Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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0 THE WEEKLY LEDGER: GAFFNEY, S. APRIL 30, 1890. TT“ ' -Ac|^ S “ A ^“XTvfe^ I2k COVR30HT, 1835. ar O.R Pul>4AM’s 50n5. Kaimoipn was simpjy niigcraoio an the time. Wheuevor ho was with Dora, she was good to him, kind to him and often used tender tones that thrilled his heart But ho, too, failed to get any thing from her, save the old request that ho should bo patient and wait Ho, too, waited, but not patiently. Meanwhile, in New York, Mr. Barnes was still burrowing into everything that seemed to have any connection direct or otherwise with the mystery or mysteries (hat baffled him. Of one thing ho had satisfied himself beyond all doubt. That was that Mr. Fisher had not been im plicated in the train robbery. His spy liad found that ho had been absent from Hio city during three days at tho time of tho crime, but this very fact had been shown to be his safeguard. By sumo skillful work tho man dis covered that during that time ho had simply been off shooting ducks in a part of tho country where it would have been impossible for him to bo an accom plice. This simple fact should not have been hard to discover were it not that Fisher had kept his trip a secret. This for some time puzzled tho detective, but finally he followed him out of tho city, and practically accompanied him on a similar outing, after which ho learned that his sister was morbidly opposed to all killing, whether for sport or for a livelihood. It was to humor this idea that her brother made his excursions in secret. Tho spy learned from tho man from whom tho dogs wero hired that Mr. Fisher had used them in December. 8o that left him out of tho score, or at least so it seemed. It was still possible that ho was implicated in tho ruby rob bery, though, save that ho was present, there seemed nothing against him. Mr. Barnes did not entirely leave him out of tho account. Thus practically tho detective mado no progress, and was chagrined to bo compelled to admit it Finally, how ever, an idea occurred to him, upon which tho more ho dwelt the moro fas cinated ho became with it. To put it into practice, however, ho felt that ho mast await tho return of Mr. Mitehol. Ho thought ho would injure his cause by seeking him and so disturbing him d*ring his pleasure trip. Tho Mitchcls did not keep thoirprom- hre to go to tho White mountains, but, on tho contrary, prolonged their west ern travel, so that it was November be fore they wero at homo again and tem porarily quartered at tho Fifth Avenno. A few days after, Mr. Barnes sent up his card, and, ns usual, was cordially received. "Any nows of my wife’s ruby?” ask ed Mr. Mitchel, grasping tho detective warmly by tho hand. "No, Mr. Mitchel. I am sorry to cay that I am utterly unablo to prove any (A my theories about that. But I havo como to a set determination, and one that to you may seem a peculiar one. I have como to ask your assistance in tho murder case." "Why, certainly, I will help you. Did 1 not tell you so at tho very outset? Havo I not always been willing to talk freely to you?” "You have, but as long as I thought that yon yourself might havo committed tho crime, how could I como to you to ask you to assist mo?” "Thou I am to understand that at present you do not suspect me?” "I havo como to that conclusion at last and wish now that I had done so sooner. ’ ’ “Would you mind telling mo why yon havo altered your mind? You have told me so much that scorned to impli cate mo that I urn curious to hear tho other side. ” "Certainly. I overheard your wager. Then came the robbery and then tho murder. Later there was a second jewel robbery. All of theso crimes occurred within tho limit which yon set. One of them of course you committed. It seems moro probable that you stole the siuglo ruby, for in doing that you committed a crlmo for which you could not be pun ished, especially sinco you havo married tho lady. Even before she would will ingly havo testified that it was under stood between you, and that it was sim ply a trick to win a wager. la not that correct log-;?” "Correct logic? Yes. Of course I ad mit nothing as to facts. ” "Either or both of there robberies aro secondary to the murder. That I havo determined to unravel if lean. At pres ent I think tho train robber and tho murderer was ono and tho same person. Now, there is ono clew which I havo not been able to follow, but which, if pursued, I am certain will loud mo straight to tho criminal. ” "And that is?” “Tho button which I found in the room. That is significant. It is too groat a coincidence that it should match your set not to havo an explanation that would shed light upon this case.” "How do you expect mo to assist you In that direction?” "As long as I thought you guilty I believed that you had lied when you said that tho seventh button of tho sot was tho Hhakespcaro pin which your wifo had. That is why I thought it of importance to recover it; sufficiently so to send my spy, Lucctto, into