Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-01-20
CHAPTER II.
CIIAI Il TIT II.
DARING AND SUCCESSFUL TRAIN ROB-


Berry.
The train was just approaching Staio-
ford, and from the window in the Sec
tion which he occupied Mr.. Barnes was
watching the sun glowing red over the
hilltops, when he heard approaching
him tho guard who lad assisted him to
jump aboaEd tle nigh. before. The man
was making mysterious gestures, from
which Mr.. Barnes understood that he
was wanted. He arose and followed the
porter to the smoking room.
81 think you called yourself Barnes"
said the man, "as you jumped aboard
last night"
Eyes; what Of it?'
"Are you Mr.. Barnes, the detective?"
"Why do you ask?''
because, il you are, the conductor
wants to see you. There was q big rob-
berry committed on the train during the
night"
"Tho devilv'
Exactly, but will you come into the
next c1ach?"
"wait minute. Mr.. Barnes went
back into the main part of the coach
aud tiptoed toward No. 3. Gently NOV
ing the curtains, he peeped in and
looked long and earnestly. He saw two
men undoubtedly sleeping soundly.
Satisfied, therefore, that he could leave
his watch for brief period, he followed
the porter into the next coach, where
he found the conductor waiting for him
in the smoking room.
"You are Mr.. Barnes, the detective?"
asked the conductor. Mr.. Barnes as
sented
"Then I wish to place in your hands
officially q most mysterious case. We
took ON lady last night at Boston. who
had ticket to South Norwalk. As we
were approaching that point short
time ago she was notified by the porter.
She arose and dressed preparatory to
leaving the train. A few minutes later
] was hurriedly summoned, when tho
woman, between hysterical sobs, in
formed me that she had been robbed"
"Of much?''
"Shc claims to miss a satchel contain
ing 500, 900 in jewelry."
lyon have stated that adroitly. She
claims to miss! What evidence have you
that she has met with any loss at all:'
"Of course we cannot tell about the
jewelry, but she did have satchel,
which is now missing. The porter re-
members it. and we have searched thor
oughly, with no success
eve have stopped at New Haven and
mt Bridgeport. How many persons have
left the train?"
mo one has left the sleepers."
"When you say that no one has left
tho sleepers. suppose you mean you
saw no one leave?"
mol Imean just what said. Ihave
sent the porters through tho coaches,
and they report that all our passengers
are in their berths. But here We come to
point. II no one has left the train,
then the thief must be aboard?"
"Certainly!'
"Tho woman when she discovered her
loss concluded to remain aboard and go
ON to New York. All the other passen.
gers save ono are booked for New York.
That one is man, and he is now dress
ing. rs his destination is Stamford. II
he leaves, he may take the jewels with
him, yet what am / tn do!"
estate the facts Of the case to him. II
he is innocent, he will willingly submit
to being searched. If. however, he re-
fuses-wcll, we can be guided by cir.
cumstances. Call him in here now"
A few minutes later foreign and dis
tinctly French appearing man entered.
In speech he disclosed his origin, but
the accent was slight. He was Of fine
appearance. dignified and gentlemanly.
Mr.. Barnes sat Mt the window looking
out The conductor with considerable
hesitancy explained tho case, concluding
with:
"You see, my dear sir. this is an awk-
ward business, but we are so sure that
the thief Il still aboard that
"That Won hesitate to allow me to
leave the train. oh. monsieur. is il not
so? Yet why should there DO any trou-
Bile? An honest man must never be hurt
in his feelings when he is asked to assist
the law. even though for the moment he
is himself a--what You call it-suspect?
In this case it is So simple if only the
honest men will make no trouble. They
Will say to You, Search me! You do
sN, tiiu Ut liSt ODt comes WHO SAYS,
You insult mor That one is of course
the thief. ch, monsieur? Do you not agree
with me-" He turned toward Mr..
Barnes. addressing this last remark to
him. The detective looked ut him mo-
ment steadily, "a was his wont when he
meant To remember a face The French
man returned the gaze undisturbed.
said almost the same thing to the
conductor before you came in" said Mr..
Barnes.
Exactly so. Now, then. with xour
permission l will disrobe. Look. if Won
please, most carefully. Ny honor is at
stake. The more carefully you examine
the less suspicion can attach to me here
after"
Tho conductor made a thoroupb
search emp'ying every pocket and tax.
ing every precaution. He did NOT expec,
to find anything, bur it was essential
that extreme care should be observed
Nothing was found, and the man 70.
sumcd his clothing.
snow, if you please. have with me
but two small satchels. II the porter