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<5 6 THE WEEKI/ f- • " 1 'S OlToijr^ll! C‘V A\Ohrn 1 wV J v* Wizard" trc -VluZKCc. rd:’ l 1 •sey-x YfU V ! 55855 C*-*. tc;',-right, to.; JTNAM Vv GOMC- © At ium ms iJacienco was i«w:. u > :. eeoiug the curtains of No. s i . \ and a moment later a fine looking y man of six and twenty emrr, i, m: Pressed, and went toward (lie tiii' t. Mr. Barnes sauntered : ft( r him, ami Imd the smoking i ly seated himself who was evidently tin otluau • > ■ ■ection 8. While 'h ( washing, the e ndu . 1 the other about gested that he allow !. ; ed. By this time the ( coming excited. 'I! y ast with mo in mo rcstaurauu; • litiv,' did you know that my name is though 1 do now, ’ rub! nui .indue few minutes of New Oil., ami ... a n . 1 . l Ait' [ r passengers had bt ( n > : two. Yet these two aim d save :" “ ' 11- W ' K. ked move w tratic than any < t oil lev.'. I. •* one astonished, theref'-i •, t lObscrvi t .;.' ■ Bur ue young man addre d el.r :l ve: y 2 .. 11 disturbed. He:tan.’ i -landstu !••.(• 1 seeking words, ami ail>’_in -• mei at voice addressed !... theve’s L- sm v 1, “Bob, do you b • , ed it. v.'r.'d.-; to an i.; it bi nd His friend Bob *, water basin, bis In t end . with a stiff seal* hd:.' :• rubbing his skin v. replying he dipped > : * ad i under the water, In .a i‘ 1 a moment, then shut and reached I'm' t- v ment ho had wij i >• 1 eyes, and looking at h . i'n :-' swered most uncone ruedly: “What of it?’’ “But—but—the conducto; searcli mo.” “All right. What arc you at; You aro not the thief, mo you." “No—but”— “There is no but m it. ■ nocent, let them with a light laugh he tvn i. >11 i and began arranging li:s cra\ friend kraktd at h expression which noon'- -a -Mi understood. r J'he dot e:iv( nized by their voi •• ie t who had made the wav ••• crime, and it wa piaiu i already suspected h m l a occasioned by the thor. iit : Bob had stolen night and then s f ■ clothing, v. hero it foi. id . would not bo on Bob. Mr. Barnes was amn. ‘ - a young man actually chii g 1 In a few minutf s, with a tenso relief, hai g evideu nothing forei( niu his ] to the conductor who Blood \v;:.Mn expectant. “Mr. Conductor,” ho that my conduct lies: ' : ; m I can’t explain, bo ne v perfectly willing to have you search. Indeed I am anxio. should ho a thorough one. ’ l a inution was made, and, as v. others, nothing v/a.-; found. “Hero is n dolph, of the firm of J. Q. Son, bankers. ” Mr. Randolph » trifle more erect poor conduct) >r felt that he 1 him a griev< a wr ng continued: “This is myfivjid, 1. Leroy MitcheL I will vouch ; v him. At tho name Mitchol - Ir. B.wm- w; an who had lje;’n i • • - iJill IK o . •*1 did not know, i.-.i; i ii. a complacent manner . J: r. Barnes. The de- v< f.-lt that this man was getting him at ev ry \ urn. But for h< was only the more determined I . id. Accustomed to (iaickiy, he decided to accept the • u, considering that he could /. tiling and might gain much by a :'i. ;her acquaintance. The two men i ; went below to the eating room at< d themselves at a small table. ;ving the waiter a liberal order iitchel began: on’t it be best ferns to understand mother from the outset, Mr sV” don’t know what yon mean.” hink you do. You asked me amo ng > how 1 knew your name. As I 1 did not know it, though I.suspect- snail I tell you why?” Certainly, if you “Perhaps 1 am •: your first blundi v ! y, are evidently • u! i . as I sent my friend : ,- for the chance i f ; o .-how yon .me, since against me, i :f alone pur doing so I can- :: j t the temptai ion. ” pam Mr. MitcheL lam h a fool: uke me to be. I 7 what you an g« iug to say.