the house with instructions to obtain it if possi ble. Now that I believe you innocent of tho murder, this thought has recently como to mo. When I first told you about this button, before you would speak about it. you asked mu to allow vou to examine it. Alter doing so yon gave it back to mo, with a cheerful smile. If that button had been evidence against you, I sen now that it would have re quired a powerful nervo to appear so uncoucornod, and especially to return it to mo. Tho question, then, that I wish yon to answer is, What was it that you saw on that button which satisfied you that it was not of your set?” "In tho first place, Mr. Barnes, I knew that there wero but three like it, tho other three having different heads, and tho seventh being tho Shakespeare but ton. Thus as I know that all tho buttons were in my possession I felt safo.” "But in fho second place,” said the detective, "there was a distinct differ ence between tho buttons, and by that you were even more assured. Am I not right?” "Mr. Barnes, you deserve to succeed, and I hope you will I will aid you all that I can. You are right There is a difference in tho buttons. Havo you yours with you?” “Yes, hero it is,” saying which he took it from his pocketbook. “Keep it a moment. When Miss Item- sen ordered these buttons, she directed that a tiny initial should bo adroitly carved in tho hair of each of the Borneo and Juliet buttons. In tho former she ordered an ‘ R. * !Sho calls mo Roy. And in tho others a 'Q. ’ I call her Queen. This would escape ordinary observation, but once seeing it with a Ions one may readily find it with tho naked eye after ward. Now take this lens and examine your button, just at tho base of the hair, near tho neck. So! What do you find?” “By heavens,” exclaimed tho detect ive, “this is most important! This is a Juliet, and if ono of your set it should havo a 'Q’ on it. I beliovo that there was an attempt to mako that letter, but tho tool must havo slipped, and so it is r ''till The dctcctlw Is excited. a poor result, a chip, in fact, which marks tho continuity of tho letter. I doubt if with tho cyo alone, us you looked at it that day when I first show ed it to you, that yon saw any letter at all” "Yon are correct. I simply looked for tho ‘Q, ’ and not finding it was satis fied.” "This is serious. This button evident ly was mado by tho same hand that made yours. It was spoiled and another cut to replace it- Tho man who carved it or tho person who became possessed of it must and shall explain to mo how it came into tho room where tho murder was done. You must tell mo now where theso buttons wero bought.” “I will do so upon ouo condition.” "Name it. ” "That whatever you discover yon will tell mo before you act, and that yon will not act before Jan. 1 unless abso lutely necessary. ’ ’ "You mean us to making nn arrest?” "That is precisely what I mean. Yon need not fear to make tho promise. I will guarantee that your man shall not escape. I know him.” “Yon know him?” Mr. Barnes was astonished that Mr. Mitchel should mako such an admission. "Yos, I know him. That is, I am morally certain that I know him. I will tell you at once that having tho knowl edge that I myself was innocent I havo had an advantage over yon, and I havo been hunting down this man all those months. I havo good circumstantial evi dence against him, hut not enough to warrant an arrest—at least not yet. If you could follow this clow and find that it loads to tho same man we oould con vict him. ” "Will you give mo fho name of the man whom you suspect?” “No I That would materially weaken our case. Wo must get the same result without collusion. No, yon work alone and work quickly, for I particularly wish tho case to bo completed by Jan. 1. ” "Why so?” “It is (ho day upon which my wager is to bo decided, and I shall give a din ner party, at which I anticipate some fun. By (ho way, don’t forgot that you won a dinner from mo on awngcr. Ac cept an invitation to dine with rao Jan. 1, and if yon can then convict onr man you shall bo most welcome.” “I shall bend every energy to that end. But now tell mo tho name of tho jeweler from whom tho buttons were procured.” Mr. Mitchel then wrote down tho name of a Baris firm, also giving their address. Handing the slip of paper to Mr. Barnes, ho took another shoot and continued writing. “Why, Mr. Mitchel,” exclaimed Mr. Barnes, “this is tho same firm from whom vour jewels were brousht—those. I mean, which are similar to tho stolen sot. I havo already communicated with these people, and they sent mo word that they knew nothing.” "Yes, I know. That was by my in struction. ” Saying which Mr. Mitchel smiled, and Mr. Barnes once moro dis covered that ho had been fighting against a man who thought of every thing. "You sec,” continued Mr. Mitchel, "I knew that you saw tho name of tho jewelers on the bill of sale. What moro probable than that you should apply there for information? Now, my object throughout lias been not to defeat justice, but to havo timo enough elapee for