Marble Hill press. (Marbel [sic] Hill, Mo.) 1881-1923, 1912-01-18
CHAPTER xxlI.-(contlnued.)

TIC head on the Hindoos." cried
eritz Let's get a cab" But the
last taxicab on the Renaissance stand
Tad been chartered an hour before
by a swarthy man who seemed 10 be
In great haste. That much Britt
sarned from the inspector in charge
81 the stand. Britt and Fitch round
81 the corner OF tie hotel Close to
the curb stood private coupe. The
coachman doubtless on long walt.
vas nodding sleeplly. BritI jerked
open door o: the carriage.
Jump in, quick" he cried. and
Fitch, who long ago had learned to
larry out Britt suggestions without
stopping to ask questions. sprang into
.he cab. Britt slammed the door with
9 violence that awoke the coachman.
Before the driver could utter word
of protest the athletic detective
reached the box beside him In O single
leap, pushed him OF with a shove
that landed the amazed jehu on his
hands and knees on the sidewalk,
seized the reins. snatched the whip.
and put the horse to a gallon. AS he
sped away, he hastily changed the
whip TO the hand that held the rib.
eons, and. whipping from his pocket
q card that read. "Detective-Lieuten
ant Britt. Police Headquarters" he
aung It at the PROSTATE coachman
with the words: Call there tomor
row for your rig"
Then, with the horse straining al
the traces in indignant surprise, Britt
srove at breakneck speed down the
avenue, turning sharply at the frs
convenient corner and heading cas-
toward the mysterious brown-stont
dwelling wherein he had held his In
teresting interview In regard to thu
ways OF the Orient with the Eastern
cage.
The galloping horse and the sway
ing carriage shook the echoes Of th'
client streets, and at several avenue
crossings trafic policemen started tt
malt the Central once man. But fl
each instance the detective shouted
I'm Britt, of Headquarters! anC
hat averted interruption as he dashet
on toward the Swami's house at toI
speed. Arriving there. he hastil,
handed the ribbons to a patrolmaI
who CHANGED to be at that end of thu
beat, and, followed closely by Fitch
he ran up the steps and pushed thu
button OF the elecric bell. Inside tn,
house. the burr-rr OF the little gont
sounded piercingly. Britx and Fitcl
listened lmpatiently at the outer doc
II the vestibule for responsive steps
but none came. Then the detective
recalled the thickness OF the rugs ant
carpets In the house. and did not q
once conclude no one was within
Until he had rung the bell severa
lines In vain he did not accept tn
tact that the house either was unter
snted, or was occupied by person
who did not see At to answer. A wor
b. the bluecoat on the sidewalk. az
oompanied by flash Of shield Of
the detectives waistcoat, had tot
aim the visit was q matter OF polio
business. Then Britt ran down tn
steps and tried the basement door
The detective was equally unsuccesi
tul in his demands to obtain RI
Spouse to his ring of the lower bel
He ran up the steps again and ono
more pushed the button OF the elet
trio call. No answer come. Brit
turned the handle of the door. To hi
astonishmsnt. It turned freely, an
At o gentle push the door swung In
ward. The inner door OF the vestibul
was ajar. Britt and Fitch entere
cautiously. Their feet fell silently o.
the heavy Oriental rug. They foun
themselves In complete darkness
The glimmer from the street lamp di
sot penetrate more than foot or. tw
beyond the inner door. Britz whiske
2ut bis electric torch and turned II
miniature headlight on the passag
and on the area leading to the uppe
cart Of the house.
-fiello,- he called is anybod
4n,-
Silence o. heavy end oppressive q
-. Anxrnnas hnrorA shs radiance a