** “Ah, indeed! That is clever.” ^oc are about to t< 11 me that I made of myself when 1 spoke in the . mou refusing to be searched.” , i gh< aid m t have put it quite hly, but the fact is th v liberatoly followed Randolph iu- toilet room, i became suspicious, heels. When X his eye present! was seeking. Fain were the words “No - !' tieth. ” That was all, b Barnes that Rose Mitchel h?W lowed to this address, and as V , with that which she herself had to him he knew now that she found when wanted, against the tip of his tongue, ho drew it across the words, leaving nothing but a dirty smudge. “Wilson is a keen one,” thought the detective. “He did this trick well—saw my nod, wrote that address and got out of sight in an instant. I wonder if he can keep an eye on that shrewd scoun drel. Pshaw ! I am giving the fellow too much credit. I must leave it to Wil son for today anyway, as 1 must get through with this Pettingill matter.” Half an hour later ho was at headquar ters talking with bis assistants. Meanwhile Wilson followed Mr. Mitchel to Broadway, then down to the Casino, where he stopped to buy tickets; then out again and down Broadway to the Fifth Avenue hotel, which ho enter ed. He nodded to the clerk, took his key and passed up stairs. Evidently ho lived there. Wilson, of course, had no further definite instructions. From Mr. Barnes’ backward nod lie had understood that ho was to shadow this man, and, under the circumstances, it was his simple duty to do this until relieved by further ordc rs. In these days of telephones it is easy enough to make hurried reports to headquarters and then continue the pur suit. The Fifth Avenue is not a promis iug place in which to watch a man, pro vided the man knows that ho is being watched. It has three exits—one on Broadway and one each on ’Twenty- third and on Twenty fourth street. Wilson flattered himself that Mr. Mitchel was unsuspicious, and therefore whichever way he might leave the build ing lie would first r» turn his key at the desk. Ho consequently kept that* point in view. Not half an hour had elapsed when his man appeared, gave up his key, as expected, and passed out by the Broadway door. Crossing tho avenue ho walked down Twenty-third street east ward. Wilson followed cautiously, go ing through the park. At Third avenue * '8 Wetting his fingeR^ * ~ ^ 6? Ay; <3 it BO cd. EvftTV Mr. Mitchdv^® <5^ Evffi? V* fuel if P -! i-y -■■'orJ']. tho iy mis- l shat- * V \%e e Js x in the morning astute detective. Wilson had w ings perhaps a straction of th the neighbor!! by hearing long coutin and all w from thaT is a privateer h doubuy ' . ‘ r i it felt , shrieK-''. J f i Wi-io That solK : ‘ deathlike Su>J .• made him shiver qjii- -possiblj closer about hir* s ! ’ lIe ha(1 anuouucd repeated, after « . il ^ would have fell ent ' Vlt l0at an y ' va [ r ■ though ho li.ste» ll( ’ iooked upon her nothing. Ten „£°n, bu the moat innocS thing occurred V ^ WI tention. A lighk^ 0 , 11 fhan he had , he ^ r „ fifth floor was extV (1 , uot u<x ‘ 0liut l ^Wy for wEI certainly nothing it , for lights are usul s he stood retires. He noticed!*' chanced only light which \eywf. attralted by that tho windows durinJ h,m 6blver , f accustomed r was thinking of til 0 strail « e • lt * tmy r^ opened, and a manl 11 -^' /managed to pass on it to be Mr. Mitcf® door and l/id then rnn along thUmr>j S a lowed. That thereV 1 t ; 1L * ca ^l Jet fo1 ' the space of a fe\Iv‘ i ! ' n W ( no mistake Wilsof. lostautly he stooped clipped ^ enough torcach tho» luto u 1111(1 theu ejaculated under* :<!1 a of tho man when hJ eatl1: V s xl im himself that he pasl^d and clotted. ” other just as they boj* <llll K upright, ho once more peer- •'mI ] alll j,_ i the room. The figure in bed had L/'ticST Taking a ^ vcd - soil er il feedJ of thl ra enl k't y ■ J fret: id lil.r : if inoro e ■ Mi! ii ■ ;i tI hlesscij ■ -■ r m wiljon X TmV.. by the apass doors cogr a 1 to lofk down. Instal, - V :ih r . quic Without further hesitation Wilson saw that it wi' vl y slid tho doors apart. One so he abandoned the jwithiu.aud murmuring the single i ‘Morder!’’ \Tr l-t.irnou wnu as I was, at your « 'fike to me, I refused n n .,iT- i.nr iih> iikil in thid. When ye to t h be in; the conductor „ ly, to watch the effect upon you, wit;, the result, as y, : . .» see, that I 1: ai my suspicion confirmed. I knew wen a detective, and, that lined, thi wa* no further rea- t ,.i for refusing the conductor.” “A I said, i acted like an ass. But I .in t need this warning. It will not ( u- again, I assure you.” “Of course I : now that you over- . . tion last night, and, h being thi < m, you mutually sus- •i .i.., r.f tl mliherv. But I am Mr. Mitchel climbed the elevated stair- ! quickly toward the way, and Wilson was compelled to do the i Ho hadnroci i (led hut t ’ 1 °" lu bls action fio ni VVolmej te-ihj i \ - 1 'iij same, though this brought him unpleas antly close. Both men took the same p train, Mr. Mitchol in tho first coach, Wilson in the last. At Forty-second street Mr. Mitchel left the train and crossed the bridge, but instead of taking the annex for the Grand Central depot, as one is expected to do, he slipped through tho crowd to the main platform and took a train going backdown town. Wilson managed to get tho same train, but he realized at once that his man either knew that he was followed or else was taking extraordinary precautions. of death. The -f her death was as simple as Her throat had been cut as ho (t mo of this robbery. ring, if you d d overhear our talk, v I y you did not watch mo all niy*” ” V i this Mr. Barnes mado no reply have one favor to ask.” - V ’ YV UTJ tUtt-iuft ^ jc , — At Thirty-fourth street station the trick , entitled to hurry honfv. was repeated, Mr. Mitchel crossing over —.short, because he K the bridge and theu taking an up town his duty to be on thfh« 1" I began, and ‘I fear licious. ■ I am :s.I:o a the bridge — ^ train. What puzzled Wilson was that ho could uot detect that his man hud no ticed him. It seemed barely possible, as they had encountered crowds at both places, that he had escaped unobserved. He was more satisfied of this when at Forty-second street again Mr. Mitchel left tho train, crossed the once more “What is it? “That you reveal to no one tho fact t’.w I have undertaken to commit a crime. You of course are at liberty to , , 1A v the ferret and convict me—if you iu{- tho coach for the Grand Central. ( j Evidently all tho maneuvering had “As surely as you commit a crime, so merely been prompted by caution, and will I convict yon of it,” replied ' ’ « —— bridge, and this time went forward, tuk- • ii . . I. th m •it i. a a clas- caro of Mr. Mitchel, a man of sic face, spoke: “Thanks, Arthur, I can tak myself!” The conductor hesitated a moment, and then addressed Mr. Mio; . i ; “I regret very ■ y.. rarely - ; •Barnes. “It will be perhaps to my 11 ; • ;-i l to I: o what I know to myself, will • ijpako any promises to - (,u. I u.. t 1; ■ lice to act as circum- di •!.” “Very good. I will tell you where I : a stopping and I give you permission anil to see mo m ver you please, d: - or night. 1 have a suit of rooms at ’ifth A venne. Sow h t me ask you , . , jfjji Do y< u think that I com mit.cd this robbery?” “I will answer you with a question. • T • this robbery?” b y c f my steel Well, wo wifi leave : 1 questions unausweied for the pres ent. ” which compels i > to a. k you to allow to be . earched, lint it is my difa- Kur- and a snip rise yourself duty. ” My dear sir, i ’ that it is your dul r and I ■ : , •onal /eel I distinctly refu. ” “Yon refuse?” T1 the other three cult to tell which was the nr prised. Randolph turned pale leaned against the parlition t< v -■ - Mr. Barnes became »lightly esrited a.id said: “That amounts toa tacitacknov.Tedg- ment of gnilt, has been searched ” Mr. ‘.Miti-hel’s re- ply to thi« Avas even lucre <,i than what ho hail said hefon Th.it alters the case. J else has submitted, so will I.” Without more udo ho divested himself of his clothing. Nothing was found. Tho satchels of both men w< tho search was fruitless. The c. 'tor glanced at the detective li.-ipi..; ;p uj that gentleman wa T ' th,. window. One wlio knew Mr. j; could have told j he was biting 11,. . I “Herewe are at the Grand Cn ! ” said Mr. Mitchol leave tho train?” Re;- dying an cent nod, tho two friend,-; wall d u other end of (he coach. Mr. L r.i.