New Britain herald., 1924-07-23

in the expansive overcoat pockets of either of them. Nor had they left
 1t in the hall downstairs or in the
 drawing-room, or anywhere else in
 the house.
 IL must have been delivered to a
 confederate waiting outside the mill lionaire's house. Yet this l did not believe. The White Eagle was not the sort who lets some out else take charge Of the spells of his warfare against society.
 Perhaps" said Cochet as I re- turned from my fruitless search of the premises, monsieur is ready to apologize" drew a jacknife. I opened 1t and placed it on the floor. Tt will take you perhaps fifteen minutes to saw your bonds," I told Cochet. And despite monsieur's af- fable manner, I feel that I need a quarter of an hour in which to dis appear"
 Cochet smiled: but behind that smile lay deadly menace. Always, from now on. more dangerous enemy than the police would be at my heels. Though he smiled, Cochet would never forgive this indignity.
 Bon soir, messieurs,' I said. I had failed, but l tried 10 carry off my failure with good grace. I am not your vulgar crook who descends to threat or torture. My reasoning had been sound. I did not believe that the box had been surrendered to q confederate, but what is belief in the face of fact?
 You will have time to escape from this house." I said. before the po- lice arrive here, provided that there is some element of truth in the iests heard you exchange. Because have been unfortunate is no reason that I should wish you ill fortune. Again, good evening, gentlemen"
 And then l saw a gleam of triumph on the delicate face of the hunch- back. Now, one cannot succeed at my profession unless one has the | quick intuition of woman. And to | that intuition must be coupled the | logic of a man-not of an ordinary |
 
 I remembered how insensitive the cripple's hump had seemed 10 the rough touch of the bully whom I had | knocked down, l tried to visualize the sleight Of hand by which the box had been extracted from Anderson safe even as the millionaire locked : its door, Where had the box been hidden?
 I remembered the affair of the one eyed men, and how pearl had been secreted in a glass eye. The jewell box was too bulky to be placed in the pocket of dinner jacket, and both of these men wore evening clothes And the cripple wore look Of triumph. Also, his hump was not sensitive.
 Oh, Armand Cochet IS the White Eagle. but l am John Ainsley Shall
 add more. or shall let the modest narration of my deeds speak for me
 bent over, tore the dinner jacket romSthe body of Loticr exposed the 'arefully contrived false hump. and rom that artificial deformity l took he Jewel-box.
 waved them moCking goodby. With the box under my arm beneath ny coat, I sauntered out of the lousc, over to Fifth Avenue. and aXied, like any law abiding citizen, O my apartment overlooking the lark.
 Five minutes later l was examining he contents of the casket. was ich. l could abandon forever the lie to which necessity had driven 10. At least, on that April evening
 thought that l could. did not now that sometimes there is truth n old saws. I had forgotten one Of Dnce 8 thief"
 IReginning in our Next Issue: JUST1CE.D
 Running birds rid the flowers of