Graham guardian., 1911-12-22

theless, he had flattered himself that
he usually made a pretty thorough
search for anything he wanted; but
what he saw through that tiny pin
hole In the leather portiere showed
him that he was the veriest tyro in
that sort of thing. The two visitors
went through the millionaire's furni.
ture and other possessions with min
uteness that would have made a fine
tooth comb look like a garden rake.
There could not have remained any.
thing-any nook or corner, any crack
or crevice. not anything larger than
bacillus which they happened to
covet. If an article no bigger than a
pinhead had been the object Of their
hunt, their untiring scrutiny would
have brought IT to light. Yet SO deftly
had they searched that, granting them
a minutes respite, they could have left
the room without any traces of their
activity.
Their search seemed fruitless until
they arrived at q desk under a hang.
ing incandescent lamp. at which Britz
assumed Sands was in the habit Of
writing his more personal letters.
From one Of the pigeon-holes, one Of
the intruders drew something that
cracked slightly as the man stuffed it
into the folds of his tunic. From a
neighboring compartment of the desk,
the second stranger drew another find,
which he in turn hastily hid In the
same way. With lightning rapidity.
they went through every part of the
desk. In that same instant Britt felt
rather than heard footstep behind
him, and, jerking a glance over his
shoulders, saw Sands advancing upon
him angrily. With quick uplift Of
his hand, the detective stopped the
millionaire in his tracks, and then
drew him quietly toward the portiere
and motioned for him 10 look through
the hole In the leather. Sands bent q
little, and then glanced wonderingly
into the bedroom. He raised face
OF astonished inquiry to Britz. He was
answered by another silencing ges-
ture from the sieuth. He looked once
more through the tiny hole just in
time to see the Hindoos straighten
themselves from their crouching at
titude over the desk and turn toward
the window. His hand thrust itself
into his coat pocket, he slipped into
the opening In the portieres with q
single stride. and, leveling an auto
matte pistol that looked more like a
block Of steel than anything else. he
cried: Hands up!"
The men did not turn; instead, they
leaped for the window, followed by
Britz and Sands. Quick as they were.
they were not quick enough for tho
Headquarters man. Launching his
wiry form as tiger. springs, Britz.
pistol In hand. hurled himself between
the foremost Indian and the open win.
dow and seized him In his strong
grasp. Sands, almost as rapid In his
movements In spite Of his bulk, flung
a powerful arm about the throat of
the other intruder, and with his other.
hand closed the window with crash.
Britz and Sands dragged their pris-
oners to the other side Of the room
and forced them down upon couch.
Then the sleuth. slipping his pistol
back into his pocket, seized the Indian
Sands was holding by the throat, and,
more as an order than a request, ask.
ed the millionaire to bind the cap
tves,
Il think recognize you. my dear
young friends" he said. You are
two of the dark jugglers who had fun
with me in Central Park and River
side Drive last evening. think It's
about time for me to return the COM
pliment with a merry little jest OF my
own" Turning his head to the mil
lionaire, he said again: IF you have
any silk handkerchiefs to spare, Mr..
Sands, please use them as handouts
These gentlemen are accustomed to
silk, and would not like to use any
thing cheaper on them than they used
on me. suppose II we trussed them
up with cotton or hemp. they'd die of
modification"
The detectives sarcasm was lost
on Sands until he thought to recount
in a few brief words his abduction in
the park and the struggle for life that
had followed it. II was evident that,
In spite of the detectives coolness. he
had some feeling on the subject. In
fact, his manner toward the now cow
ering Hindoos was more or less re-
vengeful Sands fell In with the hu-
NOR of the situation, and In very
few minutes the Fasteners were
bound with silk handkerchiefs as soft,
yet strong, as any scarf they could
have produced In the bazaars of Cal
cutta or Cawnpore. When the task
was done, and 1t was done pretty neat
ly, Britz relaxed his hold on the half.
struggling mems throats and pushed
them against the back Of the sofa un-
til they half-sat, halliday there, head
to head. Then he stepped back, rest
ed his hands on his hips. and eyed
them mockingly.
Cro BE coNTINuED)
'. ------