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

Of seven and asks to see the button
found. Detective foolishly hands it to
him. Then criminal smiles blandly and
says: Mr.. Detective, now have seven
buttons, and my set is complete again.
| What are you going TO do about it:' .
And the detective would reply"
said Mr.. Barnes, falling into the humor
of the situation, ''Mr. Criminal, viii
just take that back by force"
Exactly. You catch the spirit Of the
| stage picture. Then fight between two
men, applause from the gallery, and vic
tory for either party, as the author has
| decided. That is the way 1t would be
done in play. Bat in real life it is diff
ferent. l simply hand you back your
button thus, . handing button to Mr..
Barnes and bowling politely. Then he
remarked: "Mr. Barnes, you are vel
come TO that. 1t is not a part Of my set"
Not part Of your set?" echoed the
detective, dumfounded
Not part of my set. i am sorry to
disappoint you, but SO it is. will even
explain, for I sympathize with you I
told you the set was originally seven.
So it was, but the seventh button has
the head of Shakespeare ON it. All seven
were given to me by my friend, but as
/ could wear but six l returned TO her
this odd Shakespeare button, which I
had made into q breastpin, al apt
the others, thus reducing the set j but
tons to six. The seventh is 10 ;e-
button, you see.
"But how do you account for fact
that this button which have is ainly
a portrait of your friend and a counter
part to those on your vest?"
My dear Mr.. Barnes, dom account
for it. ! don't have to, you know. That
sort of thing is your business.
What if should decide to arrest you
at once and ask jury to determine
whether your original set included this
button or not?"
THAT would be inconyenient to me,
of course. But it is one of those things
that we risk every day mean arrest
by some blundering detective. Pardon
me, do not get angry again. do not
allude TO yourself ! am quite sure that
you are too shrewd to arrest me.
''And why so, pray?"
Because | am surely not going TO
run away, in the first place. and, second
ly, you would gain nothing, since 1t
would be SO easy for me to prove oil that
| have told you, and In your mind you
are saying to yourself that / have not
lied to You. Really have not
81 have only one thing more to say to
you, Mr. Mitchell" said Mr.. Barnes,
rising will you show me that seventh
button, or breastpin?"
"That Is asking great deal, but
will grant your request upon one condi-
tion. Think well before you make the
bargain. When l made that wager,
did not calculate the possibility OF en-
tangling in my scandal the name OF the
woman whom I love dearest on earth.
That is the portrait Of the woman who
will soon become my wife. As / have
said, she has the other button and wears
it constantly. You will gain nothing by
seeing it, for it will simply corroborate
my word, which, think, you believe
now. will take you to her, and she
win tell you Of these buttons, IL you
promise me never to annoy her in any
way in connection with this affair. !"
81 will give you that promise cheer
fully. have no wish to annoy lady"
''That is for you to decide. Meet me
in the lobby at noon precisely, and !
will take you TO her house. And now
will you excuse me while I complete
NJ toiletf"