The Huttig news., 1912-06-08

tion happened to be in the box next to Mrs. Missioner at the Metropolitan Opera House on the night when the necklace turned out to be fake. He then learned that the original dia- monds were not in the widows keep ing any longer
 "Griswold also was in the Mission. CT box that night, as you know. and he must have noticed the Oriental who butted in during the search for the diamonds
 Britz paused little, and then re sumed:
 These Hindoos worked about as fast as l did. They must have made up their minds pretty early in the game that Miss Holcomb knew noth. ing about the necklace, and. of course nobody would be foolish enough to suspect little Miss March. Our dark friends from the East concentrated their attention on Griswold and Sands. For long time, Ali had been in Mrs. Missioner's employ. He wasn't. however. Mrs Missioner's em ploye In the true sense of the word He was there as one of the subor dinates of this Swami chap. along with the other Oriental fellows. one nf whom calls himself Prince Kanap. da Tn fact, Ali was on the job from the day he became member of Mrs Missioners household. He was sent there for the precise purpose of pip ing of the place. and either getting the big diamond himself. or tipping the Swami and all the rest of them when tt would be safe for them to make a try. It stands to reason Mrs Missioner watched her jewels pretty closely, and that her safe was jim dandy. since that necklace in all those long months could not be lifted by the Hindoo servant He would have been perfectly willing to throt tie her in order to get 1t had he felt reasonably sure Of 8 getaway as easily after a murder as after rob bery."
 You must have been reading about III Baba and the Forty Thieves Britz,'' said Manning with another harsh laugh. This sounds: altogeth- CT too much like the Arabian Nights to be the goods
 Well, there weren't AS many as forty of the thieves. and the Ali in this case wasn't an honest man. I'm giving 1t to you straight, Chief. haven't worked day and night on this proposition for nothing You'll find 1t just as I'm telling it to you. and If you'll suspend judgment until I get through. I'll deliver the goods all right"
 T think. remarked Fitch to Man. ming. we shall find that Lieutenant Britz comes pretty near knowing what he is talking about. I've seen him work on this case. and I know something of the facts he has dis. covered. If you have ever studied the ways of Orientals you'll be sur prised at nothing they do. They look at life from altogether a different angle. Life Is about the cheapest thing in life to them
 Very good" said Manning. "I'm willing to be convinced, but 1t seems hard to believe that woman worth a hundred millions could live for months with death hanging overt her head in her own household. andt yet know nothing about It. Whats the use of being a multi-millionaire If you're no safer than in an eighbeen. dollar flat? For my part, don't take much stock in your Hindoos"
 You'll take a lot of stock In them before the morning Is over, Chief. If you stay with us Britz retorted I'm going to show you not only the Hin. doos In the act of attempting to get away, but I'll turn mp the goods in their possession. They have the dia- mond now, but I'll have both them and the diamond in a very few hours."
 II believe you" Fitch chimed in You see. Chief" he explained to Manning, this lieutenant of yours has made the capture of the Hindoos more or less of personal matter"
 choppy laugh from the detective interrupted the physician.
 Yes" he agreed, q don't mind tell  ing you that I'm almost as eager to get those fellows as I am to recover the widows jewels. They got just a little bit too gay with me for their own good" He flushed slightly as he recalled how utterly he had been at the mercy of the Hindoos when he lay like holiday turkey on the floor of that bare room Tn the unoccupied uptown apartment.
 The Hindnos,' said Britz. went through the apartments of Sands and GSiswold with what Sam Weller would call a double million magnify ing microscope. They didn't leave a postage stamp unsearched They looked Into every hole and corner. ransacked every drawer, and turned every place inside out I caught 'em at 1.-two of them, anyway-in Sands room. and they're now in the West Thirtieth Street Station. They must have gone through Griswold's apartment first, for 1t was there. guess, they found this note from Mil licent to Curtis dear, and 1t was this note that gave me line on how h I