The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-02-07
CHAPTER XIV
erItz Shows His Hand.

A-H 9Tltz SnoWb tbs fIaNus
Following the talk between Britz
and Manning in the office of the chief
Of detectives, the lieutenant hastened
to his own room, where Fitch was
awaiting him. He excused himself to
the physician and entered a telephone
booth at tho far end Of his office in
which he was accustomed to conduct
his more private wire conversations.
Through the glass OF the silence parti-
ton, Fitch saw the detectives eyes
sparkle as he listened to what the
man at the other end Of the wire was
saying. While Britt still was talking,
Manning came in. glanced inquiringly
at the doctor, and settled himself in
n big chair as II for a further and
more protracted interview with his
able lieutenant
"How does II look to you, doctor,
now7" said the Chief Of Fitch, eyeing
him closely meanwhile.
ut looked for awhile as II we had
run into hornets nest" Fitch an
Bwered.
pretty exciting experience you had
uptown. eh?" The Chief laughed.
"Well. just little" said the doctor.
zone doesn't expect to encounter a
cobra in well.regulated brown
stone front"
Think the hunt is getting any
eloser7"
"Britz seems to think so. His opin-
ion carries weight with me-"
catch the thief, them" asked the
Chief.
"Thief, OF thieves" said the medical
man quietly. 81 am convinced he will
run them down soon or late. II they're
anywhere on the face OF the earth"
THANK you. DOCTOR" Britz inter
rupted, coming out OF the booth.
your confidence is not misplaced.
The thieves are as good as caught
now
Manning looked up with an air of
surprise.
--. -,tYes.r continued Britt, addressing
his chief, ."I've Just been talking to
Gordon. ~ Had him out all day on a
special trail Turns out to be the right
lead. We Know where the second
batch of thieves can be found after
the next hour or So"
where are they" asked Manning
eagerly. "',
'T'll take you 70 them. Chief" Britz
replied. "It yci don't mind. III ask.
you to wait l''tle while until can
fdo so. Meanvl lie. let's gather up the
loose ends" @ Ntt .
il DO you mean you have solved the
Missioner mystery!" Fitch inquired.
trembling slightly as he reflected
what the answer might mean to the
woman OF bis heart.
There isn't any mystery now"
Britt responded lcheerily. There
hasn't beenyany in my mind for sew
eral hours" ac uo.t
Lets have IT," OK laimed the Chief
impatiently.
Just for an instant Britz stiffened
under his excellently controlled ex.
terior. He believed in discipline. He
was known favorably TO his superiors
from the commissioner down for the
obedience and respect he always
showed them. But there lurked be.
meath his departmental sense of duty
the independence of man who felt
he could always stand on his own two
feet. and that he could work alone, II
need be, to accomplish the most diff
cult task. His impulse of revolt last
ed scarce a seconds space, however,
and with a military salute that per-
haps was meant to remind him of
Manning's rank, he slid into his re-
volving chair and looked intently at
first one and then the other Of the
men, who waited tensely for his
words.
h THE men Gordon has run down."
said the lieutenant, "were the hardest
to catch. | call them the second
batch Of thieves because they are the
fellows who stole Mrs. Missioner's
Jewels long after the stones were
stolen from her"
"And who may they beH" Manning
persisted. .N
They are the dark men--the Hin
doos whose connection with the case
complicated II much more than was
comfortable, and who gave further
proof OF their inconsiderate disposi-
,tions by making the doctor here and
me 50 uncomfortable just before wo
came back to Headquarters"
"You mean they are the men who
robbed Mrs Missioner of her jewels?"
"No, the men who stole Mrs. Mis-
sioner's jewels after she was robbed
OF them"
"They robbed the thieves. thenY"
mot thieves thief" said Britz.
"rhere was only one artist in the
FIRST Job"
whats his namef" the Chief ques-
toned again.
"His name2" returned the detec-
tive nonchalantly. "oh, i haven't
said It was a he" u
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