-- ab ruptly started up, uad witln it a v d Jumped from tho train a i* ; ; p Ai j ro jj. ed into the great depot H w<nt , to a man quickly, said a f i;W woiv jj, all undertone, and both wnu back toward the train. Presently the w oman who Lid been robbed oamo along, and as she passed but of the building companion followed Ic-r. was ubuut^to dejiart, wl ♦*8* J l i and f “M CHAPTER III. Mn. BAUN>:S 1jI SCO Vi IKS AN AUTISTIC MUR- DEU. Ale tho meal was progressing, a i :::i . ilently passed through tho room. - ‘ ' ie Would have guessed that he had cial motive in doing so, for he no oi Ni ither would one have -' d iiat Jir. Barnes observed him, utd his buck turned. Yet this was ano individual who upon his in- ion liad followed Rose Mitchel v.iu u she left tho train. - ■ akfast over, the two men started ! “>o the restaurant. Reaching the - v, ay which leads above to the main •, Mr. Barnes courteously stood aside 1 >..i!ow his companion to ascend first, r. JTilehel, however, with a wave of hand, declined and followed Mr. - ■' hi ther either had any special i in this was a thought occupying iu- minds of both as they silently passed > mi's. Mr. Mitcind had a slight ad- *«o. .ge, in that being behind he conld i the detective. There seemed, * 1 vc 'r. to bo little to see. To bo sure ! man who had passed through tho nant was idly loaning against tho c- '> iy, but as soon as Mr. Ba^ne8 , • ippear-'d, and certainly before he < have h< i u noticed by Mr. Mitchel, ■Ii d out into tho street, crossed disappeared into tho bank Had any signal passed ••een the. j two detectives? Mr. - * '-m l, despite his shrewdness in send- ■ -Mr. Barnes up stairs ahead of him, . .w none, yc;t this is what occurred: - • Barnes said adieu and walked • "ij. Mr. Mitcdiol stood in tho door- , gazing af!er him till ho saw’ him i n i ' t ho elevated railroad station ; theu, m-.-'ng carefully about, ho himself v.. m d rapidly toward Sixth avenue. Imdid not glance behind, or ho might have scon the nan in the bank step out and walk in the same direction. i.uLLcen gone about five minutes A" 1 < O^l’MI UpjK'UlcVl ^Ped in tho do dvo hiii b md ■ .'ding opposite. uot having observed his shadow the man was about to continue to his true destination. Mr. Mitchel had entered the coach by the first gate, and was seated quietly in tho corner as Wilson passed on, going in by tho gate at the I opposite end. A moment later the guard slammed tho gate at Wilson s end and pulled the bellrope. As quick as a flash Mr. Mitchel jumped up, and before he could bo prevented had left tho coach just as it started, carrying away Wilson, completely outw itted and dumfounded. As soon as tho train stopped he darted j down stairs and ran back toward the ! ’"'-mi •ijvciiue station, but ho ky^w it was useless, as if pruvim. 715 flTwu ing of Mr. Mitchel. Wilson was greatly disheartened, for ho was most anxious to stand well with Mr. Barnes, Ins chief. Yet in revolving i over tho occurrences of the last half hour he could uot see how he conld have i prevented tho eseapo of his man, since it was evident that ho had intentionally acted in a way to prevent pursuit. If one but knows or suspects that ho is be ing shadowed the Third avenue elevated ! road, with its bridges at Thirty-fourth 1 and Forty-second streets, offers tho most , effectual means of eluding tho most skilltul detective. If Wilson had known i anything whatever about tho man who had escaped him, ho might have been able to guess his destination, \nd so have caught up with him again by hur rying ahead and meeting him, as he had frequently done when following noted criminals with whose haunts he was ac quainted. In this instance he was utter ly in tho dark, so could do nothing but swear. If ho could not report where Mr. Mitchel had gone, at least ho might dis cover at what time he returned to his hotel, and ixwsjldy Mr. Barnes might receive some valuable flint by tho lapse of time. With this idea Wilson returned to tho Fifth Avenue hotel and waited patiently. He telephoned to headquar ters, only to hear that Mr. Barnes had gono Lack to Boston to bring Pettingill to New York. Seven o’clock arrived, and yet his vigil was unrewarded. It suddenly occurred tohim that, us he had seen Mr. Mitchel purchase tickets for the Casino, that might bo a good place to watch, though of course there was no certainty that they were for that night. Upon this meager hope ho hastened np town and Htatiowed hin/self where be could keep an eye tfll who entered. At 10 minutes past 8 he about con cluding that bis task wasNoscle^ when u cab stopped, and, to his