared. lingering the letters
You've been led astray. Now ge
on the right trail and accomplish
something"
An attendant entered with card
The prosecutor glanced at it AM
passed It over to the detective.
Hes an old friend" Mott remarked
I'VE were In college together"
A dark flush suffused Britt counts
nance and deepened his yellow ivor.
complexion to dull gray. He fxe'
. look of anxious Interrogation ol
Mott e. Il doubtful of the wisdom o