Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-08-03

pectatIon or an lgnoD1e END. They fol-
lowed Britt with their joint gaze as
he paced up and down the room, both
pitifully watchful. and manifestly
most wholesomely afraid.
You saw part Of what these chaps
were doing, Mr.. Sands" said Btitz
but what you saw was only the last
OF It. want 10 tell you Che wey they
went through this room was amazing.
I hope you didn't lose many velu-
ables"
Sands In his slow way, assured tho
detective that 1t was not likely the
searchers had found anything he
would miss very greatly; but the
Headquarters man was not satisfied.
Tho mystery of the proceeding, he
and end with tho Orientals. 1t was
possible, Of course. they had searched
Sands rcoE, simply us matter of
routine In the same way that at the
first opportunity they probably would
search the home OF everyone who
might be connected in any way with
the Missioner jewel robbery Yct
something stirred upeasily In Britt
mind as he reflected on the possibilit,
that the coming Of the Orientals held
a deeper significance. What If they
had reason to believe they would sure.
ly find what they sought in that room?
If Sands did not know there was jus
ton, fAr he ht- ia hn
take it so calmly? 1t did not seem
natural for man to keep his temper
whose apartments had been invaded
so thoroughly. If the millionaire had
expressed any Indignation he, Britt,
would have felt better satisfied BE
sides, what was it the IIindoos had
taken from Sands desk? Sands had
not seen them take anything. as they
were ending their search when he got
the first glimpse of them. Britt
watched Sands closely to see If the
miilionaires eyes would turn anXi-
ously toward that part of his furni
ture. He almost started when the first
move Sands made, after finishing his
task of binding the prisoners, was tc
saunter with a careless air across the
/ room and, in passing, glance swiftly
and questioningly into the pigeon
holes whence the thieves had alb
stracted the mysterious articles that
80 actively engaged Britz's always ac
tive curiosity.
It's about up to us to do a little
searching now, isn't it?" asked Britt
These bright young men have hat
their innings, and | believe It's ON
turn at bat What do you say, Mr.
I Sands?'
Sands said nothing. He nodded hi
head In assent. however. and Britt be
gan a search OF the Orientals fully a.
exhaustive as that they had performed
on the room Before he had gone IA
in his quest. Sands volunteered as
sistance, and each explored the fold
of the Hindoos' raiment with tn
clumsincss that might be expected o
men not accustomed to that sort O
work
Britt. working more swiftly than tn
millionaire, made his first find. It VIZ
sheet of notepaper Of fashionabl
size and tint. on which had been wri
ten few lines in a feminine hant
Britt had not the slightest Compun'
ton of conscience about reading /
| Chivalry was all very well in its Wa!
but It played no part in detecuv
work, especially when the lady mos
concerned was not present TO make
protest He moved to the center {
the room, and in the light Of a cluste
of inCandescent lamps read aloud
Sands the following enigmatical mi
sive:
Curtis Dear: When are you cor
Ing up to the hotel? If you do NJ
come or send me a check quickly,
shall have to sell some OF the jewel
"MILLICENT."
: That was all. Whether that al
was much or little, Britt. offhand. ";
not prepared to say. The use OF Grl
> wold's given name at the bcginnir
of the note apparently meant a goo
deal But who was MilliCent? In 1.
course Of his probing OF the Mission
diamond mystery, Britt had canvasst
: the complete visiting lis- of everyol
who was in the opera box on the mig
r when the falsity or tho Maharan'
/, diamond was discovered He had h
+ compiled a socia. register of evcryoI
n interested in the caSe-everyOne tn