The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1911-12-02

Wnere Brltz parted the pOrtieres and
looked into the big room in which he
mad interviewed the Eastern scholar.
It's appearance was much the same as
1t had BEEN on his preceding visit,
save that las his practiced eye dwelt
more persistently upon it, he noted
the disappearance of many small arti-
Giles, particularly porphyry Buddha
mat had sat within little shrine
upon the wall The apartment had the
seeming Of having been subjected to
surface stripping by persons about to
leave 1t In hurry. Few of the sol
emn books that had been scattered
about the room remained. Among the
Oriental objects still in the room was
the narghilkh from which the sage
was fond OF drawing a smokers con.
ISOLATION.
Gone, eh?" said Fitch, in an I'M
dertone.,
Britt nodded.
Think Wa had better look up
stairs?" asked the DOCTOR
With another swift nod the detec-
tive turned on his heel and led tie
way from floor to floor until they
reached the top of the house. They
glanced into every room and explored
the larger apartments thoroughly. All
were empty. Here and there they
found evidences of hasty packing. In
! various rooms were queer jumbles OF
| the East and West-linen collars with
single hairline stripes of delicate tints
| lay beside Oriental scraps of mani
fest fineness. On one rack hung q
| Derby hat, OIL another turban like
| that worn by the Swami, and like the
| kerchief Britz had found on the fire
escape Of the Hotel Renaissance. One
Of the most interesting finds was q
scimitar with a jeweled hilt and q
blade of wonderful keenness. Britz
drew 1t from it's scabbard and was
about to feel the edge when Fitch
stopped him with a swift gesture.
Don't touch it, lieutenant" said the
doctor. "One never knows what
criminal tricks these beggars play
with their weapons"
AS the detective looked at him IN
| qu1rlngly, ne ADJ ed:
"a sword or dagger is as likely to
be poisoned as not In fact, they pre-
fer poisons to straight fighting"
Convinced there was no one In the
upper part Of the house, the two men
descended to the main floor and re-
entered the reception room at the
rear.
"This was their den,'' said Britt ex-
planatory, as he began closer search
of the room 1--WE may find trace of
them In some of their papers. It's
worth a few minutes to make hunt.
Get busy, doc!" And the detective
rummaged through drawer after draw
er, Fitch following his example. They
found many unusual articles, but
nothing that gave an. inkling Of the d.
rection of the Hindoos' f1ight--for 1t
was certain the Orientals had depart
ed hastily. having gained their object
in getting possession Of the Missioner
necklace. Britz had no smallest doubt
the Fasteners had anticipated him
IN the burglary of Mrs. Delarocte's
apartments. He did not believe any
of the low-caste Hindoos would have
been skilful enough to get into the
woman's rooms, SO near the top Of the
building. In his opinion, the gems had
been filched from Millicent's pillow
nv either the Swami or the Prince
IT was typical of the clever cunning
of the high-caste Orientals to take
only the jewels and leave the casket
under the pillow, so that Mrs. Della
roche should not miss the stones I'M
til the last moment possible. They
must have picked the lock.
Rritz had ended his exploration OF
the East table drawer, and was turning
to a lacquered desk, when Fitch, with
a cry of unmistakable alarm, grlpped
his wrist and dragged him toward the
divan. and with a bound stood upon
its yielding surface.
Jump up, quick!" said the doctor,
plucking at the detectives arm as ne
spoke.
Britz had experienced too many
emergencies in his career TO waste
time in qunestions. When anyone OF
No-~
him to Jump, run, or duck, obedience
to the command was his first instinct
time enough for explanation after
ward. He leaped to the springy sofa
beside the physician, and turned &c
find the doctors arm stretched tense
ly, ending in a quivering forefinger
that pointed at something moving
across the space between the dlVan
and door Even as the two looked al
1t. the motion Of the creature ceased
and two beady eyes were turned II
their direction. Fitch dragged the
detective to the other end OF the sofa
and began climbing to the top OF
tall chiffonier that stood against the
wall. Britt needed no further wore
from his friend. The physician,
haste was sufficient indication tina
they were in grave peril, and though
, the tall chest of drawers made slip
perry climbing, he was beside the doc
i, +o~ with marvellous 171ickneSS. WhGI