Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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),4 AN a'uTIST IN CUE. By RODRIGUES OTTOLERGUI (Copyright. ISG5. by O. P Putnam's Bona.] cnA'n’E't in UR. BARNK1* D.SOU>'TTK A.N ARTISTIC MUR— UhR V’h:!o tlie mpa! was pro£rrf>»«’r(;, a mau si.ont !y pus: t :1 ilmragb i » r otn. No one would bavo guoscd that he b id any special notive in doing so. for be noticed no one. Neither would one have supposed that Mr. Barnesobsei ved him, fur be bad h s back turned. Yet this was the same individual ffho upon bis in struction bad fo”uv td Rose Mitcbel when she left the ain Breakfast over, too two men started to leave the restaurant. Reaching the stairway which leads above to the main floor, Mr Barnes courteously stood aside to allow bis companion to ascend first Mr Mitcbel, however* with a wave of the hand, declined and followed Mr. Barnes. Whether either h: d any special design in this was a tbonght occupying the minds of both as they silently passed up stairs. Mr. Mitcbel had a slight ad vantage, in that being behind he could watch the detective. There seemed, however, to be little to see. To lie sure the mau who had passed through the restaurant was idly leaning against the doorway, bnt as soon as Mr. Barnes' head appeared, and certainly before be could have been noticed by Mr. Mitchel, he stepped out into the street, crossed over and disappeared into the bank building opposite. Had any signal passed between these two detectives? ,Mr. Mitchel, despite his shrewdness in send ing Mr. Barnes up stairs ahead of him, saw none, yet this is what occurred: Mr. Barnes said adien and walked away. Mr. Mitchel stood in the door way, gazing after him till he saw him enter the elevated railroad station; then, looking carefnlly about, be himself walked rapidly toward Sixth avenne. He did not glance behind, or he might have seen the man in the bank step ont and walk in the same direction. They bad been gone about five minntec when Mr. Barues once more appealed npon the scene. He stopped in the doorway wliero the other detective had been leaning. Keenly scanning the paneling, his eye presently rested upon what he was seeking. Faintly written in pencil wore the words "No. — East Thir tieth.” That was all, bnt it told Mr. Barnes thu! Rose Mitchel had been fol lowed to this address, and as it tallied with that which she herself had given to him he knew now that she could be fonnd when wanted. Wetting his finger against the tip of his tongne, he drew it across the words, leaving nothing bnt a dirty > muAge. “Wilson is a keen one,” thought the detective. “He did this trick well—saw my nod, wrote that address and got ont of sight in an instant I wonder if be can keep an eye on that shrewd scoun drel. Pshaw I I am giving the fellow too much credit. I must leave it to Wil son for today anyway, as I must get through with this Pettingill matter.” Half an hour later he was at headquar ters talking with his assistants. Meanwhile Wilson followed Mr Mitchel to Broadway, then down to the Casino, where he stopped to buy tickets , then ont again and down Broadway tc the Fifth Avenue hotel, which he enter ed. He nodded to the clerk, took his key ami passed up stairs. Evidently he lived there. Wilson, of course, had no furthei definite instructions. From Mr. Barnes' backward nod he bad understood that he was to shadow this man, and, undet the circumstances, it was his simple duty to do this until relieved by further orders. In those 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 ing place in which to watch a man, pro vided the man knows that he is being watched. It has tuite exits—-one uu Broadway and one each on Twenty- third and on Tweuty-fonrth street. Wilson flattered himself that Mr. Mitchel was unsnspicions, and therefore whichever way he might leave the build ing be would first return his key at the desk. He consequently kept that point in view. Not half an hour had elapsed when his man appeared, gave np his key, as expected, and passed ont by the Broadway door. Crossing the avenne be walked down Twenty-third street east ward. Wilson followed cantionsly, go ing throngh the park. At Third avenue Mr. Mitchel climbed the elevated stair way, and Wilson was compelled to do the same, though this bronght him unpleas antly clcod. Both