Graham guardian., 1911-11-17

rest. and that when he caused man
or woman to be placed In the prison
er's dock. conviction almost always
followed.
"Griswold, Sands. Ali, Blodgett--~
The names presented themselves to
the sleuth's mind in that order as he
hastened along with no particular
place as an objective-merely walking
to stimulate his mental process. II
always Frightened Britx to pass the
panorama Of fashion in Fifth avenue.
It was with an almost fatherly feel
ing he glanced at the rich, the debon-
air. the gay sauntering along the side
walks or rolling In automobiles and
carriages up and down the asphalt
The safety OF their wealth. sometimes
Of their very lives. depended on the
vigilance, courage and efficiency Of
himself, and Of the few men like him
on the police force Of New York. So
far as the rank and file OF the depart
ment were concerned, those care-free
sons and daughters Of opportunity
might be at the mercy Of the ablest
birds Of prey in the human flock. It
was because Britx and his compeers
worked and watched and waited 80
patiently, so devotedly, 30 ceaselessly,
that fashion and finance. coQuetry and
commerce. could bask In the sunshine
Of metropolitan prosperity.
A dark-blue limousine standing at the
corner OF Forty.fourth street caught
his attention. For q moment hs
studied It a. he slackened his pace.
Then he stopped short, retraced his
steps, crossed to the east side OF the
avenue, and. through the windows OF
q waiting cab, trained his gaze on
Sherry's fashionable restaurant In
front Of which the costly automobile
stood. Dimly. through the filmy lace
curtains. he saw the figures Of those
lingering over afternoon tea. with Q
few early diners. He could not dis
tinguish their faces. but something In
the bearing Of woman at the first
window held his glance. Then
waiter, moving silently about the to
BILE, chanced to part the curtains with
his elbow, and in the momentary gap
between the folds Of Aim Britx saw
the blonde beauty Of Mrs. Missioner,
and the clear-cut features Of Curtis
Griswold.
Britz settled himself to wait. The
cabman, whose vehicle he was using
as redoubt. looked at him inquiring-
~, but the detective hshed out Of his
pocket fat cigar with q scarlet-and-
gold band, and In moment he and
the cabby were chatting amiably. Tho
headquarters man had not long to
wait. Before the cabman had gone
far into discussion of the current po-
litical crisis, the door Of the restau-
rant across the street was swung open
by boy in many buttons, and Mrs.
Missioner appeared on the threshold.
She was followed closely by Griswold
and, after a moments pause to glad
den the heart Of the much-buttoned
youth, by man the watching detec-
tive was somewhat surprised to see--
Bruxton Sands.
Home" eaid Mrs. Missioner to her
chauffeur. Brits could not hear the
word. but he read It from her lips.
He saw the widow step into her limou-
sine, saw Sands and Griswold follow.
saw the chauffeur throw his clutch,
saw the big car glide swiftly south to
wheel for a northward trip along the
L tbA
reached a turning point the detective
sprang into the cab, whispered an ad.
dress to the driver, and added In
low tone:
Double your fare for speed"
| The cabman dashed his horse and,
knowing his craft, threaded his way
through the trafic so quickly that In
q short time he was several blocks
ahead OF the limousine. All the way
up the avenue the race continued,
Britz well in the lead At the Fifty
ninth street entrance. the automobile
swung into the park, but the cabman
urged his horse straight up Fifth ave
nue., and so great was the gain made
by the short cut that a few blocks fOr
ther north he dropped his fare II
front OF a mansion OF imposing ugn
ness, touched his hat In acknowledg
ment OF generous fee. and was bowl
ing eastward, halfway to Madison ave
nue., when the Missioner car reap
peared from the parks Seventy-sec
ond street gate.
"You at least can stop for a minute
of gossip" said Mrs. Missioner ovel
her shoulder as she preceded Sands
and Griswold into her library. Fl
nance and club affairs can wait nt
tie while, and-oh!"
| fTo BE CoNTINUED)