Graham guardian., 1912-01-12

mander. he could not long keep ther
In cells. They were entitled to /,
speedy examination before the magii
trate. and he was certain that unles
their failure to report to the Swan
should alarm that gentleman sooner
steps would be taken In the morninl
to have the prisoners produced Il
court. They were sure to be arraign
ed In Jefferson Market at next day
afternoon session, II not earlier. Brit
felt that. once In their presence. tn
Swami. though he might be separated
from them by the length Of the room
would nnd means to learn all the.
knew. to the last microscopic detail.
He must flnd Millicent that night
That done. he had, little doubt h,
would be close to the Missioner Jew
els. and probably to the person WHIT
had taken them from their snug har
Dor in Mrs. Missioner's library.
'T'll send for the copies. Burlen.
Britz said, as he slipped from thu
stool and started to the door, "but
don't let the original leave your hands
until l call for 1t myself"
The detective was SO absorbed In
his thoughts as he walked down flight
after flight of the dark stairs that he
did not see a pair Of eyes cleaning
from one Of the lower halls. Those
eyes were as black as the darkness
that formed their background, and the
Headquarters man would have been
even more than ordinarily on the alert
II he had seen them glistening in the
remote recess. AS the detective passed
on toward the street, the eyes ad-
vanced along the dusk of the hall, and
In the faint glow Of a lowered gas-jet
at the foot OF one Of the higher flights
Of stairs. there became visible behind
them q man who. In most respects.
was counterpart OF the two Orientals
at that moment detained in the West
Thirtieth Street Station. The owner
of the eyes. while Britz walked down
stairs. as quickly and far more quietly
went up.
Britx turned his steps toward 300
Mulberry Street. In his own ofice,
after q glance into Manning's room
that showed him It was empty, he call
ed DR.. Fitch on the telephone and
made an appointment to meet him in
two hours in the bar Of the Holland
House.
tits one Of the Quietest places in
Manhattan" said the detective. "and
! want to talk to you very privately.
They are not likely to know me
there"
Britx pushed button. and when a
Headquarters attendant appeared,
sent him for the Central Office man.
whom, next to himself. he trusted
most.
Send down to Burlen's place in an
hour and q half. Rawson." said Britz
to the other detective Hell have q
facsimiles of letter signed
Millicent. Have as many men as pos
sible get busy among the hotels.
want to trace the woman who wrote
that signature. They will have to look
every register for year past.
It's got to be done thoroughly. and I
want 1t done quickly. Here. I'll give
you list" and he hastily scribbled
the names of half-hundred hostelries
Of a class such as he thought the fair
Millicent might patronize.
What time viii see your" asked
Rawson.
III I'm not back In three hours. I'll
call you up" said the detective.
Then. having arrived at a pause In
the pursuit Of the jewels. he hastened
10 a Turkish bath. where, being lit
tie weary from much metropolitan
and muscle-b bound from loss
of sleep. he had himself baked, steam
ed, chilled. kneaded. and pounded into
shape.
The great detectives Indulgence in
that luxury all unknowingly gave to
the other side an advantage In the
r9ce for the Missioner jewels that well
might prove fatal to his success. Long
before Britz reached the hot-air room
Of the bath, the man with the glisten.
Ing eyes who had passed him In the
hall Of the tumble-down loft building
was at the door of Burdens workshop.
the angle Of his vision to fol-
low the photo-engraver at work. Those
eyes forcused their gaze
through the keyhole on piece of pa
per which Burlen had fastened with
to board, and which, in
the glare Of an arc lamp, confronted a
big camera with q powerful lens. Al
though the eyes followed Burlen as
well as they could about the room.
their owner was not so much interest
ed in the artisans activity as he was
IN; the small white sheet of paper on
which he could discern lines traced In
\ woman's hand. Patiently waited the
owner of the eyes. He was of a race
hat had cultivated patience through
he centuries. Soon or late, undoubt-
sdly. the man inside would 60 from
he bench beside that great white
light to another part Of the room. A
lew yards would sufflce for the man
with the eyes. and even while Britz
,till was talking to Rawson In Police
Headquarters. Burlen briskly covered
hose dozen or 30 feet to get chem
cal In the row of bottles in the rack
It the far end OF the shop. The man
outside, crouching until he was little
higher than an upreared cobra Of his