Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-08-03

re had 1n0ulRed IN inc luxury vi III
intake of breath, when he became an
spectator In the gentleman
ly art of searching gentleman's
room. The Central ONCE mar was no
vidoca. 1t is doubtful If he had even
read poe's story of Tho Missing Let
ter" and had he done so, II Is by no
means certain he would have adapted
the methods OF the French police TO
metropolitan detective work. Never
theless, he had fiattered 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 millionaires furn1-
ture and other possessions with MIN
uteness that would have made line
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
"A bacillus which they happened to
covet If an article no bigger than
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 a desk under 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
crackled slightly as the man stuffed 1t
into the folds OF his tunc. From
neighboring compartment OF the desk,
the second stranger drew another find,
which he in turn hastily hid in the
same way. With lightning r9pidity,
they went through every part of the
desk In that same instant Britt felt
rather than heard a footstep behind
him, and, jerking a glance over his
shoulders. saw Sands advancing upon
him angrily. With a 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 20 look through
the hole in the leather. Sands bent a
little, and then glanced wonderingly
into the bedroom. He raised face
of astonished inquiry to Britt. He was
oila
ture from the sleuth. He looked once
more through the tiny hole just in
time to see the IIindoos 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 a
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
Britt and Sands. Quick as they were
they were not quick enough for the
Headquarters man. Launching hl'
why form as tiger springs, Britt
pistol in hand, hurled himself between
the foremost Indian and the open win
dow and seized him IN his stroni
grasp. Sands, almost as rapid in hi:
movements in spite OF his bulk, fun,
powerful arm about the throat o
the other intruder. and with his othe
hand closed the window with crash
Britt and Sands dragged their pris
oners to the other side of the room
and forced them down upon a couch
Then the sleuth. slipping his psto
back into his pocket. seized tho India
Sands was holding by the throat, anc
more as an order than request, ash
cd the millionaire to nind the cal
tives.
81 think I recognize you. my dea
young friends" he said You ar
Two of the dark juggle-s who had fu
with mo in Central Park and Rive
side Drive last evening. | think It
about tine for me- 70 return the con
piment with merry little jest OF IN
own" Turning his head to the mi
iiousire, hs said again: IF you hav
. any silk handkerchiefs To spare, NJ
. Sands. please use them Us handcuff
These gentlemen ara accustomed I
silk and ! would not like to use an.
thing cheaper on them than they use
on me. ! suppose n We trussed thei
: up with cotton or hAmH, they'd die {
. modification.
/ The dstecGiys's sarcasm waa IN
= on Sands until he thought 10 recouI
= In few brief words his abduction
. the bark and the struggle for life TIL
5 had followed it. 1t was evident tina
I In spite OF the detectives GOODNESS.
G had seine feeling on the subject.
J. fact, his manner toward the now CO.
$ erirg Hindoos was more or less I
c NOR of the situation, and in a We
few minutes tho fasteners we
" bound with silk hapdkerchiefs az so
/, yet strong, as any scarf they cou
n have produced In the bazaars OF G.
a cutta or Cawnpora When tho ia!
"a was done, and II was done pretty net
n ly, Britt relaxed his hold on tho hs
g struggling mems hroats and push
Il them against the back OF the sofa u
g til they ha!f-sat. halliday there, he
r. to head. Then he stepped back. re
n ed his hands on his hips. and ey
h them mockingly.
IL you are not very clover" he sa
Is but anyway. you're flne-looki
c, body of men. What do you think