Mrs. Burton, sweeping into the room with
all sails set and drawing to the storm.

"I am," replied Captain Stone, none too pleasantly as the gold
lorgnettes were waved under his nose.

"Well, I came for my niece--produce her at once," insisted the panting
woman.

"You'll have to wait a few minutes," answered Captain Stone, grimly.
"We're otherwise engaged at present."

"But I have a warrant--I've ordered Mr. Gladwin's arrest!" she
shrilled.

"We'll attend to that later," snapped the captain. "We're looking for
a thief who broke in here to-night."

"A thief!" exclaimed Mrs. Burton. "Well, I saw him."

"What?" asked the amazed officer.

"Yes, when I was here before, and there he is now, only he's got a
policeman's uniform on."

Mrs. Burton pointed an accusing finger at Michael Phelan, who
proceeded to turn livid.

"You saw that man here before?" asked the wondering captain.

"Yes. He was in his shirt sleeves and when he saw me he ran away to
hide."

"Are you sure about this?" asked Captain Stone slowly, turning and
scowling at the condemned Phelan.

"I should say I am," declared the relentless Mrs. Burton. "How could I
ever forget that face?"

"C-c-c-captain, I-I-I w-w-want to explain"--chattered Phelan.

"There'll be time enough for that," the captain checked him. "For the
present you camp right here in this room. Don't you budge an inch from
it. That thief is somewhere in this house and we've got to find him."

"Give me my niece first," cried Mrs. Burton.

Captain Stone ignored the request and shouted to Kearney and the three
men who had followed him into the room:

"Come, we are wasting time. This house must be searched again and
searched thoroughly. I don't believe you have half done it. Lead the
way, Kearney, we'll begin on the next floor."

As they went out Sadie Burton timidly approached Whitney Barnes, who
was still making the rounds of every policeman in the house and
pleading to be unlocked.

"How do you do--what is the matter?" she said timidly, looking up into
Barnes's distressed face.

"I don't do at all," replied Barnes, tragically, folding his arms in
an effort to conceal the handcuffs.

"Why, you seem to have a chill," Sadie sympathized, with real concern
in her voice.

"I should say I have," gasped Barnes, "a most awful chill. But it may
pass off. Excuse me, here's a new policeman I haven't asked yet." The
young man crossed the room to Phelan.

"Have you got a key to these