THE NORTH - PLATTE- SEMI-WEEf LI TR1BUNE-: TUESDAY- Ef ENiKG, JA.OTARI M, 1896.
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JTirsi Rational Bdn,
NORTH JPTjAJJOTJEZ, IsTEB.
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A. F. STREITZ
Drugs, Medicines, Paints, Oils,
PAINTERS' STJFIPLITCs'
JND0W GLASS, -: MACHINE OILS,
"Dia,:m.a,:rrta,
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Corner of Spruce and Sixth-sts.
" ')Q :
rv ml M$ vr- Call there for all kinds of - .
Seasonable : ;
. L v Hardware, ';n ;
1 Jl prices low.
IFiRIbTIKILjIIlsr IFIE.A.IjIEJ'S
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ESTABLISHED JULY 1868. ... 310 SPRUCE STREET.
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N0BTH : PLATTE : PHARMACY,
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Orders from the country and along the line of the Union
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Ihfcimates furnished. Repairing, of all kinds receive prompt attention"
Locust Street, Between Fifth and Sixth,
ortii 3?latte, -y "Nebraska.
FINEST SAMPLE E00M
Haying refitted our rooms in
is invited to call and see us,
finest Wines, Liquors and CFgars at the Bar.
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Spectacles.
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IRA Ii 13 ARE j Editor and Peopbeetok
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One Year, cash in advance, $1.23.
Blx.Moaths, cash la advance... 75 Cents.
Entered atthelfortliPlatte(NebrR8ka)poBtofflceaa
second-class matter. -
O. M. Kem, tlie "unknown." makes
a public declaration that he will not
be a candidate for re-nomination.
'Tis well.
The republican nomination for
congress in the Sixth district this
year is about equivalent to an elec
tion; This is one reason why there
are so smany republican aspirants
for the nomination.
Colorado reduced its yield of sil
ver last year by $3,506o,O0O and in
creased its gold output by $6,200,
000. This looks surprisingly like a.
a new ratio and goldbug- activity of
the most effective kind.
"We cannot consistently hold the
democratic party responsible for
the number of suicides during the
past year, yet if business was more
active these violent deaths would
oe less trequent. in tne prosper
ous times of republican administra
tion people were too busy to grow
despondent or become weary of life.
HX-SENATOR AKERS, Ol SCOttS
Bluffs county, will be a candidate
beiore the republican congressional
convention; that is, he has formally
announced himself as a candidate.
Just how much strength the ex-senator
will develop is not certai .
He may be able to secure the dele
gates from his own county.
If Tom 7. Majors is really seek
ing- another nomination for gover
nor, we hope the republicans in tht
east part of the state will take him
to one side and tell him 4 'just how
it is." "We have considerable ad
miration for Thomas J., but the re
publicans cannot afford to invite de
feat by giving him the nomination
It is evident that the Venezuelan
Commission does not propose to dr
its work hurriedly, and this polity
will be approved by the country.
The issue involved are of vital im
portance, and should be considered
in a deliberate and painstaking way
with a view to arriving at the con
clusion that the government can
safely stand upon, even to the ex
tent or groins: to war tor its main
tenance.
Eepubucans of Northwest Ne
braska, or rather the territory com
prised in the Sixth Congressional
district, will be recreant to them
selves and inconsiderate of the in
terests of the party if they do not
demand of the next republican state
convention the recognition that has
so long been denied. There is no
reason why the state organization
should abandon this portion of the
state to populism. The west offered
a winning candidate for governor
two years ago. But . reminiscence
is painful. What about '96?
Kearney Hub.
Several populist papers in the
Sixth district includes Col. T.
Fulton Gantt, of this city, in the
list of names which will be pre
sented to populist congressional
convention. Judge Neville is also
placed in the same list and the man
up the .tree will await with interest
the contest between the Colonel
and the Judge as to who shall have
the delegates from Lincoln county.
It is generally conceded that Editor
Cheyney is a warm admirer of Col.