fatenso faction, ho saw Mr. Mi; j* » Barnes was no He hudpruct i (led but Ki0 ' v m ms actions. Stepping hfe met Mr. Mitchel 1 bl K J^ol of blood which stained ward him. Breathin' 01 * be stood at the side of tho he passed, then ciwfe recognized the features of the with his usual skiiwho had claimed that sho had Mitchel in sight ur.f b0(1 °f her diamonds. She seem- Fifth Avenue hotel, p 111 ^ s; ‘''o that there was an ex- takc his key and go if of I ,aiu o» the features, a cou- felt that ids vigil 1 () ^ tbe Hbbl between the eye- night. Looking at W 11 ' 1 corner of tho mouth that it was just, 1 o’^d 0 * tbe "'hole kept in this po- thc reading room, hi? the rigidity tho day’s occurrences, a messenger, sent it tre dressed to Mr. Barnes. , l bl8 seemed indicated by the hnnfhe was clad in her nightdress, at puzzled Mr. Barnes at iool i f blood near the door, next day and until if 11 .'’ , ’' x ft-*®* from tho head of instructions fiom Mr.? 411 ' 1 while there was another Mr. Barnes had X ' ' his arrival obtained pers for which ho hai which he found av. these ho had returi: same day, and obtai! succeeded in catching once more, arriving tho loss of hut a si new case which so a| terest. Thus the morning tho jewel robbery hp he entered his offices delivered his prison quarters. When bo read Wils sign which lie gave was a nervous pull i ! mustache. He read three times, then to; tiny pieces, doing it they were all ucarl; 0, 'R y /- * 1 'U, * J bedstead, formed by blood il trickled from the wound, iwn tho sheets and so drop- floor, the two pooli did not iite. thought Mr. Barnes, “I am | seeno this time, and no busy- il tumble things about till I d tlieir significance. ” ;n had not been designed for apartment, but rather as a , "Inch upon occasion could to the parlor, converting tho ic- There was one wiudo.v haft, and in an angle was a irved oak mantel, with fire Mr. Barnes raised the cur j window, lottting in more g urouml, lie noticed almost two things—first, that a ai a washstand half filled ho color of wliich plainly t the murderer had washed arks before taking his de- ind, that in tho fireplace hashes idrel has burned evidence k uud deliberately washed jierson before going -t.i. ted him. Mr. • thouglt turred > had -scenHr. Miiel\ some timdefore e £f and depurlome tie a tho won. skvho I; aec<3 to the li. ter? ko, ho 1 ^ have retint m d len asl ly? Evidatly fiaer ligi! thrown upo this )« ct of While neditatiithe det roamed abuut th > ini, and ed upon a ^iiuin;%jcct whi the floor a from the fr and made i at it for sor stooping j little thou scarcely exaJI gleam of Ho held was cut a tho tik. A ra} t wiiif just litterlr. Barm uioue mechc int’.'ortfck it cMt" to' 1 id. ot the profile which appo I \ I Inch awayT Mitch Wash fresh, That do In w |_ ^ ’ Jfpr, would m ... I not be detect ble. ” Thus th, itudied the evi ! gleam oftrlumph ullutcncd in W* ry/ 1 turu f d to and shape. Any one who should at fem’ ‘ iiy <lU a me ‘I should from from tl told hiaj bile coroi ice the ‘i for bimi He If. Can contempts , ft> P icco together a note which ^/hSl im * Barnes had thus destroyed would hir* ‘ a . task. Standing by the window, heto^jj' them higli in the air and saw them ‘ K 1 ; tored by tho wind. , At half past 8 o’clock he stood/) tho apartment house in La-4 Tin street. The janitor was sweep/ad the pavement a light snow \ing. fallen in tho early hours of th# the Mr. Barnes, without speal aud man, walked into tho ve^Luxes. scanned tho names over thy which None of them contained & in No. ho sought, hut there was report a o. Recalling that in \V/i window light liad disappeared nit it could on tho fifth floor, h«* 'sorted not be unoccupied. T to a trick often pj thieves. Ho rang t when tho door siWtho servant oq walked in, apolog/ing “rung tiia tho first landing 4cedi d up to tho wrong bell, ’’ ai^tig the bell of the filth floor. Hei^g to that special private hall had have rung the apartment, fortment at th*/»it. lower bell of but ho wis «.t saw that tho si all. Liku a Going over Home mark on the corpjj he lifted th when ho f/ from the “Thatj door,” her out tho lit itiuli lay by biu-u^ No. J, and rung open ho