Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-01-23
CHAPTER ".


Mr.. Barnes, after discovering the
cameo button, Immediately left the
apartment. With little loss of time he
reached the Fifth Avenue hotel He
found Wilson sitting in tho lobby and
learned from him that Mr.. Mitchell had
not yet come down stairs. He made his
subordinate happy by complimenting
him upon his work and cxonerating him
from blame because Of his having lost
his man for few hours the day before.
With the button IN his pocket Mr..
Barnes found 1t easy to be good natured.
If tho truth were known, he was chuc-
king to himself.
The thought which proved such fund
of merriment was the idea that his man
up stairs had proved himself just as hu-
man as ordinary criminals since he had
left behind him the very telltale mark
which he had boasted would not be
found after he had committed his crime.
Externally, however, there was no sign
to show that Mr. Barnes was in any way
excited. He calmly asked ut the desk for
Mr. Mitchell, and sent up his card just
as any ordinary visitor might have done.
In few minutes the hallboy returned
with tho curt message, Come up. "
Mr. Barnes was shown up ono flight
Of stairs into suit Of two rooms and
bath overlooking Twenty third street
The room which he passed into from the
hall was fitted up like a bachelors par
lor. Comfortable stuffed chairs and two
sofas, folding reading chair, an up
right piano in mahogany case with
handsome piano lamp beside IL, carved
center table on which stood reading
lamp, cigar case in bronze photo nj
buns, handsome pictures on the walls
in gold frames, elegant vases ON the
mantel, an onyx clock, n full sized figure
Of IA Moor carved in wood serving as
card rcceiver-in fact, everything about
tho place was significant Of wealth,
luxury and refinement. Gould this bo
tho den Of Il murderer IL seemed not, un-
less thero might be some powerful hid
den motive, which would make man
who was evidently gentleman stoop to
such n crime. According 10 Mr. Barnes
experience such motive must involve
"a woman As yet there was no woman in
this case, save the corpse which he had
Jl1h Aiits al AAAi7 iaA7iA'A AitAbAEii WV
detectives mind as no noted his sur
roundings in IA few swift glances. Then
he heard voice from the next room
say:
Come in, Mr. Barnes We must not
stand upon ceremony with ono another" "
Mr. Barnes, in answer 10 tho invita-
ton, crossed into the adjoining room and
noticed ut once that tho sleeping apart
ment was as luxurious as the parlor
Mr. Mitchell was standing in front Of IA
mirror shaving himself. being robed In
a silk morning wrapper.
Pardon this intrusion" began Mr.
Barnes but you told mo ! might call
at any time, and -
mo excuses necessary except from
me. But | must finish shaving, you
know. A man can't talk with lather ON
one side Of his face"
Certainly not Don't hurry. can
wait "
"Thank youI Tato scat. You will |
find that armchair by tho bed comforta
bio. This is nn odd hour 10 be making |
ono's toilet; but, the fact is, was out
lato last night "
At the club, ! suppose, SAID Mr.. |
Barnes, wishing 10 SEQ If Mr.. Mitchell |
would lie 10 him. In this he was disap- |
pointed for the roply was:
mo; ! went to the Casino. Lillian |
Russell, you know, has returned. had |
promised a friend 10 20, so wo went.
"A gontlcmanf"
"Are you not getting inquisitivof |
10; not a gentleman. but lady. IN |
fact, that iB her picture on that easel. "
Mr. Barnes looked Q1d saw an oil |
painting representing maryelously |
head brunette Of strong |
und great VIII power, If her
portrait wcro truthful Here was sig |
nilcant TACT Mr., Mitchell said that ho
bad boon to tho Casino with this wom-
an. Wilson claimed that ihoy had Rono
10 the house where tho murdered WON
"a lay. 1t would sccm that Mr. Mitch
slB friend must 1.-Two there, and thus
hc had gained access the night before.
Did no know thnt the other also lived
there and did he 90 into her apartment
after leaving his comrnnioni As this
passed through MIR Barnes mind his
5ycs wandered across the bod Iio saw n
upon which ho observed two
buttons similar ~ the ono which he had
,sqgqtea ip hia pocket, stealIAily ho