Gantt and that he will boost him
in preference to Judge Neville. Of
the latter we shall know more in
the future.
From expressions so far heard, it
,is evident that the republicans of
the west part of the state do not
desire two state conventions. One
objection urged is that it two con
ventions are held, the first will not
be much more than an opportunity
for candidates for state nominations
to do their trading.and use whatever
coercive powers they may possess.
Another objection urged is the ex
pense attached to sending delegates
to two conventions, a matter that
cuts considerable figure with the
people of Western Nebraska.
Those favoring two conventions
claim that if nominations for state
officers are made at the convention
which selects delegates to the St.
Louis convention, it means a long
tiresome and lethargic compaign.
But not necessarily so. It is not
likety the state campaign will open
much m advance of the presidential I
campaign, and this would mean a
sharp, aggressive canvass of not
over eight weeks duration at the
longest. If the nominations for
state officers are made at the con
vention which will be held the lat
ter part of May, the nominees will
have abundant time to quietly get
around to see the people prior to
the formal opening of the campaign,
and this in our judgment will be of
benefit to them.
BY
0TT0LCNGUI
Copyright, 1895, by G. P. Putnam's Sons.
quoted.' ;
'Turn up the lights t Axohbery nas
been committed I"
"Instantly all was confusion. People
crowded forward, and Mr. Barnes felt
himself hurled violently toward the ad
vancing throng. Toppling against some
one, both fell to the gronnd, and several
others tumbled over them. Pandemoni
um reigned supreme, yet it was some
time before any one thought of turning
up the lights. Mr. Van Bawlston, un
derstanding the situation better than any
other, was the first to recover his pres
ence of mind, and himself turned on the
electricity. The sudden rush of light at
first onlv made thines worse, for it
blinded everybody. Thus, to the detect
ive's chagrin, several valuable minutes
were lost before he could extricate him
self from the pile of people who had
tumbled over him and find a chance to
say aloud:
"Miss Remsen has been robbed. Let
no one .leave the house. Masks off 1"
Mr. Van Bawlston rushed to the door
to see that no one departed, and people
crowded around Miss BemEen to condole
with her upon her loss. Mr. Barnes
searched for AH Baba and was amazed
when he found him to discover that it
was not Mr. Thaurefc.
"Who are you?" -he asked roughly.
"My name is Adrian Pisher," was
the reply. This astonished the detective,
but it pleased him, too, for it seemed to
confirm the suspicion that this man was
an accomplice. He deoided quickly te
say no more to him at that time, and
hastened toward MissBemsen to observe
her behavior. If she knew anything in
advance, sbe certainly was acting ad
mirably, for she had grown excited, and
was talking vehemently to those about
her, declaring against the disgraceful
management so she termed it which
had enabled a thief to enter the rooms.
While Mr. Barnes was thinking what
to do he saw Mr. "Van Bawlston ap
proaching -t him, accompanied by Mr.
Thauret, who was now iu evening dress.
"Mr. Barnes, how was this thing
done? Wjjy did you not prevent it:"
"I tried to do so, but could not. You
must understand, Mr. Van Bawlston,
that I am not omniscient. I suspected
that this robbery would occur, but could
not know how "it would be accomplish
ed. Nevertheless I saw the act "
"Then why did you not seize the
thief?"
"I attempted to do so, and was
thrown down from behind by his accom
plice." "Can you identify the person by his
dross?"
"That is ' unfortunately impossible.
All that I know is that he was one of
the Forty Thieves and evidently played
his part well."
"This is Mr. Barnes?" said Mr. Thau-
ret inquirmgJy, continuing at once:
"Yes, of course it is. We have met
twice, I think. You say your thief was
dressed as one of the Forty Thieves.
That interests mo, for I wore one of
those dresses. Why not ask all who did
to allow themselves to be searched?"
"I will not hear of -such an indignity
to my guests," at once ejaculated Mr.
