The Delta independent., 1911-11-03
CHAPTER XIV.
Britt Shows His Hand.

Following the talk between Britt
and Manning in the office OF the chief
of detectives. the lieutenant FASTENED
to his own room, where Fitch was
awaiting him. He excused himself to
the physician and entered a telephone
booth at the far end of his office In
which he was accustomed to conduct
his more private wire conversations
Through the glass of the silence parti-
ton, Fitch saw the detectives eyes
sparkle as he listened to what the
man at the other end of the wire was
SAYING While Britt still was talking
Manning came in, glanced inquiringly
at the doctor, and settled himself in
a big chair as If for further and
more protracted interview with his
able lieutenant.
How does it look to you. doctor.
now?" said the Chief of Fitch. cycling
him closely meanwhile.
1T looked for awhile as II we had
run into a hornets nest" Fitch an
swered.
Pretty exciting experience you had
uptown. eh?" The Chief laughed.
well. Just little" said the doctor.
cobra in well-regulated brown
stone front"
Think the hunt is getting any
closer?"
Britt seems to think So His opin-
lon carries weight with me"
NO doubt. in your mind, he will
catch the thief. them" asked the
Chief.
Thief or thieves" said the medical
man quietly. 81 am convinced h" will
run them down soon or late. II they're
anywhere on the face Of the earth"
Thank you. doctor" Britt inter
rupted. coming out OF the booth.
"Your confidence is not misplaced.
The thieves are as good as caught
now"
Manning looked up with an air OF
surprise.
Yes" continued Britt. addressing
his chief. I've just been talking to
Gordon. Had him out all day on
special trail. Turns out to be the right
lead. We know where the second
batch Of thieves can be found after
the next hour or So"
Where are they?" asked Manning
eagerly.
"Ill take you to them. Chief" Britt
replied "If you don't mind. I'll ask
you to wait little while until I can
do so. Meanwhile. let's gather up the
loose ends"
do you mean you have solved tie
Missioner mystery" Fitch inquired.
trembling slightly as he reflected
what the answer might mean to the
woman Of his heart.
There isn't any mystery now"
Britt responded cheerily. There
hasn't been any In my mind for SOW.
eral hours"
Lets have it," exclaimed the CHIEF
impatiently.
Just for an instant Britt stirened
under his excellently controlled ef-
terror He believed In discipline. He
was known favorably to his superiors
from the commissioner down for the
obedience and respect he Away,
showed them. But there lurked be-
meath his departmental sense of duty
the Independence of a man who felt
he could always stand on his own two
feet, and that he could work alone. II
need be. to accomplish the most dim
cult Idbh f1iS luipuiSc vi iS'c'N mo-
ed scarce a seconds space. however
and with a military salute that per
haps was meant to remind him OF
Manning's rank, he slid into his re-
volving chair and looked intently at
first one and then the other OF the
men, who waited tensely for his
words.
"The men Gordon has run down..
said the lieutenant, were the hardest
to catch. call them the second
batch OF thieves because they are the
fellows who stole Mrs. Missioner 3
Jewels long after the stones were
stolen from her"
and who may they be-" Manning
persisted.
"They are the dark men-the Hin
docs whose connection with the case
complicated 1t much more than was
comfortable. and who gave further
proof of their inconsiderate DISPOSE
tions by making the doctor here and
me 30 uncomfortable just before We
came back to Headquarters.
you mean they are the men who
robbed Mrs. Missioner OF her jewels?''
mo. the men who stole Mrs. MIS-
sioner's Jewels after she was robbed
OF them"
"They robbed the thieves. Them
mot thieves-thief." said Britz.
"There was only one artist In the
first job"
whats his manner" the Chief ques-
toned again.
His manner" returned tho detec-
tive nonchalantly. "Oh, ! haven't
said 1t was a he.
Even Fitch. though he had worked
Intimately with the sleuth in the lat