Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-07-20

he nau cause 10 tnanK nor, NO De-
lieved. For. In her girlish talk, she
had given him tho first Missioner
clue Of the weck-or, rather, she had
extended for him thread of tho
mystery that had occupied much Of
his thoughts from the moment when
he received Logan's cable saying the
paste jewels were made from
sketches. For days. he had sought
to learn who among Mrs. Missioner
/ intimates was artist enough to make
such delicate draughts Of the dia-
monds as would be required by an ar
tifcer for the manufacture Of imita.
tions. With that object, he had ascor-
tanned Dorothys intention to go to tho
matinee in the Forrest and had gone
to the theater to meet her under con-
ditions not likely to interfere with
such gentle questioning of her as he
meant to do. His yelled Interrogation
Of the society girl had brought forth
the fact that Curtis Griswold could
sketch--that the clubman was sufl-
ciently master of his pencil to have
his skill pretty generally known
among his acquaintances. Lormer
and Daubigny, the other society ar
lists she had mentioned, were not, he
knew, in Mrs. Missioner's circle.
1t was fortunate for Lieutenant
Britt, as we'll as for Elmer Holcomh
and Doctor Fitch, and everybody
whose hopes hinged on the detectives
success in solving the great Missioner
diamond mystery. that long custom
made him thread tho traffic OF the
city's throbbing artery automatically,
for so deeply did the sieutIl pondc"
the possibilities OF his newest inior-
nation that he had several close c5-
capes from taXicabs, private automo-
bies and trolley cars as he crossed
broadway and bent his steps toward
Fifth avenue. The case had cleared i
little, but his course was not much
palmer than it had been when he
dropped into the theater In quest @!
further knowledge.
1T won't GO to call Miss March as
witness" he mused walking north
in the carriage-crowded avenue. with
that brlskncss characteristic Of him
when his brain was most active. She
can't absolutely prove anything 1t
was necessary to obtain tangible owl
dence of Griswold's ability as 4
draughtsman. How to do SO without
alarming the clubman was the present
problem.
Britt by no means was prepared &c
suspect Griswod Of the robbery. He
realized thoroughly that Dorothy's IN
formation was all he had to indicate
Griswold any more than Sands, o.
two or three others. He did not ever
know whether Miss IIolcomb coulc
draw, and 1t was no part e. his pur
pose to distress the imprisoned cir
with questions betraying the smalles'
belief in the accusation against her
No; Britt always honest with himself
could not say he suspected Griswoid
His method was the opposite OF Don
nelly's and Carson's. Instead OF sds
pecting everybody, as they invariabi,
did In cases at all mysterious, HI
would not attach suspicion to anyone
without satisfactory proof. That wa
the secret OF his success. He wa
more than a detective; he was prose
: cutor Judge, jury and counsel to tn
defense. 1t accounted for the fac
that he rarely made mistaken a.
rest, and that when he caused ma
or woman to be placed in the prison
ers dock, conviction almost Away
followed.
"Griswold, Sands, Ali. Blodgett-
The names presented themselves :
! the sleuth's mind in that order as h
hasteped along with no particU!a
place as an objective-merely waikin
to stimulate his mental process.
always frightened Britt to pass t.
panorama of fashion in Fifth avenr'
1t was with an almost fatherly fee
: ing he glanced at the rich, the deboI
= air, the gay sauntering along the sidt
walks or rolling In automobiles an
: carriages up and down the asphal
The safety of their wealth, sometime
of their very lives, depended on til
vigilance. courage and efficiency
:. himself, and of the few men like hi
!, on the police force Of New York. s
l far as the rank and file Of the depar
ment were concerned, those care-lre
v sons and daughters of opportunii
l. might be at the mercy OF the able:
r birds of prey in the human flock.
was because Britt and his compeol
u worked and watched and waited :
o patiently. so devotedly, so ccaselessl
d that fashion and finance. coquetry ~
@ commerce, could bask In the suuShii
!, Of metropolitan prosperity
4 dark-b blue limousine standing at Il
corner of Forty-fourth street caugl
+ his attention. For = moment
l. OC.nsa OO.,NlsS Il{fEc