Semi-weekly herald., 1911-09-04

Hoicomb Is not only my secretary
but my trusted friend. Her elder sis.
ter was in my class at Smith. have
known the Holcombs many years.
you may think you know them.
ma'am." Donnelly persisted. but nv
experience is you never can tell who
you know In case like this. Me and
my side-partner have been sent here
to recover your Jewels and locate the
thief, and II you don't let us do II in
our own way. We can't be held re-
sponsible."
Elinor then did something that was
unaccountable to the widow who
thought she knew her so well. and
which rather startled Sands. She
turned to little Miss March and. Law.
ing her head on the young girls shoul.
der, wept unrestrainedly. Dorothy,
patting her shoulder. stood looking
helplessly at Mrs. Missioner.
One of those awkward pauses fol.
lowed in which nobody seemed to
know what to do. Sands stared hard
at the floor. Ranscome wriggled in
his chair uncomfortably. Even Blod
gett's carven features twitched for an
instant Mrs. Missioner gazed at
Elinor, plainly perplexed Sympathy
struggled slowly to the surface OF her
gaze. She went up to her secretary.
and put her arm about the weeping
girls waist.
This cannot be necessary, Mr. Don.
nelly" she said Il would rather lose
Jewels twice as valuable than have
Miss Holcomb distressed in this way
She knows nothing she will not tell
us
Donnelly and Carson whispered
fervently to one another at a little
distance from the central group.
Blodgett's eyes, turning slowly in a
craven face. traversed the length and
breadth of them as If nothing could
please him better than to still the
Bacchante with mighty blow and
Jolt Carson out of the room The only
person entirely at ease was Griswold.
He smoked TRANQUILITY, his glance trav.
cling from one to another In rotation
with the appreciativeness OF con
noisseur studying great picture.
There was something of the dilettante
in the man. He was the opposite of
Sands in every particular save breed
ing, and even In that respect there
was a difference.
Sands broke the tension with
suddenness that fairly shouted HIS
whole character. Rising so abruptly
that his chair fell backward with a
crash, ne strobe to the telephone and
seized the instrument savagely. He
was calling Police Headquarters be-
fore either OF the detectives recovered
from his surprise. Donnelly hastened
toward him, the Bncchapte In great
agitation. He pushed out fat hand
as II to stop the millionaire.
What are you going to do?" asked
the sieuth. visibly anxious.
I'm going to have Manning call
you fellows back to Mulberry Street"
said Sands. his jaw hardening. He's
sent the wrong men. This isn't
Tenderloin case"
Now, see here, Mr.. Sands"
snarled Donnelly threateningly.
I'm seeing straight enough" re-
turned Sands II asked the Detective
Bureau to send up on an important
message got to the Chief. Somebody
told him 1t was a Chinatown hold-up.
Now I'm going to talk TO him straight.
Hello, Spring! What's the matter
with that NUMBER"
You're going strong. Mr.. Sands,
even for a society man," said Donnel-
ly, doing his best to quiet the Bac-
chante, but don't see any shield on
your shirtfront, and me and my part
ner amt got any call taking orders
from you. We're on this case. and
we're going to stay on II. And II you
start anything with Manning, you
want to be sure you can finish It," He
was white, shaking-whether with
rage or fear no one could say. Turn
ing to Mrs. Missioner, he went on:
Il suppose you know. ma'am. interfer-
ence with an officer is a pretty seri-
ous thing. We're here on duty. and
it's up to you to see we're not both
ered.''
Mrs. Missioner paled. She dreaded.
not the law, but scene.
II think we would better let them
have their way, Bruxton." she muir
INJURED, the light of admiration In her
eyes in contrast to her words. "Mr.
Donnelly knows Miss Holcomb's stand
ing now. He will remember"
Donnelly didn't know precisely what
he was expected to remember. but he
realized gentler tactics we're safer to-
ward the widows secretary while
Sands WAS around 1t did not escape
even his observation that neither
Ranscome nor Griswold had said any
thing in Miss Holcomb's defense.
Now, this is all wrong, young
lady" he said to Elinor. bearing on
the soft pedal as much as he could.
''It isn't right for you to go on like
this, you know. You'll get yourself
all worked up and then you won't
be able to answer our questions. Take
my word for 1t, it's best for you to
keep yourself In hand"
Elinor couldn't keep herself In hand
while that raucous voice was thrust
into her selfrespect like a rusty file
gripped as poinard. She fought for
self-mastery, but the shock WAS too
much for her determination. Doro
thy's sisterly comforting only made
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