Van Bawlston. "Search people in my
own house 1 No, sir. I will willingly
pay for the lost gem rather than do so. "
"You are quite right," said the de
tective, keenly eying Mr. Thauret. "I
am sure that it would be useless."
"As you please," said Mr. Thauret,
and with a satirical sriiile he bowed and
joined the group around Miss Bemsen.
Mr. Barnes told Mr. Van Bawlston
that it would be useless for him to re
main longer and that he would depart.
He did not do so, however, until he had
assured himself that Mr. Mitchel was
not in the house. He "went to the door
and found that the boy who had been
told to guard it had been absent looking
at the tableaus when the confusion oc
curred, so that he did not know whether
any one had left the house or not. He
therefore departed in disgust.
"That fellow Mitchel," thought he
as he walked rapidly down the avenue
"that fellow is an artist. To think of
the audacity of waiting till the very
moment when his wager would be lost,
and then committing the robbery in
such a manner that 100 people will be
able to testify that it occurred within
the limited period. Meanwhile there is
an excellent alibi for him. Sick in a
hotel in Philadelphia! Bah J Isn't there
one man that I can depend upon?"
At Forty-second street he took the
elevated road, and in 20 minutes he
was at his office. Here ho found the spy
who had followed Mr. Mitchel to Phil
adelphia. "Well," said he angrily, "what are
you doing here?"
"I am sure that Mitchel has returned
to New York. I came on hoping to catch
up with him, and at least to warn you. "
"Your warning comes too late. The
mischief is done. Didn't you have
brains enough to telegraph?"
"I did just before I started." The
dispatch was on Mr. Barnes' desk un
opened. It had arrived after he had
started for the festival.
"Well, well," said the detective tes
tily, "I suppose you have done your
best That fellow has the devil's luck.
What mado you think that he had .come
to New York? Wasn't he sick?"
"I thought that might be a game or
an alibi. To find out I registered, ask
ing for a room near my friend, Mr.
Mitchel. They gave me the one next to
his. I picked the lock of the door be
tween the rooms and peeped in. Seeing
no one, I went in. Thb place was emp
ty. The bird had skipped. "
"Take the next train back to Phila
delphia and do the best you can to find
out when Mitchel reaches there. He has
gone back sure and will bo sick in bed
in the morning, or my name is not
Barnes. Bring mo proof of his trip to
and from New York and I will give
you 50. Skip."
CHAPTER XL
ME. BARJvES RECEIVES SEVERAL LETTERS.
On the morning of the 3d of January
the mail which reached Mr. Barnes
contained several letters of interest to
those who follow this history. The first
which he opened was very brief. It
read:
If Mr. Barnes will call at his earliest con
venience ho vill.greatly oblige
EsuiiT K mis EX.
He read this twice, and then took up
another, which was as follows:
Highest of all in Leavening Power. Latest U.. S. Gov't Report
fet
Absolutely pure
J. Barnes, Esq. :
Dear Sir rtakotha liberty of recalling to
yohr mind the conversation "which. I had ivith
you last month. I regret very much that I
should have hinted that thero was any possi
bility that my friend Mr. Slitchcl might ho
implicated in the Pullman car robbery. As
you know, Miss Emily Remsen was robbed at
tho festival, night before last, of a ruby pin
-worth $20,000. It is very evident to my mind
that Mr. MitcheTs hand is in this. I know
that he pretends to be sick at a hotel in Phila
delphia, but may not that bo a humbug? It
would have been easy enough for him to slip
over, don one of tho Forty Thieves dominos,
take tho gem and get back to Philadelphia tho
samo night. This would bo a Bafo Ihef t for
him to-commit, especially as ho may bae tho
as3istanco of Miss Remsen. Now, as aU is fair
in a bet, I want you to undertake to provo for
mo that Mr. Mitchel committed tins theft. I
want to win that WAger from him and don't
mind spending money. Even if I should ad
vanco youtho whole 11,000 1 should save my
own, provided you convict him within a year.
