Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-04-23

| WHICH WOulU uak6 u COmmOtlOQ, ana
yet for which be could not be imprison-
ed if detected, since his f1ancee, at his
instigation, would say that she had
simply aided the scheme to further the
wager, as perhaps she had, since she did
not stir when the gem was being taken.
All this flashed through Mr.. Barnes
brain in q half moment, and by the
time the thief before him had secured
the ruby and was standing erect he had
decided upon his course of action. This
was to seize the man at once and pro-
claim him thief. Ofcourse Mr.. Mitchell
would be able to explain his act, but at
the same time he would have lost his
wager.
The man in front turned to pass ON,
and Mr.. Barnes darted forward to seize
him, when, to his establishment, he was
himself held as in a wise by the man be-
hind him. He struggled to free him
self; but, taken by surprise, he discover
ed that he was powerless, What angered
him more was that the thief was fast
disappearing in the gloom. Determined
not to be outwitted, he shouted
"Turn up the lights A robbery has
been committedW
Instantly all was confusion. People
crowded forward, and Mr.. Barnes felt
himself hurled violently toward the ad-
vancing throng. Topping against some
one, both fell to the ground, and several
others tumbled over them. Pandemoni-
um reigned supreme, yet it was some
time before any one thought Of turning
up the lights. Mr.. Van Rawlston, un-
derstandiug the situation better than any
other, was the first to recover his pres
ence Of mind, and himself turned ON the
electricity. The sudden rush Of light at
first only made things worse, for it
blinded everybody. Thus, to the detect
ives chagrin, several valuable minutes
were lost before he could extricate him
self from the pile Of people who had
tumbled over him and find chance to
say aloud:
"Miss Remsen has been robbed. Let
no one leave the house. Masks off"
Mr.. Van Rawlston rushed to the door
to see that no one departed, and people
crowded around Miss Remsen to condole
with her upon her loss. Nr. Barnes
searched for Ali Baba and was amazed
when he found him to discover that it
was not Mr.. Thaqget.
"Who are you?' be asked roughly.
"My name is Adrian Fisher" was
the reply. This astonished the detective,
but it pleased him, too, for it seemed to
confirm the suspicion that this man was
an accomplice. He decided quickly to
say no more to him at that time, and
hastened toward Miss Remsen to observe
her behavior. If she knew anything in
advance, she certainly was acting ad-
mirably, for she had grown excited, and
was talking vehemently to those about
her, declaring against the disgraceful
management-so she termed it-which
had enabled thief to enter the rooms.
While Mr. Barnes was thinking what
TO do he saw Mr. Van Rawlston ap-
preaching him, accompanied by Mr..
Thauret, who was now in evening dress
"Mr. Barnes, how was this thing
done? Why did you not prevent it?"
II tried to do so, but could not. You
must understand, Mr.. Van Rawlston,
that am not omniscient. I suspected
that this robbery would occur, but could
not know how it would be accomplish
ed. Nevertheless saw the act"
"Then why did you not seize the
thief2''
81 attempted to do so, and was
thrown down from behind by his accom-
plice."
"Can you identify the person by his
dress?''
"That is unfortunately impossible.
All that I know is that he was one of
the Forty Thieves and evidently played
his part WE'LL"
"This is Mr.. Barnes?" said Mr.. Thau-
ret inquiringly, continuing at once:
eyes, Of course it is. We have met
twice, think. You say your thief was
dressed as one Of the Forty Thieves.
That interests me, for I wore one of
those dresses. Why not ask all who did
to allow themselves to be searched?"
II will not hear of such an indignity
10 my guests" at once calculated Mr..
Van Rawlston. "Search people in my
own house! No, sir. I will willingly
pay for the lost gem rather than do So"
"You are quite right" said the de-
tective, keenly eying Mr.. Thauret. II
am sure that it would be ,k:eless."
GAS you please" said Mr.. Thauret,
and with a satirical smile he bowed and
Joined the group around Miss Remsen.
Mr.. Barnes told Mr.. Van Rawlston
that it would be useless for him to re-
main longer and that he would depart.
He did not do so, however, until he had
assured himself that Mr.. Mitchell was
not in the house. He went to the door
and found that the boy who had been
told to guard it had been absent looking
at the table9us when the confusion oc-
CURED, SO that he did not know whether
any one had left the house OF nSp. He
therefore departed in disgust,
''That fellow Mitchell" !" thought he
as he w;sY,!Esd ;Y!;sl rapidly down the avenue
-=7'that fettGw7 is an artist TO think Of
Ino auo"olVy VI "oi'An9 ttt4 SR9 Vely
moment when his wager would be lost,
and then committing the robbery in
such manner that 100 people will be
able to testify that it occurred within
the limited period. Meanwhile there is
an excellent alibi for him. Sick in a
hotel in Philadelphia Bah Isn't there
one man that I can depend upon?"
At Forty second street he took the
elevated road, and in 20 minutes he
was at his Office. Here he found the spy
who had followed Mr.. Mitchell to Phil
adelphia.
"Well," said he angrily, "what are
you doing here?"
II am sure that Mitchell has returned
to New York I came on hoping to catch
mn with him and at 1aaSt to warn xyou ~