me to win my wager. Therefore I immediately sen^ a cable to these persons, ‘Answer nothing signed Barnes till you hear from mo. ’ Rather a long cable dispatch, but then I don’t mind a few dollars. Of course my cable to thorn mado them shut their mouths to you. It was very simple. However, I myself have not been able to get satis factory facts from them, and I think it needs a person actually on tho ground to ferret out this thiug. I beliovo yon aro just the man for tho case. This let ter will give yon their assistance, and hero is a check for $500 for expenses. ” Mr. Barnes would havo refused, but Mr. Mitchel iusisted that from that time on Mr. Barnes should consider himself regularly employed on tho mur der case. "Though of course,” said Mr. Mitchel jocularly, "you aro still free to work out tho robberies. ” The two men shook hands at parting, and ono would havo said that they wero separating after a mutually satisfactory interview. CHAPTER XVII. A NEW YEAR’S DINNER PARTY. The 1st of January arrived, and Mr. Mitchel had hoard nothing from Mr. Barnes. Inquiry at his olfico was met by the simple statement that “the chief is out of town. ” When ho would bo back or where a communication would reach him could not bo learned. A few days before, however, a formal engraved invitation to tho dinner party had been mailed to his homo address. Mr. Mitchel was annoyed at not having any notification of whether or not the detect ive would bo present. However, ho was compelled to go ahead and depend upon the slight chance that at tho lust mo ment he would appear upon tho sccno. He hoped that this would occur, as oth erwise his scheme for the evening would bo incomplete. Tho dinner was to bo served at 10 o’clock that night at Delmonico’e, where a private room had been engaged. It lacked ton minutes of tho hour for sitting down, and all tho guests had ar rived except Mr. Barnes. Those wero Mr. Van Rawlston, Mr. Randolph, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Nenilly, who had decided to spend tho winter in Now York ; Mr. Thaurct, and several other gentlemen. It lacked barely half a minute of 10 when Mr. Barnes was announced and entered in handsome evening dress. Mr. Mitchol’s face wore a look cf triumph as ho saw him, and ho hurried forward to recoivo him. Every one present un derstood why tho detective was invited, for It was by this time well known that a wager was to be decided at 12 o'clock. After the exchange of greetings Mr. Mitchel gave tho waiters tho order to open tho doors of tho dining room, and in tho moment’s Interval managed to get a word with tho detective. “Tell mo quickly, havo you succeed ed?” "Yes, thoroughly." “Good! Write tho man’s name on a card,-and I-will givo you ouo upon which I Lavo written tho name of my man. ” Mr. Barnes did so. Then they ex changed cards, glanced at them and grasped each other’s hands significantly. Tho cards boro tho samo name. With tho others they went into tho dining room. Mr. Thaurct found himself seat ed next to Mr. Barnes, while on the other side of tho detective sat Mr. Fish er. It need scarcely bo said that tho din ner was enjoyable and enjoyed, though it must be admitted that all awaited anxiously tho hour of 12. It will bo us well perhaps, therefore, to como imme diately to tho denouement, for which all were assembled. Tho last course had been served, and coffee and nu!a v/ero on tho table, when tho clock chimed tho hour for which all wero anxious. Promptly at tho first stroke Mr. Mitchel arose. There was a silence till 12 was tolled, and then ho began: “Gentlemen, you havo all kindly ac cepted my invitation to see mo win u rash wager mado 18 mouths ago. It is odd perhaps that 1 should havo won— for I announce that 'I have won—when wo remember that the timo was 18 months, which number, as wo all know, superstitious persons arc inclined to connect with misfortune. To show, however, that I do not harbor suoh childish ideas, I purposely mado the timo (jf that length, and tonight at tho decisive moment wo aro 18.” Hero ho paused u moment, and ono might have f! noticed that several persons quickly counted those present to test the fact. Continuing, he said: "Tho superstition in connection with 18 at dinner is a well defined one, and the supposition is that one of tho number will die within tho year. I offer as a toast, therefore, 'Long lifo to all present—who deserve it. ’ ” Tho last clause, after a slight hesi tation, mado a decided effect. However, tho toast was drunk in silence. "As soiuo present may not entirely understand what my wager was I must explain that 13 months ago tonight I was in u Pullman sleeper with my friend, Mr. Randolph. Mr. Barnes here hud just accomplished a neat capture of the criminal Pettingill, who has since boon convicted. Tho papers wero prais ing him, and Mr. Randolph did so to mo in glowing terms. I ventured the assertion that detectives run down their prey largely because tho criminal class lack intelligence sufficient to compete with their more skilled adversaries. I