men took the same train, Mr. Mitcbel in the first coach, Wilson in the last. At Forty-second street Mr. Mitchel left the train and crossed the bridge, bnt instead of taking the annex for the Grand Central depot, os one is expected to do, he slipped through the crowd to the main piatform and took a train going back down town. Wilson managed to get the same train, but he realized at once that bis man either knew that he was followed or else was tuning extraordinary precautions. At Thirty fourth street station the trick was repeated, Mr. Mitchel crossing over the bridge and then taking an np town train. \Vbut pnzzled Wilson was that be could not detect that his man had no ticed him ft seenud barely possible, as they had encountered crowds- at bo'h places, that he bad escaped unobserved. He was more satisfied of this when at Forty-second street again Mr. Mitcbel once more left the train, crossed the bridge, and this time went forvud, tak ing the coach for the Grand Central. Evidently all the maneuvering had merely been prompted by cantion, and not having observed bis shadow the man was about to continue to his true destination. Mr. Mitchel bad entered the coach by the first gate, and was seated quietly in the corner as Wilson passed on, going in by the gate at the opposite end. A moment later the guard slummed the pate at Wilson’s end and pnlled the bellrope As qnick as a flash Mr. Mitchel jumped up, and befn»e he could t>e prevented had left the e jach just as it started, carrying away Wilson, completely outwitted and dumfounded. As soon as the train stopped he darted down stairs and ran back toward the Third avenne station, bnt he knew it was useless, as it proved He saw noth- iug of Mr Mitchel. Wilson was greatly d 1 heartened, for he was most anxions to stand well w ith Mr. Barnes, his chief Yet in revolv.ng over the occurrences of the last half hour he could not see bow he could have prevented the escape of his man, since it was evident that he had intentionally acted in a wav to prevent pursuit- lit one hut knows or suspects that be Is Do ing shadowed the Third avenue elevated road, with ita bridges at Thirty-fourth and Forty •sn'* - r d streets, offers the'most effectual mr uis of eluding the most skillful detective. If Wilson had known anything whatever about the man wko bad escaped him, he might have been i able to guess his destination, and so have caught up with him again by hur rying ahead and meeting him, as he had frequently dene when following noted criminals with whore haunts he was ac quainted. In this instance he was utter ly in the dork, so could do nothing bnt swear. If he could not report where Mr Mitchel had gone, at least he might dis cover at what time be retnrned to his hotel, and possibly Mr. Barnes might , receive some valuable hint by the lapse of time. With this idea Wilson returned to the Fifth Avenne hotel and waited patiently. He telephoned to headquar ters, only to hear that Mr. Barnes bad gore back to Boston to bring Pettingill to New Tork. Seven o'clock arrived, and yet bis vigil was unrewarded. It suddenly occurred to him that, ssb« bad seen Mr. Mitchel purchase tickets for the Casino, that might be a good place to watch, though of course there was no certainty that they were for that night Upon this meager hope he hastened np town and stationed himself where he could keep an eye on all who entered. At 10 minutes past 8 be was about con cluding that his task was useless when a cab stopped, and, to his intense satis faction, hb saw Mr. Mitchel alight and then hand ont a handsomely dressed woman. Wilson had prepared himself for this possibility by purchasing a tick et of admission, so that he followed the couple ihto the theater, determined not to lose sight of his man again. The opera over, he found it easy to shadow the tWo, as the woman declined the proffered cab, perchance because the exhilarating though cold night air made a walk home inviting. He was, how ever, somewhat amazed at last to see them enter the very apartment house on Thirtieth street to which he bad traced Rose Mitchel in the morning. His mind was at once set at ease, for since both of his birds had flown to the same dovecot it seemed plain that they were connect ed. Evidently it was to this house that Mr. Mitchel had gone after elnding him in the