The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-01-30
MIRROR TUESDAY JANUARY -sw-s

tooth comb look like a garden rake.
There could not have remained any
thing-any nook or corner, any crack
or creyice, not anything larger than
bacillus which they happened to
covet. II an article no bigger than
pinhead had been the object of their
hunt, their untiring scrutiny would
have brought Il to light Yet so deftly
had they searched that, granting them
minutes respite, they could have left
the room without any traces Of their
activity
Their search seemed fruitless until
they arrived at desk under a hang
ing incandescent lamp, at which Britt
assumed Sands was In the habit of
writing his more personal letters.
From one of the pigeon.holes, one of
the intruders drew something that
cracked slightly as the man stuffed it
into the folds OF his tunic. From
neighboring compartment of the desk,
the second stranger drew another find,
which he in turn hastily hid in the
same way. With lightning rapidity,
they went through every part of the
desk. In that same instant Britz felt
rather than heard footstep behind
him, and, Jerking glance over his
shoulders, saw Sands advancing upon
him angrily. With a quick uplift of
his hand, the detective stopped the
millionaire in his tracks, and then
drar, btp, o,,totA, 4nuyord Al. ,,ortiora,
and mouoned for him 10 look through
the hole in the leather Sands bent a
little, and then glanced wonderingly
into the bedroom He raised a face
of astonished inquiry to Britt. He was
answered by another silenclng ges-
ture from the sleuth. He looked once
more through the tiny hole Just in
time to see the Hlndoos straighten
themselves from their crouchlng at.
titude over the desk and turn toward
the window. His hand thrust itself
into his coat pocket, he slipped into
the opening in the portieres with a
single stride, and, leveling an auto
matte pistol that looked more like a
block Of steel than anything else. he
cried: Hands up"
The men did not turn; instead. they
leaped for the window, followed by
Britz and Sands. Quick as they were,
they were not quick enough for the
Headquarters man. Launching his
wiry form as tiger springs, Britz,
pistol in hand, hurled himself between
the foremost Indian and the open win
dow and seized him in his strong
grasp. Sands, almost as rapid in his
movements in spite of his bulk, flung
a powerful arm about the throat OF
the other intruder. and with his other
hand closed the window with a crash
Britz and Sands dragged their pris
oners to the other side Of the room
and forced them down upon couch
Then the sleuth, slipping his pisto
! back into his pocket, seized the Indian
Sands was holding by the throat, and
| more as an order than a request, ask
ed the millionaire to bind the cap
tives. .t t
II think ] recognize you, my deai
young friends" he. said. You are
two of the dark jugglers who had fur
with me in Central Park and River
side Drive last evening think IT.!
about time for me to return the com
pliment with a merry little Jest of my
own" Turning his head to the mil
lionaire, he said again: III you have
any silk handkerchiefs to spare, Mr.
Sands. .eplease use them as hRpdcnffs
These gsntlenie't are sceustohed L
silk, and j woe.d not like to use any
thing cheaper on them than they usec
on me. / suppose If we trussed then
up with cotton or hemp, they'd die o.
modification"
The detectives sarcasm was los
on Sands until he thought to recount
In few brief words his abduction IL
the park and the struggle for life tha
had followed 1t. It was evident that
in spite Of the detectives coolness. he
had some feeling on the subject IL
fact, his manner toward the now COW
ering Hindoos was more or less re
vengeful Sands fell In with the hu
NOR of the situation. and in a very
few minutes the Fasteners were
bound with silk handkerchiefs as soft
yet strong, as any scarf they coulC
have produced in the bazaars of Cal
cutta or Cawnpore. When the tasl
was done, and 1t was done pretty neat
ly. Britz relaxed his hold on the half
struggling mems throats and pushed
them against the back OF the sofa un
I'll they half-sat, half-lay there, heaC
to head. Then he stepped back. rest
ed his hands on his hips, and eyeC
them mockingly.
"You are not very clever" he said
but anyway, you're q fine-lookinl
body of men. What do you think o
yourselves, anyhow? Think you'll Gu