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

Gated that Mr.. Barnes was being served
About the third course MIR. Randolph
endeavored to lead the conversation in
the desired direction.
thrust. said he. addressing Mitchell,
"that you have entirely recovered from
that unfortunate illness that prevented
you from attending the affair at Rawls-
ton's?''
''Oh, yes!' said Mitchell. eft was
but a temporary matter. The only seri-
GUS result was that was kept from the
festival think might have saved
Miss Remsen from the annoyance of los
ing her ruby"
''But, Mitchell" said Mr.. Randolph,
"while Of course one does not like to
lose SO valuable gem, at the Same time
you can safely replace it,
"What makes you think so?''
"Why, you have SO many jewels. Do
you know l was saying only recently that
any one who, like you, would hoard
up rare gems, keeping them locked in a
vault where no one can see them, is in
way insane. I was glad when You
gave that ruby to Miss Remsen. and
took it as symptom Of returning lucid
ity that you should unearth enc of your
hidden treasures have no doubt that
you have others like it buried in some
corner of your safe. Why not get one
out and present it to the Lady,"
lyon are mistaken, Randolph. can
not so easily produce a mate to that
ruby"
"Why not? Was there anything Pc
culiar about it?''
Eyes, but we will not talk of it,
This curt way of dismissing the sub
jsoi was n surprise to Mr.. Randolph,
for however little Mr.. Mitchell cared to
show hi. SENS ho had never before been
unwilling to embrace any opportunity
to talk about them. Mr.. Randolph start
ed in a new direction, remembering the
hints Of the detective.
Mitchell" said lie, 81 would almost
be willing to wager that you not only
can give Miss Remsen as good a ruby,
but that you could actually give her the
same one.' -
II hope to do so," was the quiet re-
ply.
lyon don't understand me. mean
that half believe that your sickness in
Philadelphia was all farce; that you
came over and yourself stole the gem"
"Indeed? And what leads you to such
preposterous deduction:''
81 think that this is your way of en-
deavoring to win your wager. think
that no ono but yourself could have
IA 70 Se, ka;
as for no one else would she have SUBJ
mitted.''
Randolph, your repeated illusions
to Miss Remsen in this connection, and
especially your insinuation that would
| ask her to be an accomplice in such q
piece of duplicity, and that she would
consent, arc distasteful to me in the ex-
| treme. If you will pardon my saying So,
it is a poor entertainment to offer q
guest"
"Oh, meant no offense, old man,
assure you! We will drop the subject,
of course
This was followed by silence. Mr..
Randolph was at his wits end to find q
way to force Mr.. Mitchell to talk. He
felt that nothing had been accomplish
ed. Mr.. Barnes, however, thought diff
ferently, for he had at last come to a
positive conclusion. From Mr.. Mitchel's
tone of voice and the words of his last
speech the detective felt certain that
whatever part Mr.. Mitchell himself may
have played in the robbery Miss Rem
sen was innocent. Ee also wondered
whether the conversation would now
drift back to the ruby. Perhaps it would
not have done so had not Mr.. Thauret,
who. up to this point, had scarcely
spoken during the progress of the meal,
once more preached the subject.
Il beg pardon, Mr.. Mitchell" said
he, "but your remark just now, that
there is something special about the los,
ruby, has greatly excited my curiosity.
Unless you have some private reason fo1
not doing so, beg that you will tell Us
the history of the gem, if it has one"
There was pause, during which Mr..
Mitchell looked at his plate and seemed
as though studying problem. Mr..
Randolph was delighted that Mr..
Thauret had come to his assistance in
this unexpected way, and as he observed