The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-02-16

the other fellow was undoubtedly win
ming out. He always plays the game"
We'll, maybe he does" said Britt;
but, from what I've observed in my
Journey through life, this love game
IS one that is played without any
rules. I've known men who would take
a million If 1t were handed to them on
q platter, yet who'd go pretty close to
a mix-up with the Grand Jury to cut
out fellow who was after the same
girl"
You talk as II your experience in
the heart line were all secondhand"
said Fitch. smiling.
Never been in love in my life and
never expect to be-" said Britt. but
| have eyes In my head and ears be-
hind them. l also know what women
can do to mans common sense even
when they don't know they're doing
it. The lady who gets the loot isn't
always party to the crime"
Well" responded Fitch, II won't
undertake to pit my experience
against yours; but there's nothing of
that sort in this case. Sands loves
Mrs. Missioner about as much as q
man can. He was fond Of her before her
marriage, and most Of US thought he'd
win her then. don't know why he
didn't, but l do know that from the
day he learned Of her husbands
DEATH he had been twice "a attentive
to her as before, and even in the days
when she was the star bud Of Auntie
Paran's beauty show, his fondness for
iher was pretty noticeable. l remem-
Der particularly one Patriarchs' Ball
when he grabbed every dance on her
card and got her to sit out most OF
them"
But he knows Griswold Is trying
to win her, too" said Britz, "and If he
has any reason to think the other fel.
low has a good chance he might be
tempted to put him down and out,
even If he had to 60 to such lengths
as taking the Missioner diamonds, and
then throwing suspicion on Girls
wold?"
Britt raised his glass and drank
slowly, meditatively, until the ice
chilled his nose. Then he sat the
tumbler firmly down on the bar, faced
Fitch, and said with an air OF finality:
III that's the case. Griswold's tn
man! He may have had assistance
from Blodgett, but doubt 1t. He''
too foxy to trust his neck to serv
ant. As for Ali, l thought he nigh
have turned the trick, but he didn't
because II he had, he and all the res
Of that Calcutta bunch would be vel
on their way toward their heather
temples by this time. There is nov
only Mr.. Curtis Grlswold to consider.
Fitch looked at him with q per
picked air.
what causes you to suspect him?'
he asked.
1--WE had my eyes on that young
man for some time," Britt said
There were two or three things con
nected with the arrest Of Miss Hol
comb that didn't please me little bit
I didn't like the satisfaction he show
ed when suspicion was directed to
ward her."
Did he seem pleased?" inquired
Fitch.
more than pleased-he seemed re-
lieved," answered the detective
Maybe Donnelly and Carson did
some real work, after all, without
knowing 1t. If they hadn't arrested
Miss Holcomb, Griswold mightn't have
shown his hand SO easily"
"Have you any other evidence?
asked the doctor. He appeared to be
gratified by the trend Of the detect
ives thoughts.
Several things" said Britt. zone
of our Wall Street men tells me half
a dozen inquiries about Griswold have
been sent to the financial agencies
lately. had that end worked up, and
! I found out Griswold had been bump
ed by bear raid"
Hurt much?"
Pretty badly. He tried hard to
sell q block Of suburban real estate
soon after that"
These things are only straws, how
ever" said the doctor. "Of course.
we'll have to have much more sub
stantial evidence before We can do
anything"
well, for ono thing" returned
Britz, Il expect to know in . few
hours just where the diamonds are.
At any rate. how they were taken out
Of the city. II they are not in New
York. I've got a hundred men work.
Ing the hotels to find out, and If you'll
come down to Headquarters with me
IN q little while you can see the 70
suit"
The detective stopped short in his
words as Curtis Gr:swold entered tho
bar. The clubman went to the cigar
counter, lighted cigarette. and BY
the impatient gesture with which he
snatched 1t from his lips and threw
It to the floor. he betrayed the fact
a. ~ nod onnliod tho fame IN tina