Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-01-23
CHAPTER Ill

any special motive III doing So for hC
noticed no one Neither would one have
supposed that Mr.. Barnes observed him,
for he had his back turned. Yet this was
the same individual who upon his in
struction had followed Rose Mitchell
when she left the train.
Breakfast over, the two men started
to leave the restaurant Reaching the
stairway which leads above to the main
floor, Mr.. Barnes courteously stood aside
to allow his companion to ascend first.
Mr.. Mitchell, however, with wave Of
the hand, declined and followed Mr..
Barnes Whether either had any special
design in this was thought occupying
the minds Of both as they silently passed
up stairs Mr. Mitchell had a slight ad-
vantage, in that being behind he could
watch the detective. There seemed,
however, to be little to see. To be sure
the man who had passed through the
restaurant was idly leaning against the
doorway, but as soon as Mr.. Barnes
head appeared, and certainly before he
could have been noticed by Mr. Mitchell,
he stepped out into the street, crossed
over and disappeared into the bank
building opposite. Had any signal passed
between these two detectives: Mr..
Mitchell, despite his shrewdness in send
ing Mr.. Barnes up stairs ahead Of him,
saw none, yet this is what occurred:
Mr.. Barnes said adieu and walked
away. Mr. Mitchell stood in the door
way, gazing after him till he saw him
enter the elevated railroad station then,
looking carefully about, he himself
walked rapidly toward Sixth avenue.
He did not glance behind, or he might
have seen the man in tho bank step out
and walk in the same direction. They
had been gone about five minutes when
Mr.. Barnes once more appeared upon
the scene. He stopped in the doorway
where the other detective had been
leaning. Keenly scanning the paneling,
his eye presently rested upon what he
was seeking Family written in pencil
were the words "No. - East Thir-
tieth " That was all, but it told Mr..
Barnes that Rose Mitchell had been fol-
lowed to this address, and as it tailed
with that which she herself had given
to him he knew now that she could be
found when wanted. Wetting his finger
against the tip Of his tongue, he drew
it across the words, leaving nothing but
a dirty smudge.
"Wilson is a keen one " thought the
detective. "He did this trick wcll-saw
my nod, wrote that address and got ont
Of sight in an instant. l wonder If he
can keep an eye on that shrewd scoun-
dreL Pshaw! am giving the fellow
too much credit. ] must leave it to Will
son for today anyway, as / must get
through with this Pettingiu matter.
Half an hour later he was at headquar-
terg talking with his assistants.
Meanwhile Wilson followed Mr..
Mitchell to Broadway, then down 70 the
Casino, where he stopped to buy tickets;
then out again and down Broadway to
the Fifth Avenue hotel, which he enter
ed He nodded 10 the clerk, took his key
and passed up stairs. Evidently he lived
there Wilson, Of course, had no further
definite instructions From Mr.. Barnes
backward nod he had understood that
be was to shadow this man, and, under
the circumstances, it was his simple
duty 10 do this until relieved by further
orders. In these days Of telephones it is
easy enough to make hurried reports to
headquarters and then continue the pur-
suit The Fifth Avenue is not pronis-
ing place In which 10 watch man, pro-
vided the man knows that he is being
watched. 1t has three exits-one on
Broadway and one each on Twenty
third aud on Twenty fourth street.
Wilson fattered himself that Mr.
Mitchell was unsuspicious, and therefore
whichever way he might leave the build
ing he would first return his key at the
desk. He consequently kept that point
in view Not half an hour had elapsed
when his man appeared, gave up his
key. al expected, and passed out by tho
Broadway door Crossing tho avenue he
walked down Twenty-third street east
ward. Wilson followed cautiously, go
ing through the park. At Third avenue
Mr.. Mitchell climbed the elevated stair
way, and Wilson was compelled to do the
same, though this brought him unpleas-
antly close Both men took tho same
train, Mr.. Mitchell in the first coach,
Wilson in the last. At Forty second
street Mr.. Mitchell left the train and
crossed the bridge, but instead Of taking
the annex for the Grand Central depot,
as one IL expected to do, he slipped
through the crowd to the main platform
aud took train going back down town.
Wilson managed tn get the same train,
but he realized at once that his man
either knew that he was followed or else
was taking extraordinary precautions.
AT Thirty fourth street station the trick
was repeated, Mr. Mitchell crossing over
the bridge and then taking an up town
train. What puzzled Wilson was that ho
could not detect that his man had no
ticed him. 1t seemed barely possible, as
they had encountered crowds at both
places, that he bad escaped unobgcryed
He was more satisfied of this when at
Forty second street again Mr.. Mitchell
once moro left tho train, crossed tho
bridge, and this time went forward, talk
ing tho coach for tho Grand Central.
Evidently all the maneuvering had
merely been prompted by caution, and
not having observed his shadow the
man was about 90 continue 90 his trus
destination. Mr. Mitchell had entered
the coach by the first gate, and was
seated quietly in tho corner as Wilson
passed on, going in by tho gate at tho
opposite end. A moment later the guard
slammed the gate at Wilson, end and
pulled tho bellrope. As quick al a fash
Mr.. Mitchell jumped up, and before be
could bo prevented had left the coach
just as 1t started, carrying away Wilson,
completely outwittcd and dumfounded
AS soon AZ tho train stopped no dartcd
down stairs aud ran back toward tho
Third avenue station, bat ho knew IL
ing Of Mr.. Mitchell
Wilson was greatly disheartcued, for
he was most anxious 70 stand well with
Mr.. Barnes, his chief. Yet in revolving
over tho occurrences o. the last half
hour he could not Fee how he could have
prevented tho escape of bis man, since
10 was evident that ho had Intentionally
acted in a way 10 prevent pursuit IL
ono but knows or suspects that ho Is be-
ing Hhadowed the Third avenue elevated
road, with ita bridges at Thirty fourth
and Forty second streets. offers tho most
cffectual means of eluding tho most
aldlIful detective il Wilson had known
anything whatever about tho man who
had escaped him, he might have been
able 10 guess his destination, and 50
havo caught ND with him again by hur-
rying ahead aud meeting him, as he had
frequently JaQae When. following noted