The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-02-09
CHAPTER xViI.-(continued.)

You are not very clever, ne salo,
''but anyway, you're a flne-looking
body Of men. What do you think OF
yourselves, anyhow? Think you'll cut
out this second story game? Or
will you content yourselves with the
safer occupation of dips? My private
advice to you is to try hencoops for a
while. Cut out the big circuit. and 60
and get reputation"
How much Of his biting irony, II
any. the Orientals understood they
did not indicate. They only gazed at
him In dumb misery, evidently in ex-
pectation of an ignoble end. They fol-
lowed Britt with their joint gaze as
he paced up and down the room, both
pttifully watchful. and manifestly
most wholesomely afraid.
you saw part of what these chaps
were doing, Mr.. Sands" said Britz,
''but what you saw was only the last
Of It. want to tell you the way they
went through this room was amazing.
hope you didn't lose many valu.
ables."
Sands, in his slow way, assured the
detective that 1t was not likely the
searchsrs had fonnd anything he
would miss very greatly; but the
Headquarters man was not satisfied.
The mystery Of the proceeding, he
was inclined to think, did not begin
and end with the Orientals. 1t was
possible, Of course, they had searched
Sands room simply as matter Of
routine in the same way that at the
first opportunity they probably would
search the home OF everyone who
might be connected In any way with
the Missioner jewel robbery Yet
something stirred uneasily in Britz's
mind as he reflected on the possibility
that the coming of the Orientals held
. deeper significance. What If they
had reason to believe they would sure.
ly find what they sought in that room?
II Sands did not know there was jus.
tificatlon for the search, why did he
take It so calmly? 1t did not seem
natural for man to keep his temper
whose apartments had been invaded
SO thoroughly. II the millionaire had
expressed any indignation he. Britt,
would have felt better satisfied. Be-
sides, what was It the Hindoos had
taken from Sands desk? Sands had
not seen them take anything, as they
were ending their search when he got
the first glimpse of them. Britz
watched Sanus closely to see If the
millionaire's eyes would turn anxi-
ously toward that part of his furni-
ture. He almoat started when the first
move Sands made, after finishing his
task Of binding the prisoners, was to
saunter with a careless air across the
room and, In passing, glance swiftly
and questioningly into the pigeon
holes whence the thieves had alb.
stracted the mysterious articles that
90 actively engaged Britz's always &C.
tive curiosity.
TITS about up to us to do a little
searching now, isn't it," asked Britt.
These bright young men have had
their innings, and believe it's our
turn at bat. What do you say. Mr..
Sands?"
Sands said nothing. He nodded his
head IN assent. however. and Britz be.
gan a search of the Orientals fully as
exhaustive al that they had performed
on the room. Before he had gone far
In his quest, Sands volunteered as.
sistance. and each explored the folds
OF the Hindoos' raiment with the
elumsiness that might be expected OF
men not accustomed to that sort OF
work.
Britt, working more swiftly than the
millionaire. made his first find, 1t was
sheet OF notepaper Of fashionable
size and tint. on which had been writ
ten few lines in a feminine hand
Britz had not the slightest compunc
ton Of conscience about reading It
Chivalry was all very well In its way
but 1t played no part In detective
work. especially when the lady most
concerned was not present to make 9
protest. He moved to the center soi
the room. and In the light OF cluster
of incandescent lamps read aloud t.
Sands the following onigmatical mis-
s1ve:
Curtis Dear: Whom are you com