Semi-weekly herald., 1912-01-15

Then he walked to the door giving
on the corridor, turned the handle
cautiously thrust his head through n
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 a 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 a minute, for she had
no desire to hazard shot from that
terrible thing the burglar had pressed
against her brow. Then her courage
oozed back, and she bounded to the
floor. screaming with all her might.
pausing only long enough to snatch
a peisnoir and throw II abo.it her
shoulders ere she pulled open the out
Ell door of her suite and sent her
shrieks shrilling down the long hall.
Her cries. for she was magnificentIy
constructed animal of most expansiye
lung power, not only echoed far alcng
sound-proof doors Of the other apart
ments. The disturbance she made
was alarmingly novel to the exclusive
calm of the Hotel Renaissance. Doors
we're 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 intelIi-
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 fire OF
gasping sobs, half dozen pajamaed
specters We're 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 a corner of the hall
many yards In advance of his pursu-
ers, he was tripped by foot adroitly
interpolated In his path and when he
recovered his breath after a jarring
fall, 1t was to find two men of sturdy
build sitting upon him as composedly
as If nature had planned him for a
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 we're snapped
upon his wrists. Then he was dragged
to his feet by four insistent arms and
impelled with much vigor along tho
hallway in the reverse direction to
that which he had followed.
Unmistakable was the rejoicing of
the pajama 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 bombarde ed
him with questions. All Of which tho
prisoner met with sullen silence and
with looks that made the squad re.
sreat pace or two in spite Of the
firmness with which his captors held
him. Mrs. Delaroches fading screams
01rf dad ha
ment, where the hands of ministertng
angels had adjusted her peignoir to its
normal position upon her Junoesque
form and fastened Its huttering RIB
bons in becoming bows. She there re-
ceived the heroes OF the man hunt
with astonishing composure.
rs this the man who robbed you,
madam" asked one OF the men who
had caught the burglar He was the
house detective. Stand behind him.
Jim" he said to his colleague, a por-
ter with the fullback's shoulders.
1T must be-" said Mrs. Delaroche.
but cannot tell by his face. did
not see 1t. It 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
would drag word from the captive.
He maintained his sullen silence. al
though 1t might be said he broke 1t In
way. for the furious looks he cast
at the pajama squad we're almost audi
Bile. Those looks caused several OF
the squads doughty heroes suddenly
to realize the upconventionalfty OF
their attire, and to send them precip-
itously in search of dressing gowns.
One or two Of them remained. how
ever. and the house detective. who. in
hotels as frostily patrician as the
Renaissance. did not often have an
opportunity to hold the center OF the
stage. was fairly well content with
his audience.
Nov. then, you!" he said. brusque-
ly addressing the prisoner. speak up.
What were you doing here?"
He got my jewels!" cried Mrs. Del
aroche.