morning. At least so argued the astute detective* Wilson had waited opposite the build ings perhaps an hour, lulled into ab straction of tbonght by the silence of the neighborhood, when he was startled by hearing a piercing shriek, lend an long continued, wbich then died away, and all was still again. Whether it came from the apartment house or one of the private dwellings next to it be was in ' doubt That it was a woman's cry he felt sure. Was if a cry of pain or the shriek of nightmare? He cotaid not tell. That solitary, awfnl cry, disturbing the deathlike stillness, seemed uncanny. It made him shi* r and draw bis cloak closer about 1 m. If it had only been repeated, aivr he was on the alert, be would have felt better satisfied, but though be listened intently he heard nothing. Ten minutes later another thing occnrred which attracted his at- the pavemrut a light snow which I -a fullcu in tl.o rarly hours of thett orui; g. Mr Barues. without speaking to the man, walked into the vestibule and scanned the names over the letter boxes. None of them contained tbe one which be fu .ght, bnt there was no card in No. \ Recalling that in Wilson's report a light bad di>appeared from a window on the fifth floor, he knew that it could not be nnoocupied. To get in be resorted to a trick often prucuerl by sneak thieves. He rang tbe bell of No* 1, and when the door silently swung open be walked in, apologizing to the servant on the first landing for having "rang the wrong bell, "and proceeded np to the filth floor. Here he rang tbe bell of the pri-a e hall belonging to that special apartment He conld have rung tbe ower bell of this apartment at tbe out- . et, i t be wished to make it impossible for any one to leave after his signal an- nonneed visitors. He stood several min- ntes and beard no sound from within. A second pnll at tbe bell produced no better results. Taking a firm hold of the doorknob, ho slowly turned it, makiu? not the slightest noise. To bis snrpris the door yielded when he pressed, and in a moment he'had passed in and closed it behind him. His first idea was that, after all, he had entered an empty apartment, bnt a glance Into the room at the farther end of the hall showed him that it was a furnished parlor. He have been no reason tor asetroyfliq i marks, since she had giver that i to several" Mr. Barnes next brushed tbs efa ashes from tbe grata upon a and carried them to the window in tha front room. His examination satisfied him of two things—ths murderer had burned tbe bits of cloth cat from tha various garments and also a number of letters. That tbs fellow was stadiooaly careful was plain from the fact that tits burning had been thoroughly dona Nothing had escaped the flame save two buttons with a bit of cloth attached and varions cornu's of envelopes. With dis gust Mr. Barnes threw ths ashes back where be had fonnd them. Next be paid his attention to the cab inet desk, which stood open. He palled ont all the drawers and peered into ev ery nook and cranny, bnt his search was fruitless. Ha fonnd nothing bnt blank paper and envelopes, and these of com mon kind. Once more returning to tbe room where the corpse lay he noticed a trank from which protruded a part of a gar ment. Raising the lid he fonnd every thing within in.apromiscoons pile. Evi dently it had been hastily starched and carelessly repacked. Mr. Barnes took each article oat and examines it closely. Everything npon which a name might have been written showed a place where •> i'cci* had been ent ont "There must tention. A light in a window on the cu moved. Without further hesitation hesitated a moment, then walked stealth- : be Hume good reason for hiding this wo- ily toward that room, and, looking in, ■aw no one. He tiptoed back to the hall door, turned the key, took It from the lock and dropped it into his Pocket Again he passed forward to the parlor, this time entering it It was elegantly and tastefully furnished. The windows opened on the street Between them stood a cabinet writing desk, open, as though recently used. Beside it was an enamel piano lamp, possibly the same wbich had famished the light wbich Wilson had suddenly missed several honrs before. Opposite tbe windows a pair of folding glass doors communi cated with an apartment beyond. These were closed. Peeping throngh a part of