Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-02-28
AR ARTIST IN CRIME
RY RoDRIGUES OTToLENGUI.
Author ore Evidence, GA Modern wizard"
Copyright, 1895, by G. P. Putnam's Sons.

Copyright, 1895, by G. P. Putnam's Sons.
CHAPTER XI.
MR. BARNES RECEIVES SEVERAL LETTERS
On the morning of the Sd Of January
the mail which reached Mr.. Barnes
contained several letters Of interest to
those who follow this history. The first
which he opened was very brief. 1t
read:
II Mr.. Barnes will call at his earliest con-
venience he will greatly oblige
EMILY REMsEE.
He read this twice, and then took up
another, which was as follows:
J. Barnes, ESQ:
DEAR SiR-I take the liberty Of recalling to
your mind the conversation which had with
You Last month. I regret very much that
should have hinted that there was any posi-
bility that my friend Mr.. Mitchell might be
implicated in the Pullman car robbery. As
Won know, Miss Emily Remsen was robbed at
the festival, night before last Of q ruby pin
worth $40, 900. It is very evident to my mind
that Mr.. Mitchel's hand Ia In this. know
that he pretends to be sick at a hotel in Phila-
delphia, but may not that be humbug2 1t
would have been easy enough for him to slip
over, don one Of the Forty Thieves dominos.
take the gem and get back to Philadelphia the
same night. This would be q safe theft for
him to commit, especially as he may have the
assistance Of Miss Remsen. Now, as all Is fair
In bet, want you to undertake to prove for
me that Mr.. Mitchell committed this theft I
want to win that wager from him and dont
mind spending money. Even II should ad-
vance you the whole 1000 should save my
own, provided you convict him within year.
Besides, the satisfaction to me would be worth
the money. It takes sharp man to get ahead
Of Mr.. Mitchell. inclose check for $500 as a
sort of retainer, and you may draw on me for
more, up to s1.00o II you should need 1t. By
the way, while writing to you may as well
confess that was wrong In my suspicion OF
Mr.. Thauret. / am sure that he does not
cheat ct cards. have watched him frequent
" since then, and he certainly plays square
game. ! have no reason for liking the man,
and, as fact, dislike him most heartily.
Nevertheless justice compels me to retract the
imputation which I put upon him. Another
thing-the partner with whom he played that
night told you was unknown to me. have
since made his acquaintance, and, though he
Is poor, he Is q gentleman and above suspicion.
His name Is Adrian Fisher. Hoping you will
help me to win my wager. yours truly,
ARTHUR RANDOLPH.
49," thought Mr.. Barnes, ''even
Mr.. Randolph sees through the trans
parent scheme of being sck in Philadel-
phia and stealing his sweetheart's jew
elry in New York. It is one thing to
see the trick, however, and quite an
other to prove it. He thinks that
Thauret and Fisher are both virtuous.
Well. am afraid he is mistaken there. I"
BE took up another letter. 1t read:
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 2.
DEAR Mr.. BARNEs-Pardon my familiarity,
but think we are getting pretty well &C.
Quainted with one another. have just read
the New York newspapers and am startled to
see that Miss Relnsen was deliberately robbed
Of that valuable ruby pin which ! recently
gave her. You will remember thatf showed
you the gem the very day that took 1t to be
vet. am very much disturbed about this af-
fair, especially as am unable, through sick.
ness, to return to New York, and my physi.
clan warns me that 1t will be several days be-
fore can leave my room. Will you do me q
great favorY Forget that I ever disparaged
the detective force Of which you are undoubt.
edly brilliant member and take this case In
hand. will give you 81 L000n you will recover
the Jewel, which is only small reward, con-
sidering its value. send you check for s2oo.
which you ma! use for expenses. and, if more
be needed, let me know ! wish you could
run over to Philadelphia to see me. A con.
versation with you would be great satisfac-
ton to me. Will you oblige, yours very truly,
ROBERT LEROY Mitchell?
Mr.. Barnes read this no less than
three times, and then said aloud, though
there was no one to hear him, "WellW W
That was all, but the tone was rich in
suggestiveness. What he thought, but
did not put into words, was: "That
man has the coolest audacity I ever met.
Here he actually offers me 81, 900 to re-
cover that ruby, when he knows that I
was right by his side at the time Of the
theft. Is be SO egotistic that be dares to
guy me? Is he so sure that he cannot be
convicted? know that he was not in
Philadelphia anyway, as my man found
his room empty. His alibi is broken,
at all events, clever as he thinks him
self. Will I 90 to Philadelphia to see
him? Well, should think SO! A con-
versation with him will be as satisfac-
tory to me as it possibly can be to him.
But first I must obey the call from Miss
Remsen. There may be much to learn
there"
1t was nearly an hour before Mr..
Barnes duties in connection with other
cases made him at liberty. He went
straight to Miss Remsen's and was
shown into her presence.
"You sent for me, Miss Remsen," he
began.
"Yes, Mr.. Barnes" she replied.
"Will you be seated?" The detective ac-
cepted her invitation, and she contin-
ued: "To come to the point at once, I
wish to see you about my lost ruby. 1t
was a present from Mr.. Mitchell to me,
and besides being very costly ! attach a
sentimental value to it. want you to
undertake to recover it, and will give
you 81, 900 if you succeed"
Mr.. Barnes had never had so many
thousand dollar offers made to him in so
short time before. He smiled slightly
and said:
"Your offer comes too late, Miss Rem
sen. I have letter from MIR. Mitchell
himself, making similar offer. 1t
would scarcely be proper for me to ac-
cept two rewards for one service"
"Then you refuse to help me?"
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