offered to wager that I could commit a crime within a month and not bo de tected within a year thereafter. Tho innouut iyau to bo 21.OUO and wuu ac cepted by Mr. Randolph. I stipulated for conviction, though had I been ar rested within tho stated period and eon- vieted afterward I should havo c< usid- ered that I bed lost the wager. That is why I awaited tho arrival of Mr. Barnes so anxiously. I had not seen him for smuo time, and it was possible that at the last moment ho might be prepared to arrest mo upon evidence that would later convict me. However, gentlemen, I have escaped both arrest and convic tion, yet I committed tho crime as wagered. ” "Yen must prove that,” said Mr. Randolph, "and, according to our agree ment, it must havo been a crime which was much talked about ” "Quito right, my friend, but I shall bo able to demoustrato all that. By a curious coincidence a robbery was com mitted on tho very night and upon tho same train upon which wo mado our wager, while another robbery was com mitted almost at tho moment when tho stipulated month expired. Thus two crimes transpired within the timo al lowed mo, and with both of theso my name has been connected in tho mind of tho detective, Mr. Barnes. Now, that yon all may bettor understand the cir- eumstanccs I must go to what I might call tho beginning. Years ago certain circumstances in my earlier lifo gave mo an intimate acquaintance with tho methods used by detectives, and I then acquired the idea which led mo into this undertaking—that where tho crim inal has succeeded in escaping actual watching during tho commission of his crime, so that there is no witness to tho act, tho detective is almost powerless until ho learns tho object for which the crime was undertaken. Am I not right, Mr. Barnes?” “To know tho object of a crime, of course, is a great assistance, but much would depend upon tho attendant cir cumstances. ’ ’ “True. Tho object then is Important. From this point I reached tho conclu sion that if a man approached another, totally unknown to him, at night in a lonely neighborhood, struck him on tho head, killing him, and then, unseen, reached his own home, it would rest en tirely with himself whether or not ho would ever bo caught. I wanted a chance to try this experiment—that is, to commit a crime solely to test tho ability of tho detectives to discover me afterward. Tho difficulty was that a gentleman of honor would scarcely wish to engage in such a reprehensible piece of business. For years, therefore, I could think of no way to havo my wish, till tho merest chance threw the opportuni ty within my grasp. Waiter, fill up the glasses. ’ ’ He paused a moment while this was being done. Tho men went around with ebampagno, and when Mr. Thaurct was reached he asked to havo his burgundy glass filled also. Mr. Mitchel was again speaking when tho waiter returned with the red wine and did as requested. Mr. Barnes also presented his glass for tho samo liquor, saying in an undertone to Mr. Thaurct, "I cannot tako too much champagne. ” "Ono of my hobbies,” continued Mr. Mitchel, “as you all know, is the col lection of jewels. A few years ago I heard t hat a magnificent set was offered for sale. A rich East Indian nobleman, so the story goes, had procured tho gems as a present to his wife. They wore of tho choicest quality and of each exactly two, matched precisely in size, cutting and coloration. In time ho had two daughters, twins, tho mother dying at their birth. Eventually these girls grow up and were married, tho ceremony be ing a double wedding. The father took tho set of jewels and divided them, giv ing to each girl ouo of each. This great ly diminished their value, fur tho matching of gems adds to their price. “Reverses of fortune tempted one of these women to offer her jewels for sale. They wero taken to a Paris deal er, who chanced to bo a man through whom I had mado many purchases. Ho undertook not only to dispose of thegems, but to reprodneo them with a high or der of imitation, so that tho woman re tained tho original settings and con tinued to wear what her friends sup posed to bo the genuine gems. I bought tho unset stones. Subsequently her sis ter, learning the secret, and seeing that there was a way by which tho jewelry could bo retained, while tho jewels themselves could be turned into money, engaged the same dealer to servo her in a similar way. Of course I was doubly anxious to obtain this second lot, for by doing so I enhanced tho value of those which Iliad already. I therefore bought them also. ” Ho paused a moment, to allow tho company to recover from the surprise at learning that tho stolen jewels wero his. “This lut was sent to me through tho Boston custom house. I instructed the dealer to do this because I hud found that goods can ho received with loss de lay in Boston than in Now York. Being notified by my broker there that they were ready for delivery, I went to Bos ton and obtained them. I placed the wallet in a peculiar satchel which had been mado to order for mo, and