The Elbert County tribune., 1912-01-26

shall never hear your name again
unless 1t be under circumstances that
will give me further opportunity to
revenge myself upon you!"
Silence followed the theatrical out.
burst OF the woman. Griswold stood
with clasped hands, his eyes on the
floor Mrs. Missioner. her eyes reso-
lutely averted from his crouching
form. gazed at Britz expectantly
Elinor. her fine womanhood athrill
with sympathy in spite OF her weeks
of suffering keeniy because OF
It, perhaps-sought to soothe the agi-
tation OF Mrs. Delaroche. who was
close to collapse. Fitch. too, strove
to calm the woman. As a man he
pitied her; as a physician, he felt
some alarm for her because of the
great excitement to which she had
wrought herself-excitement plainly
beyond the endurance of her emo.
tional nature. A feeling akin to In
dignation stirred him when, glancing
toward Britz, he saw sarcastic smile
on the detectives face. His hands
in his pockets. he was rocking gently
on his heels, and watching Mrs. Della
roche as one would concentrate his
vision on a great tragedienne near
the grand finale Of her performance.
"Bravoi" said the lieutenant de-
tective at last. "Bravissimo, Mrs.
Delarochel If 1t were not for detain-
ing our good friends. I'd insist upon
an encore. Really. you know, you're
entitled to any number OF curtain
calls for that"
The heroine Of the Renaissance
burglary flashed furious eyes upon
him. Fitch, despite all he knew Britz
had done for Elinor. could not con-
ceal his anger. Even Miss Holcomb
was indignant. Mrs. Missioner and
Sands looked at the detective expect
antly. Manning's face was impassive
He was prepared for any surprise
from his shrewd lieutenant.
You behold in Mrs. Delaroche," !"
said Britz. including everybody In a
sweep Of his hand, "one of the most
talented actresses in America. True,
she isn't on the stage. but that's only
because the managers haven't discov-
cred her. II any of the big managers
saw such an example Of her art as
this. he'd engage her on the spot"
''I don't understand you, Mr.. Britz." !"
said Mrs. Missioner inquiringiy.
Mrs. Delaroche understands me,
Mrs. Missioner" returned the sleuth
She knows exactly what I mean.
Don't YOU, Mrs. Delaroche?"
coIH he =
Renaissance SO sharply the word was
like. poniard thrust.
Nor" retorted the detective. How
truly unfortunatel Surely you are
mistaken. madam; surely you recall
what happened in Paris? It can't be
you've forgotten how you obtained
possession of the Missioner necklace
tho one with the Maharanee dia-
mond. you known
She clung to silence as to a rock
Of refuge. Britt, still rocking lightly
on his heels. raised finger warning
ly and looked at her with that same
sarcastic smile.
you know as we'll as I do. Mrs.
Delaroche." he went on, that Curtis
Griswold didn't steal the Maharanes
necklace. Whatever other crimes are
upon him. he is guiltless of that-in
act. at any rate"
The woman kept her eyes on the
floor, her face partly turned away.
All the others stared at Britz in
amazement. not excepting the Chief
Of the Detective Bureau.
Lets run through the pages of
history. Mrs. Delaroche." continued
the lieutenant. Personal history. of
course-the history of clever little
Miss Vincent. one of the brightest
young women in Paris. You remem-
ber her when she was an art student
there. getting along as well as she
could on New England income in
the Latin Quarter. bright, clever
little girl she was, to be sure. and II
was too bad she had such a hard
struggle to realize her artistic
dreamsi"
All his hearers listened attentively
Mrs. Delaroche, in spite of resolute
efforts to appear Indifferent, full as
faithfully as the others.
Prince Kananda moved forward I'M
til he stood within several feet of
Mrs. Delaroche. She turned her head
slightly and saw him. A glance of
mutual recognition passed between
them, but SO quickly that It was un-
observed by the others. The Prince
eyed her steadily, with malignant
gaze, as of man who has been
tricked. A wild fear leaped into her
eyes and she moved tway. edging
closer to Britz.
1T isn't to be wondered at" said
Britz sympatheticary, when you re-
call the many hardships Miss Vim
cent endured-when you remember
on how many moi~,ings she had to
trudge to her copying work in the
Louvre without even the poor con-
ISOLATION OF a French breakfast. that
she permitted yong Hindoo gentle