Besides, tho satisfaction to mo would bo worth
tho money. It takes a sharp man to get ahead
of Mr. Mitchel. I incloso check for $200 as a
sort of retainer, and you may draw on mo for
more, up to $1,000, if you should need it. By
tho way, while writing to you I may as well
confess that I was wrong in my suspicion of
Mr. Thauret. I am sure that he does not
cheat at cards. I have watched him frequent
ly sinco then, and he certainly plays a square
game. I have no reason for liking tho man,
and, as a fact, disliko him most heartily.
Nevertheless justieo compels mo to retract tho
imputation which I put upon him. Another
thing tho partner with whom he played that
night I told you was unknown to mo. I have
sinco made bis acquaintance, and, though ho
i3 poor, ho is a gentleman and abovo suspicion.
Hisnamois Adrian Fisher, Hoping you will
hplp me to win my wager, yours truly,
Aitxmnt Randolph.
"So," thought Mr. Barnes, "even
Mr. Randolph sees through the trans
parent scheme of being sick in Philadel
phia and stealing his sweetheart's jew
elry in New York. It is one thing to
Bee the trick, however, and quite an
other to provo it. He thinks that
Thauret and Fisher are both virtuous.
Well, I am afraid ho is mistaken there. "
He took up another letter. It read :
PniLADEUHiA, Jan. 2.
Dear Mn. Barnes Pardon my familiarity,
but I think wo arc getting pretty well ac
quainted with one another. I have just read
the Now York newspapers and am startled to
see that Miss Bemsen was deliberately robbed
of that valuable ruby pin which I recently
gave her. You will remember that I showed
you tho gem the very day that I took it to bo
set. I am very much disturbed about this af
fair, especially as I am unable, through sick
ness, to return to New York, and my physi
cian warns me that it will bo several days be
fore I can leave my room. Will yon do me n
great favor? Forget tliap I ever disparaged
tho dctectivo force of which you are undoubt
edly a brillant member and take this case in
hand. I will give you $1,000 if you will recover
tho Jewel, which Is only a small reward, con
sidering its value. I send you a check for $200.
which you may use for expenses, and, if more
be needed, let me know. I wish you could
run over to Philadelphia to seo me. A con
versation with you would be a great satisfac
tion to me. Will you oblige, yours very truly,
Robert Lerot MitciielV
Mr. Barnes read this no less than
three times, and then said aloud, though
thero was no one to hear him, "Well I"
That was all, but the tone was rich in
suggestiveness. What he thought, but
did not put into words, was: "That
jnan has the coolest audacity I ever met.
Here he actually offers me $1,000 to re
cover that ruby, when he knows that I
was right by his side at the time of the
theft. Is he so egotistic that ho dares to
guy mo? Is ho so sure that he cannot bo
convicted? I know that he was not in
Philadelphia anyway, as my man found
his room empty. His alibi is broken,
at all events, clever as ho thinks him
self. Will I go to Philadelphia to see
him? Welf, I should think so! A con
versation with him will be as satisfac
tory to mo as it possibly can be to him.
But first I must obey the call from Miss
Remsen, There may be much to Ieam
thero,"
It was nearly an hour before Mr.
Barnes' duties in connection with other
cases made him at liberty, He went
straight-to - Miss Remsen 's and was
shown into her presence.
"You sent for me, Miss Bemsen," he
began.
"Yes, Mr. Barnes," she replied.
"Will yon be seated?" The detective ac
cepted her invitation, and she contin
ued: "To come to the point at once, I
wish to see you about my lost ruby. It
was a present from Mr. Mitchel to me,
and besides being very costly I attach a
sentimental value to it. I want you to
undertake to recover it, and I will give
yon $1,000 if you succeed."
