Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-01-30

formation goes, Rose Mitchell, who pass
ed as my daughter, was removed from
certain house to 4 certain other house
to you unknown. He paused moment
as though to enjoy Mr.. Barnes discom-
hture, then continued: "She was taken,
SO you suspect, but cannot prove, by
Miss Remsen. Now, then, if Miss Rem
sen, my affianced wife, takes girl who
is my own child from one house to an
other, where is the abduction SO long rs
! make no cCmplaint:''
LET us drop this nonsense, Mr..
Mitchell. You know very well that that
child was removed for a purpose, else
she would not be hidden away. If Miss
Remsen had hand in this, she was
aiding ycu to battle detective investiga-
ton, and that was an illegal act. There
fore we have the right to watch her in
order to discover what we can"
Every well, then, we will grant you
that privilege. Much good may it do
you. But as to the removal of the 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, don't mind telling you that,
though perhaps am showing my hand
little. Let us go to the beginning. In
the first place you knew about my bet,
and 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 Swallowed.
To be sure of this made few trips on
the elevated road, a structure peculiarly
applicable for such a test, with the result
OF course that l soon became pretty well
acquainted with your assistant. When
ever had nothing else to do, would
amuse myself getting away from him.
You gave me occupation for several
hours, 1 assure you. But to come to Lu-
cette. I Guessed that the next step in
your game would be to supply spy No.
2, who would take up the trail wherever
spy No. would lose it. began to look
for this second man. See, I admit that
did not count upon a woman. You
beat me there, or almost did. don
suppose you told the girl to let me sec
her face, eh:''
Mr.. Barnes made no reply, though to
himself he said, "Just as I told the
fool" Mr.. Mitchell went on: cat last
one day, just as Twas getting on 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. l
ride in that because it is the coolest in
summer and the least drafty in winter.
Now there were several cross seats
empty i'll tho coaches through which l
passed, and as the young woman behind
me did not take one, but followed me
through the train, became suspicious.
When she sat down opposite me, of
course l studied her face. hardly ever
forget face after have made men
tai note Of it. The rest is simple. She
was sharp enough not to get off the train
when I did, and dismissed her from
my mind. Thus I suppose she was ell
abled to follow me to the Irving place
house. But, of course, recognized her
at once when / saw her at Miss Rem
sens"
"Did I understand you to say that
this Rose Mitchell is your daughter?"
Il don't know what you understood,
but I did not say SO. spoke of her just
as you did, Rose Mitchell, who passed
as my daughter. ="
well, then, is she your daughter?''
Il decline to answer
"Why do you do sop
II must decline to reply to that also"
do you not see, Mr.. Mitchell, you
are simply making your actions more
and more suspicious?''
''My dear MIR. Barnes, do not care a
straw how much suspicion I arouse SO
long as l am not confronted by any
proof. Whenever you think you have
any proof against me, come to me and I
will endeavor to refute it.''
Every well. You have asked me to
discover who stole Miss Remsen's ruby.
have already done sou
Mr.. Barnes, you are a genius Who
is it:''
Yourself
"Bosh! Can't You do better than that?
Why, have been sick abed here for over
three days.
"Mr. Mitchell, you are caught this
OA "SAO uOU elCk aD0Q mere aC
the time Of the robbery. On the con-
trary, you went over to New York, at
tended the festival and took the ruby
pin from Miss Remsen's hair
Mr.. Barnes, you are .laboring under
delusion. 1 tell you have been in
this room since Dec. 80.
Zone of my men followed you to this
place. On the night of the LIST he regis
tered at this hotel, being assigned to the
room next to this. He picked the lock of
the communicating door and came in
here. thus discovering your absence"
Very clever idea, I am sure. The
fellow deserves credit. But did he tell
you which communicating door he came
through:''
Mr.. Barnes looked around and was
amazed to find that the only door in the
room opened on the hall. The story told
by his man was thus an impossibility.
A thought came to him quickly, and he
said:
You have changed to another room