Rock Island Argus., 1896-02-05

indeed DO. l am young and can
afford to wait that long, l am sure.
There will be time enough afterward to
get i husband
"Then it would not make any differ
ence how anxious snitor might be to
have his reply at once:''
"No, certainly not. If a man did not
love me enough to wait few months
for his answer, should think myself
we'll rid CT him. Besides it would give
me chance to study him.
"Suppose-bnt, no-I do ask YOU.
Miss Dura-Dora-I love You madly.
passionately, and
"Well, don t say any more. If that is
true and you love me madly, passionate
ly, why, then You will surely wait till
January for your answer" This was
said rather curtly. and Mr. Thauret's 6
hopes sank, but rose again to fever heat
as she said very softly: There, did
not mean to hurt you. You must not
think me hard. But I must win that
wager. Net so much for the money rs
for the qualification Of proving to Bob
that have some control over myself.
Surely If you truly love me You will
not begrudge me that satisfaction?'
mo, no, sweet one. Have your own
way. I'll wait. Only say that there is
some chance Of my succeeding"
why, of course, every one has q
chance. But l must not tell you how
great yours is, because if / did would
not be winning my bet fairly. And
must say good night" with which she
left him. Her last words fingered with
him, and he took comfort. For what
could she mean but that his chances
| were good, since if otherwise how could
the telling prevent her from winning
| her wager? Nevertheless, Gs tho weeks
went on he tried many times to get a
| more definite reply from her, but never
succeeded. Still he hugsed the cherish
| cd hope to his heart and waited as pa
| tiently as man could
Randolph was simply miserable all
the time. Whenever he was with Dora,
she was good TO him, kind to him and
| often used tender tones that thrilled his
| heart. But he, too, failed to get any
| thing from her, save the old request that
he should be patient and wait He, too,
waited, but not patiently.
Meanwhile, in New York, Mr.. Barnes
was still burrowinS into everything that
| seemed to have any connection direct or
| otherwise with the mystery or mysteries
that baffled him. Of one thing he had
| satisfied himself beyond ali doubt That
| was that Nj. Fisher had not been i'm
plicated i'll the train robbery. His spy
| had found that he had been absent from
| the city during three days at the time
Of the crime, but this very fact had been
shown to be his safeguard.
By some skillful work the man dis
covered that during that time he had
simply been off shooting ducks in part
of the country where it would have
been impossible for him to be an accom-
| plicc. This simple fact should not have
| been hard to discover We're it not that
Fisher had kept his trip secret This
fer some time puzzled tie detective, but
finally he followed him out of tho city,
and practically accompanied him Oh a
similar outing, after which he learned
that his sister was mcrbidly opposed to
| all killing, whether for sport or for a
| livelihood. It was to humcr this idea
that her brother made his excursions in
secret. The spy learned from the man
froin whom the dogs were hired that
Mr.. Fisher had used them in December
So that left him out Of the score, or at
least SO it seemed. 1t was still possible
that he was implicated in the ruby rob-
berry, though, save that lie was present,
there seemed nothing against him. Mr..
Barnes did not entirely leave him cut
| Of The account.
Thus practically the detective made
10 progress, and was chagrined to be
compelled to admit it. Finally, how
ever, an idea occurred to him, upon
which the mere he dwelt tho moro fas-
cinated he became with it. To put it
into practice, however, he felt that he
must await tie return Of Mr. Mitchell.
He thought he would injure his cause
by seeking him and so disturbing him
during his pleasure trip.
The Mitchels did not keep their prom
ise to go to the White mountains, but,
on the contrary, prolonged their west
ern travel, SO that it was November be-
fore they were at home again and tenn
| d6 INC lItn avenue.
A few days after, Mr.. Barnes sent up
his card, and. as usual, was cordially
received.
ANY news of my wife's ruby?" ask
ed Mr. Mitchell, grasping the detective
warmly by the hand.
''No, Mr.. Mitchell I am sorry to say
that I am utterly unable to prove any
Of my theories about that. But have
como to a set determination, and one
that to you may seem peculiar one. ]
have come to ask your assistance in the
murder case.
why, certainly, I will help YOU.
Did not tell you so at the very outset:
Have l not always been willing to talk
freely to you?''
"You have, but as long as I thought
tiiat you yourself might have committed
the crime, how could I come to you to
a>S you to assist me?''
"Then am to understand that at
present you do not suspect me:"
Il have come to that conclusion at
last and wish now that I had done SO
sooner.