carried it to my room at tho Hotel Veudoma Later in tho day I met Mr. Randolph, and went with him to a theater. Ho was to return to New York by tho mid night express, and I went with him to tho depot. As wo stood awaiting our turn to purchase tickets you may imag ine my utter astonishment to see a wom an pass and board the train having my satchel in her hand. There could bo no mistake whatever, because the satchel was peculiar, both in shape and color. Of course I saw at once I had been rob bed. It was useless to go back to my ho tel, for that would bo time wasted. If by any miracle there were two such satchels, mine was safe in the hotel. I therefore astonished Mr. Randolph by offerii:<g to accompany him, and I did so, occupying tho same section with him. ( “While I was thinking what action I should bursae, knowing that once tho train stjarted my thief would ho safe as far us Now Haven, Mr. Randolph begun to uruiao Mr. Barnes, and like a Hash it 1 jSgt* ""'ll,, v’vrv:'\ "Ho find my satchel." came to mo that this was my chance. I would rob tho thief of my own proper ty. Thus if caught I could uot bo Im prisoned, while if not I would uot only win my wagor, but I would havo tho excitement and tho satisfaction for which I had wished. Ouo thing threat ened to upset my plans. Mr. Barnes by an odd chance came aboard tho samo coach, was given tho section next to ours and overheard our conversation. This of course I could uot havo counted upon. ” “You did tako it into your account, though,” interrupted Mr. Barnes. "You mean that I refused to tell Mr. Randolph what I meant to do, saying that I might be overheard, and that I might even bo talking fur the benefit of a listening detective? True, but I had no idea that this was so. It was merely extreme precaution, and only shows that wo can never bo too cautious in an en deavor to keep a secret. Later, however, I heard you get up, and peeping through tho curtains I saw yon sitting up or rather lying in a berth opposite, with tho curtains drawn. I at once supposed that you must bo a detective. My com panion was soon asleep, but with $100,- 000 worth of jewels in the balance I could not sleep. I was busy wondering what I should do. I think, though, that I must have dozed, for I know that I was startled to discover suddenly that wo wero not moving. I looked out of our section window—fortunately I was next to it—and found that wo had run into tho depot at Now Haven. Like a flash it came to mo that tho thief might leave the train here. I was about to get up, when to my astonishment I noticed a man sneaking along by tho side of the train. I was on tho side opposite to that from which the passengers would alight, and tho suspicious actions of tho man forced me to watch him. He passed so close to me that I could havo touched him had my window been open, and as ho did so tho light of an electric lamp disclosed tho fact that ho had my satchel. The thief had been robbed al ready. Tho man approached a coal bin, and stooping shoved tho satchel behind it. Then he returned to tho train and came aboard. "I said to myself: ‘That follow Is an artist. He will remain on board till tho robbery is discovered, if necessary, and oven allow himself to bo searched. Then ho will quietly come back and get the satchel and jewels. ’ Thus it was my cue to act quickly. But if I left tho train I knew that the detective would see mo. I therefore gently raised tho sash and deftly let myself to tho ground out of tho window. I quickly took tho satch el, ran to tho end of the depot, and found a place where I could shovo it far under tho platform. Thou I climbed back into the berth, and after that I as sure yon I slept very well ” Tho company applauded this descrip- tion (jf how tho rubbery had been com mitted, and Mr. Mitchel bowed. “Wait, my friends; we aro uot through yot. Tho woman who had robbed mo had tho supremo audacity to report her loss, or perhaps wo should say that sho was so angry that she became desper ate. I have reason to believe that sho had an accomplice in this man, and that suspecting him of robbing her sho would havo boon willing to givo testi mony against him if caught and trust to escape herself by turning state’s evi dence. When we wero rnnui.ig in to Now York, Mr. Barnes directed that all should be searched. I enjoyed that, 1 CONTI XUKi) NEXT WKKK. This pleasant and perfect remedy, so delightful to take, so refreshing and exhilarating, stands in highest favor with all who know it best, as the great est of all medical remedies for both sexes, of all ages and in all conditions. WHAT IT WILL DO FOR TOIL It will give you APPETITE. It will give yon restful refreshing SLEEP. It will stimulate your DIGESTION. It will restore your NERVOUS ENERGY. It will put your KIDNEYS In perfect order. Itwlll purify your Blood. It will change your weakness into STRENGTH. It will bring you out of tloknott Into HEALTH. NEW I'ACKAtiK, LARGE MOTTLE, 108 MUSES ONE DOLLAR. SOLO BY ALL DRUGGISTS. 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