the pattern cut in the glass, Mr. Barnes could just distinguish the form of a woman in bed, her long hair hanging down from the pillow. This sight made him uncertain as to the next move. This was possibly Mrs. Rose Mitchel, as she bad announced herself. She was asleep, and be had entered her apart ment without any warrant for doing so. True, he looked upon her with some sus picion, but the most innocent frequently r ' ’ way, an 1 without better rnOjii .. u bad lie knew that he ”. ■'* ,.ut legally for what be WUh lii, nig. As he stood by the ,;lats doors cogitat ing he chanced to louk down. Instant ly his eye was attracted by that wbich made him shiver, as accustomed as he Was to strange sights. It was a tiny red stream, which had managed to pass un der t 1 “ door and had then run along the pi ■' ic upet for the space of a few ini L tuutly l-e stooped, dipped his t' ’ into it and men ejaculated under hn, I:: a : h: "I .ood and clotted." 5 unding’upright, be once more peer ed into the room. The figure in bed had fifth floor was extinguished. There was certainly nothing suspicions about this, for lights are usually put out when one reurea He nctiuii ii t ,:au<- - It was the only light wbich showed frctu my of the windows during his vigil W.ijle he was thinking of tins the door opp . its opened, and a man emerged. Jnitging it to be Mr. Mitchel, he hastily to 1 . lowed. That there might certainly be no mistake Wilson walked rapidly enough to reach tbe avenne corner ahead of the man when he crossed, so timing himself that he passed in front of the | other just as they both reached the street lamp. Taking a quick but thorough look, Wilson saw that it was not Mr. Mitcbel, so he abandoned the pursuit, go ug lack quickly toward tbe apartment house, i He had proceeded but a few paces when be met Mr. Mitcbel coming rapidly to ward him. Breathing a -sigh of relief, he passed, tb$p crossed the street, and with his usual skill readily kept Mr. Mitchel in sight until he entered the Fifth Avenne hotel. Wilson saw him take bis key and go np stairs, so that be felt that his vigil was over for that night Looking at his watch, be noted that it was just 1 o’clock. Going into the reading room, be wrote a report of the day’s occurrences, and then, calling a messenger, seat'it to headquarters ad dressed to Mr. Barnes. Th*is done, be felt entitled to hurry home for a abort sleep —short, because he knew it would be bis duty to be on the watch again the next day and until be received farther instructions from Mr. Barnes. Mr. Barnes had immediately after his arrival obtained the requisition pa pers for which be had telegraphed, and wbich ha fonnd awaiting him. With these he had retnrned to Boston the same day, and obtaining bis prisoner succeeded in catching tbe midnight train once more, arriving in New York with the loss of but a single day from the new case which so absorbed all hia in terest Thus the morning after that on wbich the jewel robbery bad been discovered be entered his offices quite early, having delivered bis prisoner at police head quarters. When be read Wilson’s letter, the only sign wbich be gave of dissatisfaction was a nervous pnll at one corner of his mustache. He read the paper through 1 three times, then tore it carefnlly into tiny pieces, doing it so accurately that they were all nearly of the same size A gleam of triumph glistened in hit eve. and shape. Anyonewboahonid attempt to piece together a note which Mr. Barnes had thus destroyed would have a task. Standing by the window, be tossed : them high in the air and eaw them aoat- ' tered by the wind. ( I At half past 8 o'clock he stood before ' the apartment house in East Thirtieth he slow ly slid tbe doers apart. One glance within, and mnrmoring the single word “Murder!’ 