Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-07


ferred to be the partner myself upon
such occasions.
Having somewhat won the fellows
confidence, was ready for my great
scheme i'll battling the detective so that
l might win my wager and at the same
time entrap my suspect. l had conceiv-
ed the Ali Baba festival 1 showed Mr..
Barnes enc day the ruby which I after
ward presented to my wife. At the same
time told him that if he should come
to the conclusion that was innocent Of
the train robbery, he might as well re-
member that would still have to COM
NIT the crime as agreed upon. Then
arranged that the festival should occur
Oh New Years night, the very day on
which my month would expire. knew
that all this would lead the detective to
believe that meant to rob my fiancee,
a crime for which might readily have
escaped punishment, with her assist
ance. There he misjudged me. Iwould
not for treble the sum have had her
name mixed up in such transaction.
She knew absolutely nothing of my in
tentions; though being at that time III
ignorance of the details of the train rob-
berry, / left her mind in condition not
to offer resistance to the thief, who she
might suppose to be myself. Then, after
laying my trap, at the last moment !
baited it by asking my fiancee to wear
the ruby pin in her hair. went to
Philadelphia, and feigned sickness.
Then eluded the SPY and came on my
self. Mr.. Barnes l supposed would be
present, and I had arranged that if SO
he would necessarily be in one of the
do.ninos of the Forty Thieves. had in
vited my suspect to assume the role Of
Ali Bahia, but he shrewdly persuaded
some one else to take the costume, him
self donning one Of the Forty Thieves
dresses. This compelled me to 60 around
speaking to every one so disguised, and
to my satisfaction, by their voices,
discovered my man and also Mr. Barnes.
In the final tableau Mr. Barnes, who
evidently was watching Ali Baba, at
tempted to get near him, and by chance
was Immediately behind my man.
Fearing that he would interfere with
my plans, fell i'll just behind him.
Ny design was to tempt the fellow to
steal the ruby, which, it he did, would
satisfy at least myself. that my suspi-
cions were correct. 1t was perhaps a
mad scheme. but it succeeded. had so
arranged that every one should pass the
sultan and make obeisance. In doing
this, as my fiancee was seated on the
floor. the ruby in her hair would be just
at hand, and one who knew its high
value could easily take it. / fully ex-
pected MY man to do this, and saw
him gently withdraw it. Immediately
Mr.. Barnes stepped forward to seize
him, but l held the detective from be-
hind. then threw him into the advanc-
ing crowd, and, in the confusion, escap-
ed from the house"
Mr.. Mitchell paused, and silence pre-
vailed. All felt, rather than knew, that
a tragedy might be at hand. Mr.. THAI
ret, however. i'll moment said:
care you not going to tell Us the
name of this sneak thief?''
| NO" quickly responded Mr. Mitch
ell. "But you are wrong to call my srs-
| pect a sneak thief. If crime We're rec
ognized business, as gambling in Wall
|
would be counted "a bold operator.
confess that admire him for his cour.
age. But il wculd scarcely DO for me tc
mention his rane, when l am not i.
the position to prove that he is the
guilty man. y
81 Thought you said that you saw
him steal the ruby" said Mr.. Thauret
Il did, hut rs myself had been sus
pec.ed Of that my unsupported wore
would be inadequate. Let he tell yol
what have done Ill the matter since
The most important step for me perhaps
was 10 prevent the sale of the gem
This was not difficult, as it is know
the world over. warned all dealer
and let my man Know that l lad don
so. Next, wished 70 delay denoue
ment until tonight, the time when n.
wager with Mr.. Randolph would b
settled. / soon discovered that my sus
pect would not be averse to marriag
with rich American girl He cues
| toned me adroitly as TO the forum
which would come to my little sister
in-law, and replied in such way tia
knew he would bend his energies i!
that direction. Then did that whicl
perhaps 1 should not have done, but
felt myself master Of the situation an
able to control events. 1 made wage
, with Dora that she would not remai
unen2aged until tonight, and l stipu
lated that should she have offers sh
should neither accept nor reject q suit
, or also told her, though declined {
. fully explain how, that size would ma
! terially assist me in winning my We
ger"
This explains what Dora meant whe
!, she asked Mr.. Randolph if money woul
: count with him against her love. Whe
|. she accepted the wager with Mr.. Mitci
!, Ell, she had been feeling resentful tc
a ward Mr.. Randolph, who, as long as !,
suspected his friend Of the graver crime:
. hesitated to become connected with hiI
4 by marriage. This made him less attei
: tive to Dora, SO that she had not though
= of him as suitor when making til
. bet. When he declared himself, she ret
: ognized her predicament and was corrf
a lspoudingly troubled, yet determined