Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-04-28

glauces ut tho end Of the room that
held tho big safe, It was evident he
was making drawing Of It. The Ia.
borious dragging Of his pencil point
proved he was not accustomed to such
work-at least. SO It seemed to one
Of the three who watched him. But
the sleuth stuck to the task doggedly.
and at last he bore so heavily on q
corner Of his sketch that the point OF
his pencil broke.
He laid down the pad. took out .
pocket knife. and began to sharpen
the pencil. When the point was
fashioned to his liking. he looked up
Then and then only did he seem to
sec the widow and her friends. He
arose instantly and bowed to Mrs
Missioner, following that with . short
nod to tho men behind her.
II told your man to let me come in,
madam. because I had no time to
spare" said uthhe sleuth.
Mrs. Missioner bowed her head in
assent.
"You wish to see me?" she inquired
There Is something more you wish
to know"
She was not in the mood for dis
cussion OF the detectives quest this
evening. The afternoon tea in
Sherry's, the short ride home. in
GLIDING the turn in the park, with her
two most persistent admirers. this
oozy Homecoming In the dusk of .
winter day, however unreasonable the
H. Loot
Even as she spoke to the detective
and sank dreamily into conversation
chair beside the fire, her eyes strayed
from Sands to Griswold, from Girls.
void to Sands, with the vague look Of
q woman trying to decide a momen.
tous question. Griswold, ever ready
to seize the smallest advantage.
promptly occupied the other end Of
tho chair. Facing the beautiful
widow. he ignored both Britz and
Sands, and he threw into the glances
he showered upon tho woman all the
caress at his command.
Britt eyed Sands sharply before re-
plying. He gripped his chin with
thumb and finger, and seemed study.
ing the big millionaire. As q matter
Of fact, he was watching Griswold.
His gaze, even as It appeared focused
most strongly on Sands, in reality was
concentrated on the clubman, whe
shared the serpentine chair with the
wealthy widow.
Il want . plan Of the ROOM" said
Britz at length. "A sketch OF the safe.
too. One of my men was to, have
made draughts for me. but had to
send him out Of town at short notice
on another end Of the case. &c." and
he smiled slowly at his POOR work
manship, I'm doing the best can"
MAY I SEQ what you have drawn"
asked Mrs. Missioner pleasantly. "Oh.
Mr.. Britz,'' she laughed. holding tho
paper at arms length. I'm afraid
you'll never make an artist. hope"
she added hastily. you have no pro.
fessional pride on that point?"
"None whatever" returned the do
tective. He liked woman with 0
sense Of humor. and there was some
thing about Mrs. Missioner that ~
pealed to him anyway. Il told yoa !
was merely a substitute"
Sands, towering above the widow on
the hearth-rus. shot q single. indiffer-
emit look at tho drawing. Griswold's
glance brushed it carelessly. but the
Widows interest in it was echoed by
him in 80 for that he took the dia-
gram from her and examined 1t for q
few seconds. Then, with q short,
harsh laugh, he half turned to Britz,
alternately bending and Strengthening
the paper In his fingers.
Ever hear Of such thing as per-
spective, detectve?" he asked conde-
scendingly. Britt overlooked the air
of superiority. He shook his head
thoughtfully. There was inquiry in
his eyes as he waited for Griswold's
next words. You'd starve to death
in . studio" the clubman continued
scornfully.
A crisp little laugh from Britz was
the only reply. He crossed the floor
and made J microscopic examination
OF the safe. Then he circled the room.
tapping the walls again. moving pieces
Of furniture to look behind them. turn
up corners of tho rug. and gazing re-
fectiyely At the ceiling. ALL the In
dian servant. appeared noiselessly at
the door. started slightly at the sight
Of tho detective. and vanished a. ST.
lently. Britt pretended not to sec
the Hindoo. but, In his movements
about the room, he paused at the
threshold, and glanced quickly down
tho passage. There was no ono in
sight
All that time, Curtis Griswold, hav-
ing ripped OF tho sheet on which
Britz had drawn the rude diagram.
was skstching idly a. he talked in an
undertone to the widow. His words
held her attention. She took no note
of the detectives wandering. the
heavy silence OF Sands. the soundless
appearance and disappearance Of tho
Hindoo. Ripples Of laughter revealed
that she, ut least. was amused by
what Griswold was saying. It was
when Britz. having finished his de-
tailed examination Of tho room.
stopped close beside him that they
looked up.
II see you are an artist, Mr.. Girls
wold," remarked the sleuth, his eyes
on the paper under the clubman's pen
Gil.
Griswold was genuinely surprised.
For the first time. he seemed to be-