1 Mr. Barnes was no longer slow in bis actions. Stepping across a big pool of blood which stained the carpet, he stood at tbe side of the be’ He recognized the features of the vcn.a'i who had claimed that she had oecii robbed of her diamonds. She seem- c-i sleeping, save that there was an ex- t ifess >u of pain on the features, a con traction of the skin between the eye brows. and one corner of the month drawn aside, the whole kept in this po sition by tbe rigidity of death. The manner of her death was as simple as it was cruel. Her throat bad been cut as she slept. This seemed indicated by th> fact that she was clad in her nightdress One thing that pnzzled Mr. Barnes at onoe was the pool of blood near the door. It was fully six feet from the head of tbe - bed, and while t.'idre was another jnst by the bedstead, formed by blood which had trickled from the wound, ranning down the sheets and so drop ping to the floor, the two pools did not communicate. “Well,” tbonght Mr. Barnes, ”1 am first on the scene this time, and no busy- bodies shall tumble things abent till I have stndied their significance. ” This room had not been designed for a sleeping apartment, bnt rather as a diningroom, which npon occasion conld be opened into the parlor, converting the two into one There was one window npon an airshaft, and in an angle was a handsome carved oak mantel, with fire place below Mr. Barnes raised the cur tain over the window, lettting in more light Looking around, be noticed almost immediately two things—first, that a basin stood on a washstand half filled with water, the color of wbich plainly indicated that the murderer had washed off telltale marks before taking hia de parture; second, that in the fireplace was a pile of ashes "The scoundrel has burned evidence against him and deliberately washed the blood from his person before going away Let me see, what was it that Mitchel said. ‘I should have stopped to i’n from tl e carpet while neul'. irum the dog’s mouth. ’ old 1 is friend he would do u on*tu Y*mle coi -lifting a crime In this instance the ‘.-.aiu on the carpet' was too much for him, hut he washed it from himself. Gan it be that a man lives who, contemplating a deed of this character, would make a wager that h* wonld not be detected? Bah! It is im possible. '' Thus thought Mr. Baru-s as be e uJ ; d the evidence before him Ha next turned to the woman’s clothing which lay on a chair. He rummaged through the pocket, but fonnd nothing. In h idling the petticoat he noticed that r : i .ce had been out from tbe band. , Examining tbe other garments, he soon j soLis, a folding saw that the same bad been done to them r '8ht piano in all Lika a flash, an idea struck him. Going over to the bed, be searched for some mark on the garments which were on the corpse. He oould find none until he lifted tbe body np and turned it over, when be found that a piece had been out from tbe nightdress. "That accounts for the blood by the door," tbonght Mr. Barnes. “Ha took h-r ont of the bed to get her nearer to ae liftht, so that he conld find tha in itials marked on the clothing. While she lay by tbe door the blood flowed and ao- cumulated. Then he put her back in bed, so that he wonld not need to step over her in walking about the room. What a calculating villain 1 There is one significant fact here. Her name cannot man's identity, or tbe scoundrel wonld not have been ao thorough in hie work, ” tbonght Mr. Barnes. Jnst then, in re placing the clothing, he heard a crink ling sound which indicated that a bit of paper was in the pocket of tbe garment. Hastily be withdrew it, and was de lighted to observe writing. "A clew at last,” he mnrmnred, harrying to the front room window to read it This was what he fonnd: LIST OF JEWEU3. One diamond. 1V4 carata tU.000 One emerald, IMi carata 15,000 One ruby, 15K carata 10,000 One sapphire, 10 carata 6,000 One pearl, pear shaped, white 16*000 One pearl, pear shaped, black 10,000 One pearl, white, egf shaped 8,000 One pearl, black, egg shaped. 6,000 One canary diamond. 5.00b One topes, SOO carats 6,000 (100.000 Tbe ten jewels are all perfect specimens et their kind. The first four are ent exactly alike. The pear Shaped pearls are similar In sise and shape, ss are also the egg pearls. The canary diamond is oblong and the topaz unexcelled. The lot are contained In a red Russia leather case 4 by 0 inches in size, lined with black sat in. Each jewel fits In a special depression and Is held In place by a gold wire clasp- Tbe case has the name “MITCHEL” in gold letters serous the hand which straps around it This was all, no name being signed Mr. Barnes regretted this last fact, but felt that he held a meet important pe- , per in hia hand, sinoe it seemed to be corroborative of the woman’s statement that she had lost a lot of unset jewels. It was of great valno to have so minute