Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-03-25

you yourself placed them there. I think
there is no point left unexplained.
pardon me-" said Mr.. Thauret, II
think you are wrong. You have not to
my mind quite connected this man
what did you call him? Jean Molitaire,
was it not? Wel, do not see that yoa
have traced his hand to the crime"
"I think that I have" said Mr..
Barnes.
"You do not make it clear to me, )"
said Mr.. Thauret, as coolly as though
discussing some question in which he
bad but a passing interest. "You say
that your Montalbon woman noticed
this Molitaire when she sold her dia-
monds. Later that both were missing
from Paris The woman turned up in
New York, but how do you prove that
Molitaire did not go to-let us say Rus
sia:''
"No," said Mr.. Barnes, che did not
20 to Russia. Suppose that I should tell
you that ferreted out the fact that this
name Molitaire was but an alias, and
.
bon? Then, when we remember that the
woman's name had been cut from all
her garments, is that not Significant"
This speech made a mild sensation,
but Mr.. Thsuret remained unmoved.
He replied calmly:
"All things are signifcant-how do
you interpret this fact, supposing that
you could prove it?'
"This Mol;taire was really the dead
woman's husband. They quarreled
many years ago, and she went to New
Orleans, where she kept gambling
house, having learned the trade from
him. When they met again in Paris,
she recognized him. Then, when the
fellow conceived the idea Of following
the Jewels, it suited his purpose to ef-
feet a reconciliation so that he might
use the woman as a tool. After the
murder it would be to his interest to
hide the name of Montalbon by cutting
out the marks On the woman's cloth
ing"
pardon my pursuing the argument"
said MIR. Thauret, "but I find it enter
tanning You surprise me, Mr.. Barnes.
at the ready way in which you read
mems actions. Only are you sure you
are right? Suppose, for instance, that
the woman had cut out the marks her
self long before, at some time, when
she was using an alias, then your fact
would lose some of its significance,
would it not? Circumstantial evidence
is so difficult 20 read, you see! Then,
having lost that link, where do you
prove Molitaire or Montalbon guilty?
Being the woman's husband is no crime
in itself.
"No," said Mr. Barnes, deciding that
the time had come for an end Of the
controversy. "Being the woman's hus-
band does not count in itself. But when
I procure in Paris the photograph Of
Molitaire, left by accident in his room
at his lodgings, and when I recognize
that as the same man whom Mr.. Mitch
ell suspected and trapped into stealing
the ruby, and when upon my return to
New York I find that ruby upon that
very man and recover it, then we have
some facts that do count.
"You recovered the ruby?" said Mr..
Mitchell, amazed.
"Here it is" said MIR. Barnes, hand
ing it to Mr.. Mitchell. Mr.. Thauret bit
his lip, and by strong endeavor re-
tanned his self control.
"Mr. Barnes" said Mr.. Mitchell, 81
am sorry to disappoint. you, but this is
not my ruby"
care you sure!" asked the detective
with twinkle in his eye
"Yes, though you deserve credit, for,
though not the ruby, it is the stolen
stone. I have a complete set of dupli-
Gates of my jewels, and in making my
little experiment I did not care to bait
my trap with so valuable gem. I
therefore used the duplicate. which is
this. But how have you recovered it,"
81 have been in New York for sever
al days. I have devoted myself during
that time to personal watch upon
Montalbon. Yesterday, to my surprise,
he went to police headquarters and beg
ged for permit to inspect the stolen
Jewels, saying that through them he
might throw some light upon the mys-
terry. His request was granted. Suspect
ing treachery, subsequently obtained
similar permit, and investigation with
the aid of an expert showed that the
bold scoundrel had handled the jewels,
and so managed to change the imita-
ton stone which he stole at the festival
for the real one in the set which figured
in the train robbery"
"By Jove," said Mr.. Mitchell, "he is
an artist. Then I am indebted to you
after all for recovering the stone? But
tell us how did you accomplish it?"
81 overheard Montalbon once say that
a wise thief would keep stolen article
upon his person, so that it could not be
discovered without his knowledge.
Therefore l felt certain that he would
himself adopt this method. When the
conversation this evening reached
point where it was evident that all
would be disclosed, the man, who is
present, dropped the ruby into his glass
of burgundy, where it would be out OF
sight and easily recovered or swallowed.
30 4 Nf ! ~,