Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-02-20

own case-the object of the crime is so
unique that the detective who discovers
It should be able toconvict me. A crime
committed TO decide wager is perhaps
new"
''Its very novelty is your best safe
guard"
"Yet there are two ways by which
1t may be discovered, and that is two
too many. Had undertaken this affair
secretly there would really have been
but single way for one to learn my
secret-my own confession. As men have
been weak enough to do this before now,
I should even in that instance have tax
en- precautions. But with my secret in
the possession of a second party the posi-
tion is more complex. "
81 assure you ON my honor that Twill
not betray you. / will agree to forfeit
five times the wager in such an event. "
''I prefer that you should be perfectly
at liberty in the matter. / expect 1t to
be thus. In your own mind at present you
do not think that shall carry out my
purpose Therefore your friendship for
me is undistnrbed. Then you count that,
if do commit crime, it will be some
trivial one that you may bring your con-
science to excuse, under the circum-
stances. But let US suppose that a really
great crime should be reported, and for
some reason you should suspect me- You
will hurry to my rooms before get out
of bed and ask me fatty whether I am
guilty. AS fatty 1 should refuse to en-
tighten you. You would take this as
confession Of guilt. You would perhaps
argue that If your surmise were correct
you would be an accessory before the
fact, and to shield yourself and do your
duty you would make clean breast of
it."
"I am beginning to be offended, Bob.
I did not think you would trust me so
littlep'
Don't get angry, old man. Remem-
Der that only few minutes ago you
warned me that you would cut me dead
after the crime. We artistic criminals
must be prepared against every contin-
gency."
II did not think when I spoke. I did
not mean it.
"Yes, you did, and I am not at all
angry Let it be understood then that
you will be at liberty to repeat the facts
about this wager should your conscience
prick you. 1t will be best for me to ex-
pect and be prepared for such action.
But you have not asked what the second
danger of discovery is. Can you guess?"
"Not unless you mean as you sug-
gested, your own confession. "
"No, though that really makes third
chance. Yet it is SO simple. Have you
noticed that we can hear man snor-
ing?"
"Nor'
"Listen a moment! Do you not hear
that? 1t is not exactly snore, but rather
troubled breathing. Now that man is
in the third section from us. Do you see
the point?"
"I must confess that I would not
make detective. +"
"Why, my dear boy, if we can hear
that fellow, why may not some one in
the next compartment be listening to
our tete-a-tete?" Mr. Barnes fairly
glowed with admiration for the fellow
careful consideration of every point.
"Oh, / guess not Everybody is
asleep"
"The common criminal from neces.
sity- talzes ehanooss like that without
counting on them. / shall not. There il
possibility. however remote, that
some one, in No. 10, say, has overheard
us. Again, he may even be a detective
and, worse yet, it might be your Mr..
Barnes himself"
| "Well, l must say if you prepare
against such long odds as that you de
serve to escape detection"
"That is just what 1 will do. But
the odds are not SO great as you imagine
/ read in an afternoon paper that Mr.
Barnes had remained in Boston in con
nection with properly securing his pris
oner during the day, but that he woult
leave for New York tonight. Of cours'
the newspaper may have been wrong
Then in saying "tonight" it may hav,
been inaccurate. but supposing TIN
statement were true, then there wer'
three trains upon which he might hay,
started, one at O'Clock, one at IL anC
this one. One in three is not long odds.
"But even if he is on this train ther'
are ten coaches.
"Again you are wrong After hi
hard work on this Pettingill case b
would be sure to take a sleeper. Now
if you recall the fact, / did not decid
to go to New York tonight till the las
minute Then we found that we coul'
not get whole section and were abou
to bunk together in lower berth when
several more people applying, they de
termined to put on another coach. There
fore, unless Mr. Barnes Secured hi
ticket during the day, he would inevi
lably have been assigned to this coach.
"Had you any special reason for sug
gesting No. 10?"
eyes; I know that No. 6 is unoc
cupied. But just as we started some on
came in, and, I think, took the uppe
berth Of No. TO-"
Mr.. Barnes began to think that
would have exceedingly difficult wor
to detect this man in crime were
really to commit one in spite of the fac
that he knew SO much in advance Th
conversation continued:
THUS, you see, there are two way
by which my object may become known
serious matter if unguarded against
AS, however, recognize the possibilitie
in advance, there will be no difficult
whatever, and the knowledge will be G
no value to any detective, even thong
he be your Mr.. Barnes. 4"
"How will you avoid that danger?"
my dear boy, do you suppose for a
instant that I would reply to that afte
- - 49, IL =