Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-06-29


er-nun that Is, WHY you didn't ap-
Dear before?"
Il have told You ] was reading IN
my ROOM" she replied. 81 knew moth
ing Of the robbery, nor even of Mrs.
Missioner's return from the opera, un-
til the housekeeper knocked on my
door with the information Mrs. Mis-
sioner wished to see me In the H.
brary."
II really regard this as wholly un.
necessary, Mr.. Donnelly," said the
widow, with slow insistence. Miss
Holcomb Is not only my secretary,
but my trusted friend. Her elder sis
ter was in my class at Smith. have
known the Holcombs many years"
you mey think you know them,
na'am," Donnelly persisted, but my
experience Is you never can tell who
you know in case like this. Me and
my side-partner have been sent here
to recover your jewels and locate the
thief, and If you don't let us do It in
our own way, we can't be held re-
sponsible."
Elinor then did something that was
unaccountable to the widow who
thought she knew her so well. and
which rather startled Sands. She
turned to little Miss March and, lay
ing her head on the young girls shout.
der, wept unrestrGincdly. Dorothy,
patung her shoulder, stood looking
helplessly at Mrs Missioner.
One of those awkward pauses fol-
lowed in which nobody seemed to
know what to- do. Sands stared hard
at the floor. Ranscomo wriggled in
his chair uncomfortably. Even Blod.
gets carven features twitched for an
instant. Mrs. Missioner gazed at
Elinor. plainly pcrplexod. Sympathy
struggled slowly to The surface of her
gaze. She went up to her secretary,
and put her arm about the weeping
girls waist.
This cannot be necessary, Mr.. Don.
nelly" she said. ~ would rather lose
jewels twice as valuable than have
Miss Holcomb distressed in this way.
She knows nothing she vii! not tell
us"
Donnelly and Carson whispered
fervently to one another at little
distance from the central group.
Blodgetts eyes, turning slowly in a
craven face, travcrsed the length and
breadth of them as if nothing could
please him better than to still the
Bacchnnte with a mighty blow and
jolt Carson out of the room. The only
person entirely at ease was Griswold
He smoked TRANQUILITY, his glance trav-
cling from one to another In rotation
with the appropriateness of a con-
noisseur studying a great picture.
There was something of the dilettante
in the man. He Was the opposite OF
Sands In every particular save breed
ing, and even In that respect there
was a difference.
Sands broke tho tension with a
suddenness that fairly shouted his
whole character. Rising 80 abruptly
that his chair fell backward with a
crash, he strobe to the telephone and
seized the instrument savagely. He
was calling Police Headquarters be-
fore either Of tho detectives recovered
from his surprise. Donnelly fastened
toward him, the Pacchante In great
agitation. He pushed out fat hand
as II to stop the millionaire.
What are you going TO do?" asked
the sleuth. visibly anxious.
I'm going to have Manning call
you fellows back to Mulberry Street"
said Sands, his jaw hardening. Hes
sent the wrong men This isn't
Tenderloin case"
Now, see here, Mr. Sands
snarled Donnelly threateningly.
I'm seeing straight enough" re-
turned Sands. 81 asked the Detective
Bureau to send Up Oh an important
case, and the wires crossed before my
! message got to the Chief. Somebody
told him it was a Chinatown hold-up
Now I'm going to talk to him straight
Hello, Spring! What's the matter
with that number
You're going strong, Mr.. Sands
even for a society man. said Donnel
ly, doing his best to quiet the Bac
chante, but don't see any shield on
your shirtfront, and Inc and my part
ner amt got any call taking orders
from you. We're on this case, and
we're going to stay on it. And If you
start anything with Manning, you
want to be sure you can finish it," Ec
was white, shaking-whether With
rage or fear no one could say Turn
ing to Mrs. Missioner, he went on
81 suppose you know, maam, interior
ence with all officer is a pretty serl
GUS thing. We're here on duty. ant
it's up to you to see we're not both
cred"
Mrs. Missioner paled. She dreaded
not the law. but scene.
Il think we would better let then
have their way, Bruxton," she muI
INJURED, the light OF admiration in he
eyes in contrast to her words. MI
Donnelly knows Miss Holcombs stand
ing now. He will remember"
Donnelly didn't know precisely wha
he was expected TO remember, but h
realized gentler tactics were safer tc
ward the widows secretary Will
Sands was around. 1t did not escap
even his observation that neithe
Ranscome nor Griswold had said any
thing in Miss Holcomb's defense.
Now, this is all wrong, youn
lady" he said to Elinor, bearing Of
the soft pedal as much as he could
1T isn't right for you to go on Xix