Marble Hill press. (Marbel [sic] Hill, Mo.) 1881-1923, 1911-12-21
CHAPTER xvu.-tcOn,InuedJ

"Ycu are not very clever" he said
but anyway. you're fre looking
tody oi men What do YOU think OF
yourselves anyhow Think youn cut
out this second story game or
WI you content yourselves with the
safer occupation OF dips My private
advice to you is to try hencoops for a
While Cut ont the big circuit, and go
and get reputation"
How much OF his biting irony, II
any. the Or.entals understood they
did Mt indicate. They only eazed a,
him In dumb misery, evidently in ex.
pectation Of an ignoble end They fol.
lowed Britt with their joint gaze as
be paced UP and down the room. both
pitiful.y watchiul, and manifesuy
most wholesomely afraid
You saw part Of what these chaps
were Going Mr. Sands" said Britt.
but what you saw was only the last
OF It. want to tell you the way they
went though this room was amazAg
| hore you didn't lose many valu-
sbles."
Sand. in his slow way. assured the
detective that II was not likely the
searchers had found anything be
wood miss very greatly: but the
Headquarters man was not satisfied.
The mystery OF the proceeding. he
was inclined to think, did not begin
and end with the Orientals. II was
possible, Of course, they had searched
Sands room simply as a matter OF
routine In the same way that at the
nrst opportunity they probably would
search the home Of everyone who
might be connected in any way with
the Missioner jewel robbery Yet
something stirred uneasily In BritZ's
mind as he reflected on the possibility
that the coming OF the Orientals held
9 deeper significance. What II they
had reason to believe they would sure
ly find what they sought In that room!
II Sands did not know there was Jus
tfcation for the search. why did he
take II so calmly! II did not seem
natural for q man to keep his temper
whose apartments had been invaded
90 thoroughly. II the millionaire had
expressed any Indignation he, Britt,
would have felt better satisfied. Be
sides, what was II the Hindoos had
taken from Sands desk? Sands had
not seen them take anything, as they
were ending their search when be got
the first glimpse OF them, Britt
watched Sands closely to see II the
millionare's eyes would turn anxi.
ously toward that part OF his furni.
ture, He almost started when the first
move Sands made. after finishing his
task Of binding the prisoners was TO
saunter with a careless air across the
room and, in passing, glance swiftly
and questioningly into the pigeon.
holes whence the thieves had alb
stracted the mysterious articles that
90 actively engaged BIRTHS always 40
tive curiosity.
It's about UP to us to do a little
searching now. isn't III" asked Britt.
These bright young men have had
their innings, and believe it's our
turn at bat What do you say, Mr..
Sands?"
Sands said nothing, Hs nodded bis
head In assent, however, and Britz be-
gan a search OF the Orientals fully as
exhaustive as that they had performed
on the room. Before he had gone far
In his quest, Sands volunteered as.
sistance, and each explored the folds
OF the Hindoos' raiment with the
clumsiness that might be expected OF
men not accustomed to that sort OF
work.
Britt. working more swiftly than the
millionaire, made his first find. II was
a sheet Of notepaper OF fashionable
size and tint, on which had been writ.
ten a few lines in a feminine hand.
Britt had not the slightest compunc-
lion OF conscience about reading II.
Chivalry was all very well in its way,
but 1t played no part in detective
work, especially when the lady most |
concerned was not present to make
protest He moved to the center OF
the room. and In the light OF cluster |
Of incandescent lamps read aloud TO |
Sands the following enigmatical mis-
ave,
Curtis Dear whsa are you oom