The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-01-30
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In which was set the window where
he had gllmpsed the shadow. A slight
ly more vigorous twist or two of the
njn enlarged the microscopical aper-
ture, SO that he could see even that
detail of the interior. Britz almost
grunted with satisfaction at what he
witnessed in the next few minutes.
The shadow man was still at the win.
dow, fiuttering fitting to and fro.
rising and falling. 1t crouched out
side the window in such a way as
showed Britz Il was on a tire escape
or a balcony Of some sort. The rust
ling sound increased, and It was fol-
lowed by a faint "cheep," like spar
rows call. A second shadow fiuttered
from a point above the window and
melted into the outlines of the first.
Then came slightly rasping sound,
and the lower sash, Brltz noticed,
trembled. BY well-nigh imperceptible
degrees the sash was lifted. The next
instant two men noiselessly lowered
themselves to the floor and glanced
hastily about the room. Reassured by
the swift look, they tiptoed along the
walls from right TO left; one of them
stopped at chiffonier the other con-
tinued his little Journey of investiga-
ton until he arrived at the portieres.
Then 1t was that Britz held his
breath. He held It for seconds that
seemed as tedious as hours, while the
! nearer OF the strange visitors, sepa-
rated from him only by the thickness
of the leather, peered through the
parting between the curtains into the
library where the detective stood.
Britz had not obtained a good view
of the intruder's face, for 1t was half
hidden by a loose fold OF the turban
upon his head that indicated the
strangers nationality. Britz's eyes
still we're fixed at the hole, and
by that time the stranger was
out of his line OF vlr n. Had
such not been the case, It is
possible that even the imper
turbable Britz would have moved
at least to the extent Of swift reach
to a side pocket in his coat For II
was about as evil countenance as
one could expect to see anywhere
save under the shadow OF the gallows
In It's rapacity, feroclty, blood thlrsti
ness and cruelty OF every degree
spoke loudly. If that savage face had
advanced an inch or two nearer, those
snaky eyes would have seen the mar
from Mulberry street who shrank into
himself behind the shelter of the pro
tecting strip OF leather. But 1t die
not; and, after a leisurely survey o.
the interior, the Oriental returned tC
the other end of the inner room anc
reioined his companion.
Hardly had Britt begun to let the
air seep out of his lungs. and before
he had INDUCED in the luxury OF al
intake of breath, when he became aI
interested spectator IN the gentleman
ly art OF searching gentleman
room. The Central ONCE man was n,
Vidocq. 1t is doubtful II he had evei
read Poe's story of THE Missing Let
ter" and had he done SO, it is Ly n,
means certain he would have adapted
1hS HOthouS VI Nho flehSh POhSS
metropolitan detective work Never
theless, he had iiattered himself tina
he usually made a pretty thorough
search for anything he wanted; bu
what he saw through that tiny PHI
hole In the leather portiere showed
him that he was the veriest tyro IL
;hat sort of thing. The two visitor
went through the millionaire's furni
ture and otfer possessions with a min
utenc. hat woGld have made q 1lne