The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-02-02
CHAPTER xvi-(continued.)

We've got the motive for the
crime" the two men shouted In one
breath.
Britt assumed an attitude Of eager
interest. The prosecutor looked sig.
nifcantly at him.
What have you discovered?" he
asked.
THAT man Fl Oh is mixed up in the
case just as l always thought" DON
nelly Informed him. "She stole those
diamonds for his sake. It's another
case of the girl turning thief to help
her lover"
We've run the whole thing down
and We have it here in black and
white" His fingers clasped three or
four letters which he Haunted tempt
ingly before the eyes of tho prosecu.
tor. "They confirm our suspicion that
Fitch is at the bottom of the whole
case. Rather, that he's the man high
er up"
Mott gathered the contents OF the
missives In three or four sweeping
glances as he handed them to Britt.
He perused them closely, as II weigh.
ing their import while noting their
contents. His impassive face masked
the emotions they aroused in him,
and he returned them to the assistant
district attorney with an air of indif-
ference.
These letters are conclusive" Mott
pronounced.
Conclusive of what?" demanded
Britt.
THAT Miss Holcomb was the tool
OF her fiance, and that the two have
combined to enlist your sympathy"
II guess 1t wasn't bad bit of de-
tective work to get those letters"
Donnelly smiled.
II guess not" agreed Carson, anx-
ious to justify his partners little out.
burst Of self-adulation.
Britt turned to them abruptly.
Their flippant tones irritated him. His
nature revolted at the ill-bred rejoic-
ing over the prospective degradation
Of a woman.
How did you get the letters?" he
asked brusquely.
Donnelly, ready to burst with the
Importance he had gathered, needed
no urging to impart the desired in.
formation.
II had Doctor Fitch Swallowed from
the day he appeared at headquarters
to inquire about Miss Holcomb," he
said. That's how l, got on that he
was negotiating with a real estate
agent. Luckily, the agent was a
friend Of mine. and he informed me
that Fitch had purchased and paid
for site on which to build a mod.
ern sanitarium. Yes, sir, he put up
100000 for the ground; and the build.
tngs and furnishings. learned, are to
cost nearly a quarter of a million. It
wasn't easy to get the agent to turn
over Fitch's letters. but I told him
he'd have to produce them before
the grand jury under a subpoena, so
he handed them over"
"Have you tried to learn where he
got the money!" Britt demanded.
Its plain enough where he got the
money. The individual stones of the
necklace would bring all the money
he needed for the deal"
But have you tried to make sure
that he sold the diamonds?" Britt per.
sisted.
"I'll get all that without much
trouble" was the confident reply.
We'll, go ahead and get It," Britz
ordered.
When the two detectives left the
room Mott found 1t impossible to re-
strain his qualification.
II guess you'll admit you're on the
wrong lay?" he jeered. you've be.
wildered yourself with your own zeal.
This Is the sort of stuff l want" he
declared. lingering the letters.
You've been led astray. Now get
on the right trail and accomplish
something"
An attendant entered with a card.
The prosecutor glanced at it and
passed 1t over to the detective.
Hes an old friend" Mott remarked.
we were in college together"
A dark flush suffused Britt counte-
nance and deepened his yellow ivory
complexion to dull gray. He fixed
= look Of anxious Interrogation on
3o4 e u doubtful Of the wisdom Of