Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-01-21
CHAPTER III.
Mr.. BARNES DISCOVERS An ARTISTIC MUIR

DEB.
While the meal was progressing,
man silently passed through the room.
No ono would have guessed that he had
any special motive in doing so, for he
noticed no one. Neither would one have
supposed that Mr.. Barnes observed him,
for he had his back turned. Yet this was
tho Same individual who upon his in
struction had followed Rose Mitchell
when she left the train.
Breakfast over, the two men started
TO leave the restaurant. Reaching the
stairway which leads above to the main
floor, Mr.. Barnes courteousIy stood aside
to allow his companion to ascend first.
Mr.. Mitchell, however, with a wave Of
tho hand, declined and followed Mr.
Barnes. Whether either had any special
design In this was a thought occupying
the minds of both as they silently passed
up stairs. Mr.. Mitchell had slight adj
vantage, in that being behind he could
watch tho detective. There seemed,
however. to DO little to see. To be sure
the man who had passed through tho
restaurant was idly leaning against the
doorway, but as soon as Mr.. Barnes
head appeared, and certainly before he
could have been noticed by Mr.. Mitchell.
he stepped out into tho street, crossed
over and disappeared into the bank
building opposite. Had any signal passed
between these two detectives: Mr..
Mitchell, despite his shrewdness in send
ing Mr.. Barnes up stairs ahead Of him,
saw none, yet this is what occurred:
Mr.. Barnes said adieu and walked
away. Mr.. Mitchell stood in the door
way, gazing after him till he saw him
enter the elevated railroad station then,
looking carefully about, he himself
walked rapidly toward Sixth avenue.
He did not glance behind, or ho might
have seen the man in tho bank step out
and walk in tho same direction. They
had been gone about five minutes when
Mr.. Barnes once moro appeared upon
tho scene. He stopped in the doorway
where tho other detective had been
leaning. Keenly scanning the paneling,
his eye. lyesently rested upon what he
was seeking. Family written in pencil
were the words "No. - East Thir-
tioth" That was all, but it told Mr..
Barnes that Rose Mitchell had been fol-
lowed to- this address, and as it tailed
with that which she herself had given
to him he knew now that she could be
found when wanted. Wetting his finger
against the tip of his tongue, he drew
it across the words, leaving nothing but
dirty smudgo.
"Wilson il a keen one," thought the
detective. "Hc did this trick woll-saw
my nod, wrote that address and got out
Of sight in an instant. wonder if he
can keep I'm eye on that shrewd scorn-
drol. pslawl / am giving tho follow
too much credit. / must leave it to Will
son for today anyway, us l must get
through with this Pottingill matter. -
Half an hour later hc was ut hoadquar.
tors talking with his assistants.
Meanwhile Wilson followed Mr..
Mitchell TO Broadway, then down - the
Casino, where he stopped to buy tickets /;
then out again and down Broadway 10
the Fifth Avenue hotel, which he eEtor-
ed. He nodded to the clerk, took his key
and passed up stairs. Evidently ho lived
there. Wilson. Of course. had 10 further
definite instructions. From Mr.. Barnes
backward nod he had understood that
he was 20 shadow this man, and, under
the circumstances, il was his simple
duty To do this until relieved by further
orders. In these days Of telephones it is
easy enough to make hurried reports to
headquarters and then continue the pur-
suit. Tho Fifth Avenue is not n promis-
ing place IN which to watch a man, pro-
vided the man knows that he is being
watched. 1t has three exits-ona on
Broadway and ono each on Twenty
third and on Twenty fourth street.
Wilson fattcrcd himself that Mr.
Mitchell was unSuspicious. and therefore
whichever way he nigh. leave the build
ing he wOuld first return his key ut the
desk. He consequently kept that point
in view. Not half an hour had elapsed
when his man appeared, gave mp his
key, rs expected, and passed out by the
broadway door. Crossing the avenue he
walked down Twenty-third street east
ward. Wilson followed cautiously. GO
ing through the park. at Third avenue
Mr.. Mitchell climbed the elevated stair
way, and Wilson was compelled 20 do the
same, though this brought him unpleas-
antly close. Both men took the same
train. Nr. Mitchell in tho first coach,
wilson III tho last. st Forty secoDd
street Hr. Mitchell left the train and
crossed the bridge, but instead Of taking
the annex for the Grand Central depot,
rs one IS expected TO dc, he slipped
through the crowd 10 the main platform
and took train going back down town.
Wilson managed TO get the same train,
but he realized at once that his man
either knew that he was followed or else
was taking extraordinary precautions.
AT Ihirjy-foUrth stree. station tie triel,
was repeated, Nr. Mitchell crossing over
the bridge ard then taking an up town
train. What ruzzled Wilson was that he
could not detect that his man had no.
ticed him. II seemed barely possible, as
they had encountered crowds at both
places, that lie had escaped unobseryed.
be was more satisfied Of this when at
Forty-second street again Mr.. Mitchell
once moro left the train, crossed the
bridge, and this time went forward, tax.
ing tho coach for the Grand Central.
Evidently all the maneuverinc had