Mr. Barnes had never had so many
thousand dollar offers made to him in so
shorf a time before. He smiled slightly
and said:
"Your offer comes too lato, Miss Bern
sen. I have a letter from Mr. Mitchel
himself, making a similar offer. It
would scarcely be proper for me to ac
cept two rewards for one service."
"Then you refuse to help mc?"
"On the contrary, I will use my ut
most endeavors to detect the thief and
recover your property for you. But I
need no money from you. "
"You aro very conscientious, Mr.
Barnes, and I admire it. I honor a
man whoplaces his duty above money. "
"I thank you for your courteous re
mark. Now, if I am to help you, you
must begin by assisting me. "
"Iwill do whatever lean, certainly."
"Then, tell me, have yon no suspicion
.as to who might have taken your jew?
el?' The girl hesitated, and the detect
ive watched her face keenly. As she
did not reply at once he asked another
question :
"Did you feel the person take the pin
from your hair?"
"Yes, I did; but I did not realize
what was occurring till lie had it. "
"Why did you not make any resistance
or cry out?"
Again she hesitated, but in a moment
she said firmly:
"I know that you havo a right to ask
me these questions, and I will reply to
them if you insist upon it. But first, tell
me, would it be right for me to call a
name to you as one that I may havo sus
pected when I had but the flimsiest ex
cuse for my suspicion? Might I not
thus do more harm than good by attract
ing your attention to a false scent?"
"That is certainly a possibility, Miss
Remsen, but it is one which I am in
clined to risk. I mean that I prefer to
trust to my experience than to havo you
pmit to tell me your suspicions. "
"Very well; only promise me that
you will not jump to conclusions and
Baking
thus perhaps UTirioy tno person wnom x
shall naine."
"I agreo to that. I will take no actiom
without sufficient reason other than that
furnished by yourself."
"Very well. You asked if I suspected
any one, and again why I did not resist
the thief. If you will remember, my
head was bowed. At first I could not
understand how something seemed to
move my pin. I fancied that it had be-,
come entanghd in tho sultan's robe.
Then the clock began to chime, and in a
moment it flashed across my mind that
perhaps Mr. Mitchel was taking my pin
in order to win his wager. Therefore I
said nothing. This makes my action
clear to you?"
"Perfectly. Then I am to understand
that Mr. Mitchel did not tell you in ad
vance that he would do this?"
"No, he did not, and that is why I
have sent for you. "
"I don't understand you."
"Why, all the time that I thought he
had tho pin I was not worried. I even
went so far as to act indignation at the
festival. That was partly for your edifi-
J cation and mystification. I wanted to
help Mr. Mitchel's plan. But when it
occurred to mo yesterday that Mr.
Mitchel, if he had meant to take the
pin, would havo told mo in advance, I
saw at once that my first idea was
wrong and that my ruby is really gone.
Then I wrote to you. "
"Then you feel snre that ho would
have told you in advance."
"Positive."
"May he not havo feared to ask you
to implicate yourself in robbery and
possible scandal? You know he was
liable to arrest, and it might be a con
siderable time beforo he could have
proved that his theft was only a joke.
He may have wished to spare you no
toriety." "Heknows me better than that" She
said this with a smile.
"How better?" asked the detective.
"I mean that he. knows there is noth
ing that I would not risk for him, sinco
I have consented to give him myself. I
am one of those women, Mr. Barnes,
who ar-o not easily deterred from aiding
the man of her choice."
"Do yon mean that you would be
willing to share unenviable notoriety
with him and that he knew this?"
"I do, and therefore feel confident
that he would have asked my assistance
if it had been his intention to tako my
pin."
"Just as ho did on anorJior occasion?"
Tho detective had been leading her up
to this for he last few moments, and
now watched to see tlie effect.. She did
not change countenance, but simply said :
"What occasion?"
''Tho morning when he locked your
maid in this room while you went down
town and took a little girl from one
housa to auothcr?"
"To what other?" This was a hard
one for the detective, and as he did not
reply she smiled aggravatiugly as she
continued:
"Mr. Barnes, you have no proof of
your assertion. You suspect that I did
what yon say, but you do not know it.
As I told yon just now, it is possible for
a bare suspicion to lead one astray. "
"Porhaps, but I do not think that I
am far wrong in this instance."
"We will not discuss it. Let us re
turn to the ruby. You told Mr. Vau
Bawlston, so he tolls me, that you knew
in advance that this crime was about to
occur. Did yon know the person who
would takp the pin?"
"To bo perfectly frank with you,
Miss Bemsen, I expected that Mr. Mitch
el would tako it. I think now that he
vdid tako it. Do you wish me to continue
the investigation? It may lead to your
friend's losing his wager, whereas you
have tho right to notify the police that
your gem litis been returned to you. That
would make our work on the case use
less and assure him of winning his bet. "
Mr. Barnes' object hero was ingenious.
He thought that if tho girl accepted his
suggestion he would thus be assured
that she still suspected Mr. MitchcL
Thus ho would reach her true opinion
of the case. Her answer was :
"I cannot do that. It would certainly
bo to give up my hope of recovering tlie
stone. I am sure that Mr. Mitchel has
not taken it. If I am wrong and he has
done so without trusting me, why then
be has mado a mistake and must suffer
by it. I am sure, however, it will prove
otherwise. So do tho best you can, if
you please."
'You may rely upon it that my best
energies shall bo devoted to this work.
I wisli you good. morning."
About G o'clock that same afternoon
Mr. Barnes sent his card up to Mr.
Mitchel at the Lafayette in Philadel
phia. A few minutes later ho was shown
into that gentleman's room and found
him in bed.
"Delighted to seo you, Mr. Barne3.
You aro very kind to como and seo me.
For doing so I am alma-it willing to for
give you -for the wrong which you have
dono mel"
"Wrong? What wrong?"
"Do yon remember the dayyou came
to see mo at the Fifth Avenue about the
button which you had found? You asked
mo to show you the seventh of my own
set. I agreed on condition hat you
should not annoy the lady."
"Well?"
"You broke your premise, that is
all."
"In what way?"
"In the first place you bribed her maid
to tell her a lie and leave her so that
one of your spies could take her place ;
secondly, your spy did take her place,
the result of which was that Miss Bern
sen could not re-engage her old maid
and has had much trouble to get another
as good."
"I did not foresee when I made that
promise that such an eniergency would
arise as did later."
"Very true. Bnt I did, and I warned
you that you would gain nothing by
making the promise, since you would
only find my own story verified by your
visit."
"Well, I am very sorry and will say
that it shall net ocqnr again."
"But, Mr. Barnes, 'it "has occurred
again."
"How so?"
"Why, sho cannot leave her home at
any time without being dogged by your
spies,"
Mr. Barnes bit his lip in chagrin to
find how well this man was acquainted
with his plans, but ho replied unhesitat
ingly :
"This time you are wrong. I prom
ised you not to annoy Miss Bemsen in
connection with the particular case of
"Delighted to see you, Mr. Barnes."
which wo were then speaking. My men
have shadowed her in connection with
another affair."
"What other affair?"
"Abduction."
"Abduction? Absurd! Who on earth
has Miss Bemsen abducted?"
"The girl Bose Mitchel."
"And who, pray, is the girl Bose
Mitchel the daughter of the murdered
woman?"
"Perhaps. That is what I intend to
discover. She passed, however, as your
daughter."
"Ah! Now can you prove that she is
not?"
"No."
"Very good. Then, so far as your in
f ormationoes, Bose Mitchel, who pass
ed as my daughter, was removed from
a certain house to a certain other house
to you unknown. " He paused a moment
as though to enjoy Mr. Barnes' discom
fiture, then coutinued: "She was taken,
so you suspect, but cannot prove, by
Miss Bemsen. Now, then, if Miss Bern
sen, my affianced wife, takes a girl who
is my own child from one house to an
other, where is the abduction so long as
J make no complaint?"
"Let us drop this nonsense, Mr.
Mitchel. You know very well that that
child was removed for a purpose, eLe
she would not be hidden away. If Mits
Bemsen had a hand in this, she was
aiding you to baffio detective investiga
tion, and that was an illegal act. There
fore we have the right to watch her in
order to discover what we can."
"Very well, then, we will grant you
that privilege. Much good may it do
you. But as to the removal of tlie child,
that was done because your spy Lucette
had discovered where she was, and I
did not choose to have her annoyed."
"What makes you so certain that this
Lucette was my spy, as you term it?"
"Well, I don't mind telling you that,
though perhaps I am showing my hand
a little. Let us go to the beginning. In
the first place you knew about my bet,
and I knew that you knew that much.
From that starting point what more nat
ural than for me to suppose that you
would begin by having me shadowed.
To be sure of this I made a few trips on
he elevated road, a structure peculiarly
applicable for such a test, with the result
pf course that I. soon became pref ty well
acquainted with your assistant. When
ever I had nothing else to do, I would
amuse myself getting away from him.
You gave me occupation for several
hours, I assure you. But to come to Lu
cette. I guessed that the next step in
your game would bo to supply spy No.
2, who would take up the trail wherever
spy No. 1 would lose it. I began to look
for this second man. See, I admit that
I did not count upon a woman. You
beat me there, or almost did. I don't
suppose you told the girl to let me seo
her face, eh?"
Mr. Barnes made no reply, though to
himself he said, "Just as I told the
fool." Mr. Mitchel went on: "At last
one day, just as I was getting on a train,
a smart looking young woman came out
of the waiting room and followed me
aboard. Purely from habit I walked
through the train to the first coach. I
ride in that because it is the coolest in
summer and tho least drafty in winter.
Now thpre were several cross seats
empty l"i tho coaches through which I
passed, and as tho young woman behind
me did not take one, bnt followed mp
through the train, I became suspicious,
When she sat down opposito me, of
course I studied her face. I hardly ever
forget a face after I have made a men
tal noto of it. Tho rest is simple. She
was sharp enough not to get off tho train
when I did, and I dismissed her from
my mind. Thus I suppose sho was en
abled to follow mc to the Irving place
house. But, of course, I recognized hor
at onco when I saw her at Miss Bern-
sen's."
"Did
I understand you to say that
this"Bose Mitchel is your daughter?"
f. 'I don't know what you understood,
but t did not say so. I spoke of her just
as you did, 'Bose Mitchel, who passed
as my daughter,"'
"Well, then, is she your daughter?"
"I decline to answer. "
"Why do you do so?"
"I must decline to reply to that also. "
"Do yon not seo, Mr. Mitchel, you
aro simply making your actions more
and more suspicious?"
"My dear Mr. Barnes, I do not caro a
straw how much suspicion I arouse so
long as I am not confronted by any
proof. Whenever you think you have
my proof against me, come to me and I
will endeavor to refute it."
"Very well. You have asked me to
discover who stole Miss Remsen '& ruby.
I havo already done so.
' ."Mr. Barnes, you are a genius. Who
s it?"
''Yourself."
"Bosh J Can't you do better than that?
Why, I havo been sick abed hero for over
three days."
"Mr. Mitchel, you are caugnc tms
time. You were not siclc abed nere at
tho timo of the robbery. On the con
trary, von went over to New York, at
tended" the festival and took the ruby
pin from Miss Bemsen's hair."
"Mr. Barnes, you are laboring under
. . -T- ; n T 1 1 -
a deinsion. j. ren you jl nave Deen in
this room since Dec. 30.
"One of my men followed you to this
place. On the night of the 1st he regis
tered at this hotel, beiug assigned-to the
room next to this. He picked tho lock of
tho communicating door and came in
hero, thus discovering your absence."
"Very clever idea, I am sure. The
follow deserves credit. But didho tell
1