The Elbert County tribune., 1911-12-01
CHAPTER xvII-(con.Inuod.,

~but anyway, you're hne-looking
body of men. What do you think Of
yourselves. anyhow? Think you'll cut
out this second story game? Or
will you content yourselves with the
safer occupation of dips? My private
advice to you is to try hencoops for a
while. Cut out the big circuit, and go
and got reputation"
How much of his biting irony, If
any. the Orientals understood they
did not indicate. They only gazed at
him In dumb misery. evidently in ex-
pectation Of an ignoble end. They fol-
lowed Brftz 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 Britt.
but what you saw was only the last
OF 1t. I want to tell you the way they
went through this room was amazing.
hope you didn't lose many valu-
ables"
Sands. In his slow way, assured the
detective that It was not likely the
searchers had found anything he
would miss very greatly; but the
Headquarters man was not satisfied.
The mystery of the proceeding, he
was inclined to think, did not begin
and end with the Orientals. 1t was
possible. of course. they had searched
Sands room simply as a matter OF
routine in the same way that at the
nrst opportunity they probably would
search the home Of everyone who
might be connected in any way with
the Missioner jewel robbery. Yet
something stirred uneasily in Britz's
mind as he reflected on the possibility
that the coming of the Orientals held
. deeper Significance. What If they
had reason to believe they would sure
ly find what they sought in that room?
II Sands did not know there was JUS
dncation for the search. why did he
take 1t SO calmly? 1t did not seem
natural for man to keep his temper
whose apartments had been invaded
10 thoroughly. II the millionaire had
expressed any indignation he. Britt,
would have felt better satisfied Be-
sides. what was 1t the Hindoos 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. Britz
watched Sands closely to see II tho
millionaire's eyes would turn and-
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 to
saunter with a careless air across the
room and. In passing. glance swiftly
and questionfngly into the pigeon
holes whence the thieves had ab-
stracted the mysterious articles that
30 actively engaged Britz's always ac-
tive curiosity
It's about up to us to do a little
searching now, isn't IT." asked Britz.
These bright young men have had
their innings, and I believe it's our
turn Mt bat. What do you say, Mr..
Sanda7~
Sands said nothing. He nodded his
head In assent, however, and Britz be-
: gan search Of the Orientals fully as
exhaustive as that they had performed
on the room. Before he had gone far
in his quest, Sands volunteered as
sistance. and each explored the folds
Of the Hindoos' raiment with the
clumsiness that might be expected Of
men not accustomed to that sort OF
work
Britt. working more swiftly than the
millionaire. made his first find. 1t was
a sheet OF notepaper of fashionable
size and tint. on which had been writ
ten few lines in feminine hand.
Britz had not the slightest compunc-
A. "a
Chivalry was all very well in It's way.
but it played no part In detective
work, especially when the lady most
concerned was not present to make a
protest He moved to the center OF
J the room. and in the light OF cluster
Of incandescent lamps read aloud to
Sands the following enigmatical mis-
sive: