Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-01-31

Thauret "But tell us frankly, since
we are pledged not to repeat what we
hear, do you suppose there is any power
inherent in the stone which attracts
persons to their discovery"
81 cannot say, but that is one Of the
claims. This seems to be susbtantiated
by recent events too"
Elbow sou
"Well. my usual interest in large
gems led me to police headquarters
when that woman Rose Mitchell was
killed, after having been robbed. The
jewels, you remember, had been quickly
recovered and are still in the hands Of
the police. was allowed to see them.
and tho ruby in that lot is undoubtedly
the mate to mine. :"
lyon think that it was the presence
of that stone which led to the discovery
by the police Of tho satchel containing
the jewels:"
Mr.. ThauTet seemed much interested,
but Mr.. Mitchell merely shrugged his
shoulders for answer, though it seemed
plain that no did hold that opinion. Mr..
Barnes wondered whether Mr. Thauret's
interest was due to the fact that, having
stolen the jewels, he was astonished to
hear Of 50 strange IN explanation of
their recovery from the hotel where he
had hidden them. Yet the mans next
words seemed to dispel such an idea. He
said:
lyon may believe in that sort Of
thing, Mr.. Mitchell, but l, who have
only modern ideas, cannot accept any
such theory. The fact that the stones
have always been discovered when hid
den has led these who know the history
to mistake a chain of condolences for
evidence of supernatural power within
the stones themselves I think I can
readily account !,E. the series Of hidings
and findings"
II should be pleased to have you do
so," said Mr.. Mitchell.
"Have You never read Edgar Poe's
tale, the one where letter is stolen and
hidden? The detectives failed to find it,
though it was in plain sight all the.
time, but another man did find it. He
went upon the correct theory that tho
thief, knowing that search would be
made, and guessing that all obscure
places would be explored first, would
hide it in some commonplace manner.
Ho visited the apartments, and found
tho letter III tho letter rack. Now this
is ingenious, but Mr.. Poe here gives us
bit Of special pleading and a curious
anomaly at the same time. He wished
to show that an obscure corner would be
bad hiding place, and SO worked out
his result. At the same time he draws a
skillful thief who baffled expert police,
and yet who hid his letter where the
first man with brains easily found it.
This is the anomaly. Where the article
is small, as is the case with this lost
ruby, there is but one safe place for the
thief to hide his stolen property"
"And that place ISL" asked Mr.. Mitch
el, himself betraying interest.
Upon his own person, where at all
times he could be on the alert to thwart
the searching committee"
"Ah, you are forgetting" said Mr..
Mitchell, THAT idea was not overlooked
by Edgar Poe. In the tale the man was
waylaid by officers in disguise, who
bound him and then searched him. If
the letter had been about him, it would
have been found"
"Not at all. The letter was placed
in an envelope, which had been turned,
and then mailed SO that ON the reverse
it received tho postal imprint. This
foiled the detectives when they exam
ined the letter rack. 1t would have
fooled them in exploring his pockets if
found with other letters similarly ad-
dressed. On the ether hand, had it been
in his pocket the man who finally OBJ
tanned it could have done SO by creating
confusion in the street which attracted
the man to the window. 1t would have
been difficult for him even to guess that
it was in the pocket. Besides with the
ruby it would be simple, since it is an
article that can be disposed of at a mo-
ment's notice"
every true" said Mr.. Mitchell,
"but"- Here he paused for a moment
and seemed distracted. Quickly recov-
ering, he said: "What was saying?
have lost the thread of our conversa-
tion."
"Mr. Thauret suggested that the thief
could keep the ruby about him, replied
Mr.. Randolph.
"Ah, exactly! Now I remember.
Well, should say that it would be a
hazardous undertaking. believe, had I
stolen the gem-as, by the way, Ran
dolph, You suggested-I could do better
than that"
"Ah,'' said Mr.. Randolph, "this is
getting interesting. Come, tell rs. How
should you hide the jewel supposing
that yen had taken it?''
"That is leading question, said
Mr.. Mitchell. II prefer not to answer
it. Walls have ears, You know" He
said this in significant way that made
Mr.. Randolph uncomfortable for a mo-
ment. Mr.. Mitchell at once continued,
II will say this, however, that the
thief, whoever be is, cannot profit by
his theft
"Why not:" asked Mr.. Thauret.
Because there is not another gem in
existence save those two which are so
absolutely perfect in color. In fact. they
are the standards by which rubies are
valued. 1t is claimed that the expression