Graham guardian., 1911-10-20

ma'am," Donnelly persisted, but my
experience Is you never can tell VIII,
you know In a case like this. Me ami
my side-partner have been sent he1e
to recover your jewels and locate the
thief, and II you don't let us do It 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, lay
ing her head on the young girls shout
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 nncomfortably. Even Blod.
gett's carven features twitched for an
instant. Mrs. Missioner gazed at
Elfnor. 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. II would rather lose
Jewels twice az 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 q little
distance from the central group.
Blodgett's eyes. turning slowly in a
craven face. traversed the length and
breadth Of them as II 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 tray
cling from one to another in rotation
with the appreciativeness Of a. con-
noisseur studying q 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 q difference.
Sands broke the tension with a
suddenness that fairly shouted his
whole character. Rising so abruptly
that his chair fell backward with q
crash. he 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 FASTENED
toward him, the Bacchante In great
agitation. He pushed out fat hand
as II to stop the millionaire.
What are you going to DOT" asked
the sleuth. visibly anxious.
I'm going to have Manning call
you fellows back to Mulberry Street.
said Sands. his jaw hardening. "He'a
sent the wrong men. This isn't Q
Tenderloin case"
Now, see here, Mr.. Sands
fsnarled Donnelly threateningly.
I'm seeing straight enough" re
turned Sands. II asked the Detective
Bureau to send up on an important
case, and the wires crossed before my
message got to the Chief. Somebody
told him 1t was 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 society man." said Donnel
ly, doing his best to quiet the Bac
chante. ''but don't see any shield or
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 1t. And II yor
start anything with Manning, Vol
want to be sure you can finish it." He
was white, shaking whether will
rage or fear no one could saw. Turn
ing to Mrs. Missioner, he went on;
Il suppose you know, ma'am, interfer
ence with an officer Is pretty seri
GUS thing. We're here on duty, ant
It's up to you to see we're not both
cred"
Mrs. Missioner paled. She dreaded
not the law. but scene.
] II think we would better let then