The Tomahawk., 1916-03-09

diamond QOS-COlldr gene. lie 8
dead too. Pistol still in his
hand.
The men were now questioning
Helen regarding what had happened.
| Il was not here" she explained
calmly, but rapidly. Il happened
to be near and arrived first. But it
is plain that O. robbery has been COM
mitted, and that this man, in trying to
protect the victim, was nearly MUIR
dered. One of the villains is still in
the house. He ran past me toward the
conservatory, where left Mr.. Butler"
A man went over to close the win
dow which opened upon the porte
| cochere roof. At the very instant he
raised his hands to the sash an ex-
cited cutlery came up from below. The
words were plainly distinguishable in
side the room.
Here's one of 'em! Fell
from the roof. Dead! ."
III.
From the Miller-C Crosby ball Helen
Bertel brought two important clues.
| The first of these was torn scrap
of note-paper that had been found
in Mrs. Charters bodice. 1t suffices
to say of this that it afforded a strik-
ing example of the thieves resource
| fulness ir availing themselves of
| clandestine filtration to lure Mrs.
Charters to the ladies' dressing-room
at specified time. The note was
| merely scrawled line, signed with
the initials of a well-known name that
had frequently been coupled with the
dashing and wealthy young willows.
Ferndale, with his eyes zealously
upon the costliest jewels at the ball,
was particularly solicitous of Mrs.
Charters $4,000 diamond dog-collar.
| Without, of course, imagining it's
cause, as the hour for the tryst in the
dressing-room approached her increas-
| ing nervousness and agitation aroused
his curiosity, and when she slipped
furtively away he followed to the very
door.
Thus he heard the first sounds of
tumult and struggle, and entered in
time to confront two masked men. The
three promptly commenced three
cornered fusillade. Ferndale believed
which, few minutes later, was dis
covered to be true-that he had
wounded the man who plunged
through the window.
Mrs. Charters was insensible upon
the floor when he arrived, her rare
diamond ornament already reaved
| oh
not il the least injured.
The masked man wko ccllided with
Heller doubtless get rio Of the telltale
face covering aud mingled with the
guests; for Harry Butler maintained
that he never even Sc much as saw All
armed masked man in the ccnserva-
tory.
The most interesting clue, from
Hazards viewpoint, had to do with
the mar who fell into the snow from
the porte-cochere roof.
It TRANSFERRED that he was not killed
ncr even seriously injured; but before
he recovered Helen fished from che of
his pockets curious bit Of paper. 1t
was the peculiar particulars whicE
this sheet bore that suggested the ap-
pellation "Tae Secret Six by which
later came to be distinguished one CT
! the most notorious and daring bands
Of criminals in the country's annals OF
crime. The paper appeared thus:
| No. cover room & exit I'm i,rt-cochere
roof No pass bundle to No. at appted
place. 3, S & 6 wait with auto as ordered
to cover retreat & lend aid If necessary.
| No. I.
thus it will be seen that the rob-
| berry was planned deliberately down
! to its smallest detail.
Indeed. the plot was carried to a
successful and sensational climax
right at the massive stone pillars and
huge wrought-iron grille that consti-
tuted the Miller-Crosby gate. The
wounded man was being led away by
a policeman to await at the spot men
toned the coming of patrol-wagon,
| already summoned AS the two
emerged upon the walk the police
| man was set upon and cverpoWered
by three masked men, all armed with
5usinesslike automatics. The prison
err was bundled into AL automIbile
and, right from the midst of group
Of curious-and frightened-chauf-
feurs, whisked away into the night.
During the ensuing fortnight almost
the entire Sutherland force, not only
of the Chicago main office but at
every branch in the United States,
was bending every effort to run to
earth the Secret Six" and their con-
federates. But it was Felix Hazard
who finally drove the principal men,
bers of the crime syndicate to cover.
That the six principals for the time
being eluded the police was in a meas
ure disappointing; but more vital is
sue was at stake, enc far more serious
than the capture of the criminals.
Helen Bertel at the time was in
their power.
w.
The TranscontiHental's president,
only half convinced, sat like enc