The Delta independent., 1911-11-17

hundred mlll1OnS COulQ i've LOT
months with death hanging over her
head in her own household. and yet
know nothing about 1t. What's the
use of being a multi-millionaire If
you're no safer than in an eighteen
dollar fiat? For my part. don't take
much stock in your Hindoos."
You'll take lot of stock in them
before the morning is over. Chief. If
you stay with u.s." Britt retorted. I'm
going to show you not only the Hin
docs in the act OF attempting to get
away, but I'll turn up the goods in
their possession. They have the dia-
mond now, but I'll have both them
and the diamond in a very few
hours!"
Il believe you." Fitch chimed in.
you see. Chief" he explained to
Manning, this lieutenant of yours
has made the capture of the Hindoos
more or less of a personal matter"
A choppy laugh from the detective
interrupted the physician
Yes" he agreed, 81 don't mind tell
ing you that I'm almost as eager to
get those fellows as / am to recover
sAO "ANO" o JS icy 6ol JUDI a
little bit too gay with me for their
own good" He flushed slightly as
he recalled how utterly he had been
at the mercy of the Hindoos when he
lay like holiday turkey on the floor
Of that bare room in the unoccupied
uptown apartment.
The Hindoos, said Britt, went
through the apartments of Sands and
Griswold with what Sam Weller
would call a double-m illion-magnify-
ing microscope. They didn't leave a
postage stamp unsearched They
looked into every hole and corner,
ransacked every drawer, and turned
every place inside out. 1 caught 'em
at 1.-TWO of them, anyway-in
Sands room, and they're now in the
West Thirtieth Street Station. They
must have gone through Griswold's
apartment first. for 1t was there, 1
guess, they found this note from Mil
hcent to Curtis DEAR and 1t was
this note that gave me a line on how
brother Griswold stood with the lady
of the Hotel Renaissance. knew
Griswold was in the habit Of visiting
that hotel, but l didn't know whom
he went there to see. felt pretty
certain when got the note that 1t
came from somebody in the Renais-
sance. and got Rawson to send the
bunch out on the hunt SO that 1
could make certain I'd made no mis-
take.
"One Of the men reported there
was Nine. Delaroche at the Renais-
sance. That looked good enough to
me. l went there that same night.
with the doctor on the sidewalk, as
the lookout. did a little burglary
stunt that would have landed the
jewels II the Hindoos had not got
there ahead Of me. In some way or
other. those fellows learned about
the acquaintance between Griswold
and the Delaroche lady about the
same time l did, or perhaps a little
earlier. One of them got into her
apartment by the fire escape route
ard sneaked the jewels from under
her pillow. What's more, he content
ed himself with the diamonds them
selves, and didn't even take the casket
they were in. The jewel case was
still under her pillow when l got
there. and 1t wasn't until after the
lady. under the impression the gems
were in the case. gave herself away
moro or less, that l found the little
box was empty. When 1 looked out
on the IRE escape, saw the handler
chief the dark-skinned craftsman had
dropped In his hurry. That sent US
hot-footed to the swami's house."
When Britz had sketched the his.
tory Of the Missioner case. Manning
and Fitch looked at him admiringly.
Both his hearers were thoughtful for
q minute or two. Then the Chief,
though he realized Britx had solved
the mystery, could not refrain from
picking naws.
You have not explained fully" he
said. how Griswold contrived to
smuggle the small diamond into Miss
Holcomb's room"
Nor how the old curiosity dealer
had the visiting card Of Bruxton
Sands" suggested the doctor hest.
family. He disliked to seem over
critical of a man who had done &c
much for Elinor.
Neither have you worked out an
explanation of the fact that 1t was q
woman who gave the order to the
three French nrms for the manufac
ture Of the false diamonds. and that
she gave the name Of Elinor Hol
comb" Manning pursued. You'll
have to make that clear to Mott, I'm
thinking"
II don't quite understand why the
Hindoos kidnapped you. lieutenant
added Fitch tentatively.
Brits smiled.
'Mere Details" Britz replied. First
0riswold did not smuggle the dia
monl into Miss Holcomb's room
That little trick was pulled on By
ALL He WAS the only one who could
~ a. Rrp M