Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-07-13
CHAPTER VIII.
Britt Takes Action.

britz Takes Action.
Lieutenant Britt occupied a unique
position In the Detective Bureau His
official grade was the same as thai Of
Donnelly and Carson, but, by sheer
force OF his ability, he had lifted him
self so far above them that when
working on case they accepted his
orders like subordinates. Britt was
one Of the four or five men Of the
entire detective force who could not
be cassed as a "stool-pigeon man "
That Is. he did not depend on the use
of stool-pigeons for his results. He
needed no staff of thieves to inform
him Of the doings of other thieves.
His detective ability was developed
to high degree. combining an acute
analytic sense with remarkable indus
try. These talents were reinforced by
q rare detective instinct, which often
led him irresistibly to the goal Of his
pursuit.
He was a bundle of twitching nerves
beneath a placid exterior Nature had
endowed him with an inscrutab able
countenance, an iron will, and rest
less energy that seemed to flow from
an inexhaustible inner fountain. He
matched his resourcefulness against
the tricks of the criminals he pursued
and, having the keener mind, ne in
variably won.
Britzs enthusiasm never dubbed to
the surface. He carried himself with
an appearance of mastery ease, as If
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 a steel
framework behind a light coating Of
plaster. His eyes. deep set beneath
the arched outline of his eyebrows,
seemed to emit a mysterious, mex
plicable current that circled around
one and drew one closer within It's
constantly narrowing circumference.
The shade Of melancholy that gloomed
his nature was not hidden by the
mask of superb Indifference that rest
ed on his well-deflned features. with
their browning breadth OF lightly fur
rowed forehead. It revealed Itself
with the slightest twitch Of his facial
muscles as we'll as in the dropping
line OF his mouth. BY some pecuh-
ar1ty Of the blood, his complexion ran
yellow ivory, never varying It's color
under the stress Of the strongest emo
lions. 1t 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
ance of syllable. he could bend weak
natures to his will Only the strong
est persons were able to resist his
domination
He was one of those strange beings
who live mostly within themselves,
yet there were times when he felt
a desolation of heart. a longing for
companionship, for intimate associa-
ton with his fellow beings. On such
occasions. his HE seemed to lack
something of the beauty of other lives,
as II 1t had been cast in a more SOM
Der shade. He could feel a 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, the Missioner diamond robbery
held for him fascination more pow
erful than that called up by any other
crime within his memory. He recog-
nized surface indications of deep
cunning In the conception and execu-
ton OF the 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.
Britz paced nervously up and down
his room, revolving the incidents sur
rounding the discovery OF the theft
In his mind, but he was unable to pick
clew on which TO work Nor did the
occurrences in which Donnelly and
Carson participated furnish any prom
| Using material
"Ill begin at the very bottom" he
murmured, and work gradually to the
top" He sauntered out OF the house,
walking with the air of one trying to
!engthen moments of reelection. In
| front Of the Missioner home he
stopped, surveying the massive stone
walls, as If trying to figure the 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
rs Mrs. Missioner at home?" asked
Britt
The butler eyed him suspiciously.
WHO wishes to see herr" he asked.
Lieutenant Britt, of Headquarters
After long delay, he was ushered
into the same room in which the incl
dents preceding Miss Holcomb's ar
rest had occurred.
Il have come to inquire more mi
nutely into the disappearance of the
Jewels" he explained.
Mrs Missioner's face showed lines
OF deep suffering Heavy rings Ell.