a description of the stolen gema Fold ing the paper carefully, he placed it in his wallet, and then retnrned to the vi cinity of the oorpae. I Looking closely at the ent in the neck, the detective determined that the assassin had used an ordinary pocket- knife, for the wound was neither deep nor long. It severed the jugular vein, which seemed to have been the aim of the murderer. It was from this circum stance that the detective decided that the woman had been attacked as she slept This aroused tbe question, ‘‘Did the murderer have tbe means of enter ing the boose without attracting atten tion?” Either he most have had a night- key, or else some one mast have admit ted him. Mr. Barnes started as the thought recurred to him that Wilson had seen Mr. Mitchel enter the bonse some time before the scream was heard and depart some time after. Was this the woman who bad accompanied him to the theater? If so, bow oould the have retired and fallen asleep so quick- . It? Evidently further light must be II brown npon this aspect of the case. ! While meditating the detective’a eye roamed about the room, and finally rest ed npon a shining object wbich lay on tbe floor near tbe trank. A ray of light from the front window jnst reached it and made it glitter. Mr. Barnes looked , at it for some moments mechanically. ; t’noping presently to pick it up, with Utile tbonght of what he did. He had scarcely examined it, however, before a gleam of trinmph glistened in his eye He held in his hand a button, which was cut a cameo, npon which was carved the profile bead of a woman, beneath wbich appeared tbe name "Juliet ” be heard m say: “Come la, i stand opoeoere Mr. Barnest: ! tiou, croared Into t noticed at onoe ■rent was as luxurious Mr. Mitchel was atandiih minor shaving himself, • silk asanting wrapper. "Pardon this intrusion,’ Barnes. "Batyon told malt at any time, and”— me. Bnt I must finish shaving, yon know. A man can't talk with lather on one side at his face. ” _ “Certainly not Don't hurry. I can wait ” “Thank you I Taka a sent Ton will find that armchair by the hod eomforta ble. This is an odd hoar to he making one’s toilet; bat the fact is, I was oat late Inrt night” - "At the etalh I suppose," said Mr Barnes, wishing to sse if Mr. Mitcbel wonld lie to him. In this ha was disap pointed. far the reply was: "No; I went to the Casino. Lillian Russell, yon know, has retnrned. I had promised a friend to go, so we want ” "A gentleman?” "Are yon not getting inquisitive? Mo; not n gentleman, bnt ■ lady. In tact that is her picture on that easel” • Mr. Banes looked and saw an oil painting representing a marvelously beautiful bead—a brunette of strong emotions and great will power, if her portrait were truthful. Here was a sig nificant foot Mr. Mitchel said that be had been to the Casino with this wom an. Wilson claimed that they hod gone to tbe boose where the murdered wom- C n lay. It wonld seem that Mr. Mitch- l’s friend must live there, and thus he had gained access the night before* Did be know that the other also lived there and did be go into her apartment i after leaving his companion? As this | passed throngh Mr. Barnes’ mind his i eyes wandered acroos the bed. He saw a waistcoat, upon which ha observed two ' buttons similar to tbe one which be had secreted in hit pocket Stealthily ha reached hit hand toward the bed, bnt hia fingers had scarcely touched tbe waistcoat when Mr. Mitchel said with out turning from bis shaving: "There is no money in that waistcoat, Mr. Barnes.” “What do yon mean to insinuate?" said Mr. Barnes angrily, withdrawing his hand quickly. Mr. Mitchel panted a The ianitar was sweeping tree# have been Boat Mitchel, or there wqgM CHAPTER IV. DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND* Mr. Barnes, after discovering the cameo button, immediately left the apartment With little loss of time hr reached the Fifth Avenne hotel Hr fonnd Wilson sitting in the lobby and learned from him that Mr Mitchel had not yet oome down stain. He made his subordinate happy by complimenting him npon bis work and exonerating him from blame because of his having las. bis man for a few honrs the day before With the button in his pooket Mr B-.irnes fonnd it easy to be good natnred If the truth were known, he was ohm kling to himseli Tbe thought wbich proved