The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-01-20
CHAPTER WI.
Brltz Takes Action.

Lieutenant Britz occupied unique
position In the Detective Bureau. His
offioial grade was the same as that OF
Donnelly and Carson, but, by sheer
force of his ability, he had lifted him
self so far above them that when
working on case they accepted his
orders like subordinates. Britz was
one Of the four or five men of the
entire detective force who could not
be .classed as a "stool-pigeon man."
That is, he did not depend on the use
Of stool-pigcops for his results. He
needed no stan of thieves to inform
him of the doings of other thieves
His detective ability was developed
to high degree, combining an acute
analytic sense with remarkable indus
VYy. These talents we're reinforced by
a rare detective instinct, which often
led him irreslstibly to the goal of his
pursuit.
He was bundle Of twitching nerves
beneath a placid exterior. Nature had
endowed him with an inscrutable
countenance, an iron will, and a rest
less energy that seemed to flow from
an inexhaustible inner fountain. He
matched his resourcefulness against
the tricks OF the criminals he pursued
and, having the keener mind, he In
Ivariably won.
B1tz's enthusiasm never dubbed to
the surface. He carried himself with
an appearance of mastery ease, as II
he held his impulses in complete sub
lection. There was nothing striking
in his stature, yet he left an impres.
sion of hidden strength as of steel
framework behind a light coating OF
plaster. His eyes, deep set beneath
the arched outline OF his eyebrows
seemed to emit a mysterious, mex
plicable current that clrcled around
one and drew one closer within its
constantly narrowing circumference
The shade Of melancholy that gloomed
HIS nature was not hidden by the
mask of superb Indifference that rest
ed on his well-defned features, with
their crowning breadth OF lightly fur
rowed forehead. 1t revealed itseli
with the slightest twitch Of his facia
muscles as well as in the droopinl
line of his mouth. BY some peculi
arlty of the blood, his complexion raI
a yellow ivory, never varying Its colo
under the stress Of The strongest emo
tions. It required superhumAn sour
age TO meet the steady gaze q MI
eyes and lie to him. Tho0Eh some
what abrupt Of manner and apeech
there was something engaging abou
him, some subtle magic OF personalit,
that brought one under the thrail O
his mind. Almost without the utter
ance OF a syllable, he could bend weal
natures to his will. Only the strone
est persons were able to resist nj
domination.
He was one Of those strange being
who live mostly within themselves
yet there were times when he fel
desOlation OF heart. longing 10
companionship, for intimate associi
tlon wiIh his fellow beings On sue
occasions, his life seemed TO lac
something of the beauty OF other live
as II 1t had been cast In more son
ber shade. He could feel q wave {
melancholy coming on him, and
avoid its depressing influence, he turl
ed his mind resoIutoly TO his worl
feasting on the crime at hand as Q
some tempting dish. Without KNOWN
why, the MissioneS diamond robbeI
held for him fasctnation more po'
erful than that called up by any oth'
crime within his memory. He reco
nized surface indications OF dee
cunning In the conception and exec
tion of the theft HIS. expsriencl