The Huttig news., 1912-03-30


 Britz returned. "I think I'm the best judge Of what interests me; and. as I have played a pretty active part in this iitte incident, it seems to ne ths least you can do is to gratify my curl osity.'
 Well, l will not" was Sands de- liant answer. And whi.e we are on the subject, Lieutenant Britz, let me say should like 10 understand the purpose ot your visit to my rooms a0h, you would, would your" snapped Britz
 T certainly should" Sands replied. T come home 10 find you peepig through hole in my portiere. and two Fasteners, with whom apparent " you have had nothing 10 dc go ng through my desk and other belong tngs. l rather think 1 am entitled to know the why and the wherefore T rather think you are, MT sands" said Britz. and don't mind telling you came here to see you privately, and arrived just in time to See these gentlemen drop to that fire escape and come in by that window After that I had the pleasure of witnessing the dexter1ty with which they ransacked 1 you chifonier, your desk, your be d. side table your bed. your chairs your rugs, and everything else in the room. Maybe you will explain to me the req son they have such deep interest in your housekeeping arrangements" Maybe you will do little mere K blaming Lieutenant Britz," said the millionaire. You will observe that when I said these fellows had no con nection with you, qualified the asser- tion?"
 "Oh. that was very good of you." said Britz.
 Sands continued.
 T should like to know right here and now just how far this qualifica- ton extends
 Well, Mir Sands" answered the de- tective as he relighted his cigar and disposed himself in the most com fortable of attitudes In the chair be- side the desk, there are a good many things We may like to explain. should like, for instance, to know how
 
 possession of a man who Is an inmate Of the State Hospital for the Insane on Wards Island?"
 If Britz expected to startle Sands in- to any physical expression of guilt. he was disappointed The million aires muscles were as inhexble as his determination not to satisfy ths detectives tnquisitiYeness in regard to that which he had taken from tie Hindoo
 You are in mood for ddes, lieu tenant said Sands slowly. Now. you see. I am not. My time is too valu. able
 Well. what are you going to do about these fellows?" asked Bfitz
 "oh. don't you bother about them" said Sands. T guess can take care of them"
 T guess you'll guess again said Britz, for if anybody is going to take care of these gentlemen, behold in me the only original little csretaker." Britz turned to the Hindoos.
 Now. then, you dusky beauties, suppose you come along with me
 Going to carry them?s asked Sands, Britz blushed; yes, Britz fairly and squarely blushed In his momentarY evaporation at the miilionaire's stub- bornness he had forgotten that ret only the hands. but also the feet ot the Orentsls were bound However, he was not 10 be disconcerted and il was with sufficient readiness that he replied
 You don't suppose I take my pris oners through the streets like a mem Der of the Traffic Squad. do youT Where's your telephone
 Sands indicated the instrument and Britz took 1t up and called for 310g Spring
 Headquarters he asked over the wire. Yes, this is Rritz Have wagon sent from the West Thirtieth Street Station to the St Barnabas Apartme nt house. No. don't send the reserves; just sent couple of men. Good hy.' As he rang off, he turned and faced his host MT. Sands" said he. there are one or two points about which would
 
 came 10 you frankly and directly be- cause found one of your cards in the possession of a man who. while mentally unbalanced, knows some thing about tbe fake Maharanee dia- mond After arriving here, I had tho opportunity to serve you in the way of protecting your property And wasted no time in meeting with you. You see fit to ignore my efforts In that direction. although may say that r 1t had not been for me these second. tory specialists would have heen up IT down the fire escape and many blocks away long before you eouid have caught them. do not mind teil ing you Mir. Sands that even though ~ou were center rush at Harvard you ire not quick enough for Central Office men And now. when you ind some thing on one of these men that may or may not be of interest to me, in- stead of letting me see it, or telling me it's contents-Id take your word