such a fund of merriment was the idea that bis man np stairs had proved himself jnst da ho man as ordinary criminals, sinoe he bad left behind him the very telltale marl- which be had boasted would not be "foninl after he had committed his crime Externally, however, there was no sign to show that Mr. Barnes was in any way excited. Hecalmly asked at the desk foi Mr Mitcbel, and sent np his card ju-: as any ordinary visitor might have done In a few minntes the hallboy retnrned with the onrt message, “Come np. ” Mr. Barnes was shown up one flight of stairs into a suit of two rooms and a bath overlooking Twenty-third street Tha room which he passed into from tbe hull was fitted np like a bachelor’s par lor. Comfortable stuffed chairs and two reading chair, an np mahogany case with handsome piano lamp beside it, a curved center table on which stood a reading lamp, oigar case in bronae, photo al bums, handsome pictures on the walla in gold frames, elegant vases on the mantel, an onyx clock, a full sised figure of a Moor carved in wood serving as a card receiver—in fact, everything about the place was significant of wealth, luxury and refinement Could this he the den at a murderer? It seemed not,an leas there might he .tome powerful hid den motive, which wonld make a mas who was evidsntiy a gentleman stoop to snob a crime. According to MV. Banes' experience such a motive most involve a woman. At yet there was no womaa in this case, savs the corps* which he had inst left All thin flashed throngh the Stealthily he reached Me hand toward the bed. moment before replying, deliberately made one or two more sweeps with hia razor, then turned and faced the detect ive. “I mean, Mr. Barnes, that yon forgot that I was looking into a minor. ” “Your remark indicated that I meant to steal ” “Did it? I am sorry But really yoa should not adopt a thief’s stealthy methods if yon are so sensitive. When I invite a gentleman into my private room, 1 do not expect to have him fin gering my clothing while my beak is tamed. ” "Take care, Mr. Mitchel yon are (peaking to a detective. If I did (tretoh my hand toward your clothing, it was srith no wrong intent, and yon know it'' “Certainly I do, and what is more I know just what yon were wishing to dot Yon moat not get angered so easily. I should not have used the words which I did, hot to tell yon tbe troth I waa piqued. ” “I don’t understand. ” “It hurt my feelings to have yon treat me jnst like an ordinary criminal That yoa should think I would let yon corns in here and make whatever examina tions yon have in yonr mind right be fore my very eves Wounded my pride. I never should have tamed my back npon you except that 1 faced a mirror. I told yon I know what yon wished to da It was to examine tbe buttons on my vast, was it not?” Mr. Bams was staggered, bat did not show it Calmly be said: "As yon know, I overheard yonr con versation on the train. Yon spoke of having a sat of five ourioos battona and"— “Pardon me, I said six, not five. ’* Once more Mr. Barnes bad failed to trap tha man. He suggested five, hoping that Mr. Mitcbel might claim that to have been tbe origin*] number, tiros elimi nating the lost one. “Of oonree yon did say six. now I re member.” he oontioned, “and I think yon will admit it was not unnatural cu riosity which led me to wish to aee them, that— that—well, that I might rsoog- oias them again. ” "A very laudable intent But, my dear Mr. Barnes, I have told yon that yon may call upon me at any time and ask me any question yon plmae* Why did yon not frankly ask me to show yon tha buttons?" “I should have done so* I do so now. ” "They are in the vest Yon may ex amine them if yon desire it ” . Mx* Barnes took np the vaat, and waa pnmled to find six battens, three of Jo liet and three of Romeo. Still ha wm Satisfied, fur they were identical with the om in his pocket It ooearred to him that this man who waa so careful in hia preoantiona might have lied to tothn number in tha ask and bane aaidate whan in reality tbare were seven. A tow Fortune* “Tbeae are very beautiful »l and unique too Ihasenr of oumaobattens before It mid they ware** Mu Hitobal dropped into u< rooker before hetepUed: _ _ Mr. earns to strike 11 “Mr Mitcbtl, first ttan, and How many battona wore oat?" “Seven," answered Mr promptly that Mr. Barnes eouM repeat, amazed: “Seven? Bat yon said six only a mo ment agof" "I know what I said. I never forget any statement that I make, and all my statements are ncenrata* I said that six is the entire aat Now you ademe vrtmft wm tha original number, and I reply seven. Is that clear?’’ "Then the other batten has been tat?" "Not at all I know whore it is.” "Then what do yon mere by saying that tbe set now is only six?" i ‘ Excuse me. Mr. Barnes, if I decline to answer tha? question. I hare tepBart now to sevenil since I asked you why yon came here this morning.” 'Y . “I will tell you,” said tbe deteetive, playing his tramp card, as ha tbonght “I have been examining the place where yonr crimo was committed, aed I have found that seventh button t” If Mr Barnes expected Mr Mitcbel to recoil with fear, or tremble, or do any tiring that re ordinary criminal does when brought face to face with evifreoo of bis guilt, he most have beta disappointed. .Bnt it is safe to assume that by this 'time so skillful a man m Mr Barnes did not expect ao oousammate re actor as Mr. Mitchel to betray feeling. Madid show some interest however, far be arose from his chair, and wnBting up to : Mr. Barnes he asked simnlv: | "Have yon it with yon? May I tee it?*' Mr Bones hesitated a moment won dering if be risked losing the button by handing it to him. He decided to give it to him and did so* Mr. Mitchel looked at it closely, «s though an expert, and after several mo menta of silence he tossed it nerelesnly into the air, entehing it aa H oame down, red then said: "This would make a pretty situation in u play, Mr. Barnes. Follow mu De tective diaouvars crime and finds .curious button. Goes straight to criminal and boldly tell* him of tha foot Criminal admits that be has bnt six battona red of seven red asks to aee the butt found. Detective foolishly hands it him. Then criminal smiles blandly red says: ‘Mr. Deteetive, now I have seven buttons, and my ret is complete again. What are yon going to do ebon* HV ” ‘•‘And the datootive would reply,” mid Mr. Barnas, falling into the homer of tb* situation, “Mr. Criminal I will just take that back by feres*” • “Exactly. Yon catch tbe spirit of tbe Mage picture* Then fight between two men, applause from the gallery, and vfe- tory for either party, m tha author has decided. That is tbe way it would ba done in a play. Bat in real lifs it is dif ferent I simply bred yon book yonr button thus,” handing batten to Mr Barnes and bowing politely. Than he remarked: "Mr. Barnes, yon ms wei- oome to that. It ta not a par* of my mt!” "Not a part of year ae*?" echoed the detective, dumfounded. “Not * port of my sat I am Berry to disappoint yon, hot m it in I will even explain, for I sympathise with yon. I told yon the mt wm origtawny arum So it was, hot tea seventh barton Am tbeheadof Shabtoptoreontt. All mem were given to me by my Wired, betas I oould wear but six I returned toko this odd Bbskimpsew button, uMek I bad made into a breastpin, and kspt tbe others, thos redaciag the set e( bot tom to six The seventh is aa bonger u button, yon mo*” But bow do you aeoaunt for tha fret that this button which I hare ta plainly a portrait cf your friend and a counter part to thorn on yonr veto?" “My dear Mr. Borneo. I don't amount tor it I don’t hare' to, yon know. That ■art of thing ie your hariasee. ” What if I should decide to aneta you to onoe and ask a jury to -y* You BUJ Read It In This *o B.O. L.AW t ▼mi jjjUPltPj -U.-,.* Bx-Jre*»J.K.1 Practice in 1 Dari I Janie—y T.«.gpAnt SPAM A Attorneys at DABLOtcrrox, - - - Offices in Special at vr— r '' BOYD 4 v. . tltade to yaatmH T!K batten orator “That would be inconvenient tome, of course. But it 1s one of those tbisf* that wo risk every day—I mare are aat i. I do not ta sure that toamtoren” “And why ao, prayf" “Because I am sura ran away, in ly, you would •ton would be so aagy for me to prow all that I hare told you. and in yore mind yon are saying to yoreeelf that I hare nob lied to you. Really I hare not" "I hare only em thing sserato sayto you, Mr. Mitchel” mid Mz. Batnaa, rising. “Will yoaritowma that seventh "That ie asking a g> will grant your reqeata t tiou. Think wall baCon bargain. Wbm I maA did not calculate tbs taagllng ta my i womaa whom I tore 4 That tot will i , tartot I vritt i win tall deal ball inn T. O, anatom