Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-07-13
CHAPTER VII.
Remaadcd to the Tombs,


Lieutenant Britt seated at the fat
top desk of his office, peered steadily
at the ceiling, as If he expected 10
find written there the solution OF tha
great mystery into which he had been
called. A worried expression was on
his face, as if anxiety had taken pos
session of his soul. He became sub
merged in deep meditation, in which
he sought to arrange in consecutive
order the information gathered by
Donnelly and Carson. The conviction
forced itself on his mind that Miss
HolComb's arrest was based on cir.
cumstance from which more than
one inference might be drawn. Tho
TACT that she knew the combination or
Mrs. Missioner's safe did not mean. Of
course, that she took the jewels. on
the surface. It looked as if hers was
the exclusive opportunity to possess
herself of the gems, outside of Mrs,
Missioner herself. But Britt felt that
the depth OF the case had not been
sounded; in fact, that the surface mad
not even been penetrated.
The only thread that connected
Miss Holcomb with the theft was the
diamond found in her room. But to
Britz's experienced mind, this circum.
stance pointed rather toward limo
cence than guilt For. he argued, il
she had taken those Jewels, she would
not have been so careless as to leave
one of them in her boudoir. That dia-
mond. Britt was convinced, was
placed there Intentionally and with
sinister purpose by hand other than
Miss Holcomb'5.
Britt rose from his seat, dOnned his
topcoat and hat, and made his way to
the tier of cells one OF which held
Miss IIolcomb He encountered Don
nelly and Carson o. ~ "0v
What time are you going 70 ar
raign herr" he asked.
Right now" Donnelly replied I'VE
got the magistrate to hold court an
hour longer for u.s."
A turnkey swung open the iron door
of the cell. The detectives found Miss
Holcomb huddled in a corner the
wan light of the corridor falling on
her tear-bathed face.
Don't take me back! They want
to harm me, | haven't done any
thing" she cried, when she saw the
visitors. Britt stepped forward with
an air Of command and waved the
other detectives back. He scraped his
shoulders through the cell door and
sat On the rude cot, facing the woman
Miss Holcomb." he said pleasantly,
there will be no further inquisition
In the Chiefs office, no more third
degree methods will be applied to you.
1t is necessary under the law TO bring
you before a magistrate within TWEEN.
ty-four hours after your arrest. Now.
brace yourself please, for the ordeal.
If you are innocent you have abso-
lutely nothing to fear You will have
an opportunity in court of consulting
with your friends and engaging a law
yer. Your interests will be protect
ed"
Instinctively, although in the gloom
Of her surroundings she could make
out only dim outline OF his face, she
felt confidence in the detective that
braced Ter like a tonic,
II have a carriage waiting for you,
Miss Holcomb," Britt informed her.
1T will enable you to avoid the many
curious eyes in the street
She murmured her thanks as she
stepped out OF the cell ald followed
Britt and his companions through
maze of corridors to the street They
were driven rapidly to the Jefferson
Market Court and ushered into the
private room of the magistrate. A
crowd OF reporters was already on
hand for the hearing. The curious
eyes aimed pitilessy at her inspired
in her terror that made her shrink
behind the broad shoulders OF Don
nelly The magistrate motioned her to
seat close to his desk. and said:
Madam it is your privilege to en-
gage counsel. / would advise you to
do so at once, for anything you say
may be used against you"
Il have done nothing wrong" she
murmured
You had better get a lawyer" the
Magistrate urged.
AS If in response to his advice, the
door opened abruptly and two men
entered. One was sharp-faced, gray
haired, nervous, with the unmistak-
able air of the lawyer. The other was
young man, his face marked with
heavy lines Of worry, as II he also
had passed a sleepless night, AT sight
of him, Miss Holcomb sprang forward
and threw herself in his arms.
"Oh. Lawrence" she exclaimed.
! vHow I have missed YOU"
Don't worry" he soothed. Every
thing will turn out all right. have
engaged lawyer for you. believe
In you implicitly"
Donnelly and Carson asked for Q
week In which to work up the case
against the prisoner.
I'VE are informed that the stolen
Jewels are worth close to half a mil
lion. There was one big diamond in