Graham guardian., 1912-01-26
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l always III BuCu pOSltIOn I0At NO IaluC-
est CLEAN fell upon himself. Not for
a moment, however. did he slacken
his alertness suficiently for Mrs. Del.
aroche to have good chance to get
to the inner room. He pretended to
search thoroughly several places
where money or jewels might be
kept. but, even to q woman of her
slow wit. It was apparent he did SO
In half-heartsd way. Millicent felt
assured the man knew Just what he
had taken from beneath her pillow,
and that he was satisfied with It. He
showed that to be true when he gave
up the pretended search without 80
much an trying the handle of small
safe In far corner of the room. Re-
turning to the bedside. he renewed his
warning, throwing so much savage
meaning into his words that Mrs. Del
aroche was certain there was no pre-
tense about that.
Then he walked to the door giving
ON the corridor. turned the handle
cautiously, thrust his head through a
second opening. and looked up and
down the hall. Evidently treasured,
he opened the door. stepped outside.
and closed It swiftly and silently.
There was not sound to indicate
whether he had gone along the corri-
dor. or still stood Just outside the
door. Mrs. Delaroche waited, listen
Ing intently In the hope Of hearing his
footsteps. but she listened vainly. She
waited perhaps minute. for she had
no desire to hazard a shot from that
terrible thing the burglar had pressed
against her brow. Then her courage
oozed back. and she bounded to the
fioor, screaming with all her might.
pausing only long enough to snatch
peignoir and throw It about her
shoulders ere she pulled open the out
er door Of her suite and sent her
shrieks shrilling down the long hall.
Her cries. for she was magnifcently
constructed animal of most expansive
lung power, not only echoed far along
the corridor, but penetrated even the
sound-proof doors Of the other apart
ments. The disturbance she made
was alarmingly novel to the exclusive
calm of the Hotel Renaissance. Doors
were flung open. heads popped out.
and dozen inquiries were flung at
her from as many parts Of the hall;
but Mrs. Delaroche had exhausted her
conference In framing that one pur.
pose Of screaming with all her might
until some man Of action should speed
to her assistance. She did not waste
any strength In articulation. she sim
ply screamed, and so eloquent were
her shrieks that although she uttered
no concrete word, only few Of them
were needed to tell the more intelli-
gent Of her auditors that she had been
robbed, and that what she had lost
was Of priceless value to her.
Before the fusillade OF her cries
died away in scattering nre Of
gasping sobs. half dozen pajamaed
specters were racing down the corri.
dor in the direction they deemed the
burglar had taken. What account
they would have given of themselves
had they come up with the fugitive is
conjectural. They were spared the
disagreeable necessity of submitting
their courage to that test, for as the
burglar turned corner Of the hall
many yards In advance Of his pursu.
ers. he was tripped by q foot adroitly
interpolated In his path, and when he
recovered his breath after jarring
fall, 1t was to find two men Of sturdy
build sitting upon him as composedly
~ II nature had planned him for
conversation chair. The pistol he had
carried In his hands throughout the
pursuit was snatched from his grasp,
and although he struggled furiously.
his arms were dragged behind his
back and handouts were snapped
upon his wrists. Then he was dragged
to his feet by four insistent arms and
impelled with much vigor along the
hallway In the reverse direction to
that which he had followed.
Unmistakable was the, rejoicing Of
the pajsma squad at the sight Of his
captivity. Undeniably heroic was its
surge toward him. Faces grim with
postscript bravery were thrust into
the prisoners. and voices raging from
mockery to indignation bombarded
him with questions. All OF which the
prisoner met with sullen silence and
with looks that made the squad re-
treat q pace or two IN spite Of the
firmness with which his captors held
him. Mrs. Uelaroche's fading screams
guided the little group to her apart.
ment. where the hands of ministering
angels had adjusted her peignoir to its
normal position upon her Junoesque
form and fastened It's futtering rib
bons In becoming bows. She there re-
ceived the heroes Of the man hunt
with astonishing composure.
"Ts this the man who robbed you,
madam?" asked one of the men who
had caught tho burglar. He was the
house detective. Stand behind him,
Jim." he said to his colleague. por.
ter with the fullback's shoulders.
1T must be-" said Mrs. Delaroche.
but I cannot tell by his face. did
not see 1t. 1t looks like the man.
though. Make him speak"
But that task was beyond the house
detectives powers. irresponsible
though his mind might be as COM
pared with the city's sleuth's and blue
coats. he hardly felt justified In en-
ploying the most medieval forms of
torture to accomplish that purpose.
Seemingly, nothing short.of the boot.
the thumbscrew and the Iron Maiden