The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1911-12-23
CHAPTER xxiv.--continued.

"Oh, that was only q precaution on
their part. They took the chance /
might have recovered the Maharanee,
I suppose Maybe they expected to
find in my possession something that
would give them a clue to the where
abotits Of the stone Then, once they
got me, they thought they might as
well keep me out Of the running until
they got what they wanted. 1t was
no part of their plan to let me find
the Jewels and turn them over to
Mrs. Missioner"
"7ou had close call there. lieu
tenant" observed the physician.
CLOSE enough" said Britz calmly.
"But it's all In the days work"
AS Britz finished there was a timid
tap on the door. In response to Man
nlngs curt Come int" Donnelly and
Carson crossed the threshold. and
did their best to stand at ease In
front of the lieutenant's desk
you sent. huh, for us, Chief?"
"Yes,s said Manning. Lieutenant
Britz wants you to attend to little
matter for him.
Eyes, Donnelly," said Britz coolly;
sstf you have nothing better to do just
now, suppose you run up to Curtis
Griswold's apartment, and tell him
the Chief wants to talk to him"
Suppose he won't come" said Don.
nelly, who evidently did not yet sus
pect 1t was desired that the clubman
be taken into custody.
Bring him, them" said Britt. "You
haven't forgotten how to show a gen
Itleman down to Headquarters, have
your
Dennelly WINGED under the lieuten
ants scorn, and Carson turned gray.
"And you, Mr.. Carson" said Britz
renewing his instructions. 'be good
enough to take trip to the Hote
Renaissance, and ask Mrs. Delaroche
to come down to see US for LITTLE
while"
Carson, in the crisis, fT'.. he coult
mot be too precise.
Suppose she declines?" he asked
/; Bring her!" said Bril-.
Fitch laughed aloud at tho con
sternation In the faces of the two de
tectives. 1t was manifest both Don
nelly and Carson were so far from
the facts in the mystery that not onl.
had neither Of them dreamed of ma
king a prisoner Of Griswold, tina
suave society man who had volun
teered SO much assistance to them II
their efforts to weave web OF cir
cumstantiai evidence against Elmo
Holcomb, but that they were absc
lutely ignorant of the existence o
such a person as Millicent Delaroche
They shuff1ed their feet with increas
ing nervousness as they felt the eye
of their chief upon them. Donnell,
shot glance of ill-repressd hatred q
Britz as the lieutenant, at ease in hi
revolving chair. faced the crestfallel
detectives with a satirical smile.
Oace or twice Donnelly essayed t,
speak, but each time he caught tn
frozen expression on the faces of tn
Chief and Britz, and the words diet
IN his throat. Nothing remained say
AOI lAS tWo =
carry out the lieutenant's orders. A
they turned to go their discomftur
was augmented by the real detee
tive's mock solicitude. E9.4
You'll find 1t an easy Job. boys
Just ask the two of them to com
down here quietly, and II they don
want to come, make 'em. Show then
your shields, you know. and all tina
sort of thing"
When they had gone. Britz In
dulged his amusement to the exten
OF a laugh; Fitch Joined him, AM
Manning, after brief attempt t
keep his face straight. also laughe
heartily.
1853 CHAPTER XIV. a5as.