The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1912-11-01

purpose of your visit to my rooms"
"Oh, you would, would youY"
snapped Britt.
Il certainly should" Sands replied.
81 come home to find you peeping
through hole in my portiere, and
two Fasteners, with whom apparent
ly you have had nothing to do, going
through my desk and other belong
ings. | rather think | am entitled to
know the why and the wherefore"
Il rather think you are, Mr.. Sands"
said Britt, 'and l don't mind telling
you l 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
| had the pleasure Of witnessing the
| dexter1ty with which they ransacked
you chiffonier, your desk, your bed
side table, your bed, your chairs, your
rugs, and everything else in the room.
Maybe you will explain to me the rea-
son they have such a deep interest in
your housekeeping arrangements?
Maybe you will do little more ex-
planning Lieutenant Britt" said the
millionaire. You will observe that
when said these fellows had no con-
nection with you. qualified the asser-
TOM"
"Oh, that was very good of you"
said Britt.
Sands continued
II should like to know right here
and now Just how far this uualifica-
ton extends"
Well Mr.. Sands" answered the de-
tective as he relighted his cigar
and disposed himself In the most COM
Portable 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
your visiting card came to be in the
possession of a man who is an inmate
Of the State Hospital for the Insane
on, Wards Island?"
If Britt expected to startle Sands in
to any physical expression of guilt,
he was disappointed. The million
aires muscles were as inheMble as
his determination not to satisfy the
detectives inquisitiveness in regard
to that which he had taken from the
Hindoo.
You are in mood for riddles, lieu
tenant" said Sands slowly. Nov, you
see, l am not. My time is too valu.
able"
We'll, what are you going to do
about these fellows?" asked Britt.
"Oh, don't you bother about them"
said Sands. II guess can take care |
of them"
81 guess you'll guess again. said |
Britt, for II anybody Is going to take
care of these gentlemen, behold in
me the only original little caretaker."
Britt turned to the Hindoos.
Nov. then, you dusky beauties,
suppose you come along with me-"
Going to carry them?" asked Sands,
Britt blushed; yes, Britt fairly and
squarely blushed. In his momentary
evaporation at the millionaire's stub
bornness he had forgotten that not
only the hands, but also the feet of |
the Orientals were bound. However. |
he was not to be disconnected, and II |
was with sufficient readiness that he
replied:
You don't suppose take my pris
oners through the streets like a mem
Der of the Trahlc Squad, do you'll
Where's your telephone"
Sands indicated the instrument and
Britt took it up and called for 300
Spring
Headquarters" he asked over the
wire. Yes, this is Britt Have a wagon
sent from the West Thirtieth Street
Station to the st. Barnabas Apartment
house. No don't send the reserves;
just sent a couple of men. Good-by.-
AS he rang of, he turned and faced
his host
Mr. Sands" said he, there are
one or two points about which | would
like to talk to you this evening.
came to you ankly and directly be-
cause / found one of your cards in
the possession of a man who. while
mentally unbalanced, knows some
thing about the fake Maharanee dia.
mond After arriving here, had the
to serve you in the way
of protecting your property. And l
wasted no time in meeting with you
You see fit to ignore my efforts in that
although may say that if II
had not been for re these second.
story specialists would have been up
or down the fire escape and many
blocks away long before you could
have caught them. do not mind tell
Ing you. Mr.. Sands, that even though
you we're center rush at Harvard yo1
are not quick enough for Contra 0.Ica
men. And now, when you md 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 its contents-Fd take your word
for it-you stun 1t into your pocket :
and tell me to go to blazes. Moreover
when ask you what disposition you
want made Of these burglars, you al
most tell me it's none Of my bust