Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-01-29

Taking the ruby pin.
r,om. Mr.. Barnes saw him deliberately
and slowly take hold of her ruby pin,
gently Withdrawing it from her hair.
Just then clock began to chime the
midnight hour. Instantaneously q
thought flashed through the detectives
mind. AT the first note Of the chimes
the time had passed within which Mr..
Mitchell had wagered to commit his
robbery. He had thought that the man
who had spoken to him had the voice Of
Mr. Mitchell. He had also come to this
place expecting that this very jewel
would be stolen. He had supposed that
Thauret would play the part of accom-
plice and thief, while the principal,
Mitchell, was manufacturing an alibi
down in Philadelphia. 1t was evident
now, so he thought, that Mitchell had
escaped his spies, returned to New
York, assumed ono of tho disguises
which he himself had placed within
easy reach, and now, Oh the very stroke
of the last hour of his time, had COM
mitted his robbery-a robbery, too,
which would make q commotion, and
yet for which he could not be imprison-
ed if detected, since his fiancee, 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 a 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. Of course 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 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 committedv'
Instantly all was confusion. People
crowded forward, and Mr.. Barnes felt
himself hurled violently toward the ad-
vancing throng Topping against some
ono, both fell to the ground, and several
others tumbled over them. Pandemoni-
UNI reigned supreme, yet it was some
time before any one thought of turning
up the lights. Mr.. Van Rawlston, un-
Outstanding 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
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 Rcmsen to condole
with her upon her loss. Mr.. Barnes
searched for Ali Bahia and was amazed
when he found him to discover that it
was not Mr.. Thauret.
"Who are you:" he 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 "a
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-whict
had enabled thief to enter the rooms.
While Mr.. Barnes was thinking what
to do he saw Mr.. Van Rawlston ap
proaening 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. Yor
must understand, Mr.. Van Rawlston
that / am not omniscient. 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 thu
thief:''
| Il attempted to do so, and wa
thrown down from behind by his accom-
plice.''
"Can you identify the person by hi
dress?''
"That is unfortunately impossible
All that I know is that he was one o
the Forty Thieves and evidently PLAYED
his part WELL"
"This is Mr.. Barnes?" said Mr.. THAI
ret iuquiringly, continuing at once
YES, Of course it is. We have me
twice. / think. You say your thief wa
dressed as one Of the Forty Thieves
That interests me, for I wore one Q
those dresses. Why not ask all who di
to allow themselves to be searched?'
Il Il will not hear Of such an indignit
to my guests" at once ejsculated Nj
Van Rawlston- Search people in m
J own housed No. six. viii willsaRi