The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-03-08

slightly in advance, walked quickly
along the hall to the door at the rear,
where Britz parted the portieres and
looked into the big room in which he
had interviewed the Eastern scholar.
Its appearance was much the same as
it had been en- his preceding visit,
save that as his practiced eye dWelt
more persistently upon 1t, he noted
the disappearance of many small arti,
Giles, particularly porphyry Buddha
that had sat within little shrine
upon the wall. The apartment had the
seeming Of having been subjected to
surface stripping by persons about to
leave it in a hurry. Few of the sol
emn books that had been scattered
about the room remained. Among the
Oriental objects still in the room was
the narghileh from which the sage
was fond of drawing a smokers con.
ISOLATION.
Gone, eh?' said Fitch, In an IN
dertone.
Britt nodded.
Think We had better look up.
stairs?' asked the doctor.
With another swift nod the detec-
1--WE turned on his heel and led the
way from floor to floor until they
reached the top of the house. They
glanced into every room and explored
the larger apartments thoroughly. All
were empty. Here and there they
found evidences of hasty packing. In
various rooms We're queer jumblcs OF
the East and West-linen collars with
single hairline stripes Ut delicate tints
lay beside Oriental scraps Of mani
fest fneness. On one rack hung a
Derby hat, on another a turban like
that worn by the Swami, and like the
kerchief Britt had found on the fire
escape Of the Hotel Renaissance. One
of the most Interesting finds was a
scimitar with a jeweled hilt and a
blade of wonderful keenness. Britz
drew it from it's scabbard and was
about to feel the edge when Fitch
stopped him with a swift gesture.
Don't touch it, lieutenant" said the
doctor. "One never knows what
criminal tricks these beggars play
with their weapons"
AS the detective looked at him in
quiringly, he added:
"A sword or dagger is as likely to
be poisoned as not. In fact, they pre-
fer poisons to straight fighting"
Convinced there was no one in the
upper part of the house, the two men
descended to the main floor and re-
| entered the reception room at the
rear.
"This was their den," said Britt ex-
planatory, as he began closer search
of the room. 1--WE may find trace OF
them in some of their papers. It's
worth a few minutes to make hunt.
Get busy, doc!" And the detective
rummaged through drawer after draw
err, Fitch following his example. They
found many unusual articles. but
nothing that gave an inkling of the di.
rection Of the Hindoos' flight--for it
was certain the Orientals had depart.
ed hastily. having gained their object
in getting possession Of the Missioner
necklace. Britt had no smallest doubt
the Fasteners had anticipated him
In the burglary of Mrs. Delaroche's
apartments He did not believe any
of the low-caste Hindoos would have
been skilfnl enough to get into the
woman's rooms, so near the top Of the
building. In his opinion, the gems had
been filched from Millicent's pillow
by either the Swami or the Prince
1t was typical Of the clever cunning
of the high-caste Orientals to take
only the Jewels and leave the casket
under the pillow, so that Mrs. Della
roche should not miss the stones un
til the last moment possible. They
must have picked the lock.
Britt had ended his exploration OF
the last table drawer, and was turning
to a lacquered desk, when Fitch, with
a cry Of unmistakable alarm, gripped
his wrist and dragged him toward the
diyan, and with a bound stood upon
it's yielding surface.
Jump up, qufck!" said the doctor
plucking at the detectives arm as he
spoke,
Britt had experienced too many
emergencies in his career 10 waste
time in qunestions. When anyone Of
whose friendliness he felt sure told
him to jump, run, or duck, obedience
to the command was his first instinct
time enough for explanation after
ward. He leaped to the springy sofa
beside the physician, and turned t
find the doctors arm stretched tense
ly, ending in a quivering forefngel
that pointed at something moving
across the space between the divar
and door. Even as the two looked a
It, the motion of the creature ceased
and two beady eyes were turned II
their direction. Fitch dragged ths
| detective to the other end of the soft
and began climbing to the top of
tall chiftonier that stood against TIN
wall. Britt needed no further wore
from his friend. The physician''
haste was sufficient indication tina