Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-04-22
CHAPTER viii.
srltz Takes Action.

0ritx Takes Action.
lieutenant Britt occupied a unique
sition In the Detective Bureau. His
.cial grade was the Same rs that Of
.nnelly and Carson, but, by sheer
,cs az his ability, he had lifted him
= 80 far above them that when
liking on a case they accepted his
ers like subordinates. Britt was
one Of tho four or five mon of the
entire detective force who could not
bs classed. ~ q "stool-piEeon man"
That IL, he did not depend on the use
Of stoolpigeons for his results. He
needed no star Of thieves to inform
him of the doinss Of other thieves.
His detective ability was developed
to q high degree, combining an acute
analytic sense With remarkable indus
try. These talents were reinforced BY
q rare detective instinct, which often
led him irTesistibly to the goal Of his
pursuit.
He was Q bundle Of twitching nerves
beneath placid exterior. Nature had
endowed him with an inscrutable
countsnance. an iron will. and q rest
less energy that seemed to dow from
an inexhaustible inner fountain He
matched his resourcefulness against
the tricks Of tho criminals he pursued
and, having the keener mind, he in
variably won.
Britz's enthusiasm never dubbed to
the surface. He carried himself with
- o$~ rlv
he held his impulses in complete sub
lection. There was nothing striking
in his stature. yet he left an impress
sion of hidden strength as Of steel
framework behind q light coating Of
plaster. His eyes, deep set beneath
tho arched outline of his eyebrows.
seemed to emit a mysterious, mex
plicablo current that circled around
one and drew one closer within Its
constantly narrowing circumference.
The shade Of melancholy that gl0omed
his nature was not hidden by tho
mask of superb indifference that rest
ed on his well-defined features, with
their GROWING breadth Of lightly fur
rowed forehead. It revealed itself
with the slightest witch Of his facial
muscles as we'll as In the dropping
line of his mouth. BY some pecull-
arity Of tho blood. his complexion ran
q yellow ivory. never varying its color
under the stress Of tho strongest emo
lions. It required superhuman cour-
age to meet the steady gaze Of his
eyes and lie to him. Though some
what abrupt of manner and speech,
there was something engaging about
him, some subtle magic of personality
that brought one under the thrall Of
his mind. Almost without the utter
,nce Of . syllable, he could bend weak
lures to his will. Only the strong
est persons were able to resist his
domination.
He was ono Of those strange beings
who live mostly within themselves,
yet there were times when he felt
q desolation Of heart. a longing for
companionship, for intimate associa-
tion with his fellow beings. On such
occasions, his life seemed to lack
something Of the beauty Of other lives.
rs II 1t had been cast in . more SOM
Der shade. He could feel q wave Of
melancholy coming on him, and to
avoid its depressing influence. he turn
ed his mind resolutely to his work.
Teasing on the crime at hand as on
some tempting dish. Without knowing
why, tho Missioner diamond robbery
held for him . fascination moro pew
erful than that called up by any other
crime within his memory. He rscog.
nizod surface Indications Of . deep
cunning in tho conception and execu-
ton Of tho theft His experienced
eye saw that no ignorant or vulgar
mind had engineered the substitution
Of those marvellous diamonds. The
pursuit Of the criminal fairly sparkled
with exciting possibilities, and Britz
felt the thrill of the chase even before
he started the pursuit.
E Rritz paced nervously up and down
il room. revolving tho incidents sur
,unding tho discovery Of the theft
his mind. but no was unable to pick
clew ON which to work Nor did tho
occurrences in which Donnelly and
Carson participated furnish any prom
Using material.
''I'll begin at the very bottom" he
murmured, land work gradually to the
ten" He sauntered out of the house,
walking with the air Of one trying to
lsngthen moments Of reflection. In
front Of the Missioner homo he
stopped. surveying tho massive stone
walls, as II trying to figure tho posi-
bility Of nocturnal intrusion. The
front door was of heavy bronze and
was swung open by the butler In re-
Spouse to the ringing Of the bell.
: els, Mrs. Missioner at homs?" asked
Britt.
The butler eyed him suspiciously.
'Who wishes to see herr" no asked.
Lieutenant Britz. C Headquarters"
After q long delay, he was ushered
into tho same room In which tho Incl
dents preceding Miss Holcombs ar
rest had occurred.
II have come to inquire more mi
nutsly into the disaDpearancs Of the
Jewels" he explained.
Mrs. Missioner's face showed lines
OF deep suffering. Heavy rings en-
ciro,ed her eyes. deep burrows SCARED
her forehead.
II am more than anxious to supply
you with all the Information in my
possession," she said. 1T IL meager
enough, ana ] almost despair Of ever
seeing my jewels again"
madam, NO. case is hopeless britz