Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-03-12

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promptly that Mr.. Barnes could only
repeat, amazed;
"sevenI But you said six only a mo-
ment agoP'
"I know what said. Inever forget
any statement that / make, and all my
statements are accurate. ! said that six
is the entire set. Now you ask me what
was the original number, and reply
seven. Is that clearf'
Then the other button has been losti'
"Not at all ! know where it is"
"Then what do you mean by saying
that the set now Is only six9"
EXCUSE me, Mr.. Barnes, If I decline
to answer that question ! have replied
now to several since ] asked You why
You came here this morning"
II will tell you," said the detective,
playing his trump card, as he thought.
II have been examining the place where
your crime was committed, and have
found that seventh buttonp If Mr..
Barnes expected Mr.. Mitchell to recoil
with fear, or tremble, or do anything
that an ordinary criminal does when
brought face to face with evidence of his
guilt, he must have been disappointed.
But it Is safe to assume that by this
time so skillful man as Mr.. Barnes did
not expect so consummate an actor as
Mr.. Mitchell to betray feeling. He did
show some interest, however, for be
arose from his chair, and walking up to
Mr.. Barnes he asked simply:
"Have You it with you? May see it"
Mr.. Barnes hesitated moment, won
dering if he risked losing the button by
handing it to him. He decided to give
1t to him and did so.
Mr.. Mitchell looked at it closely, as
though an expert and after several mo-
ments of silence he tossed it carelessly
into the air, catching it as it came down,
and then said:
"This would make pretty situation
in play, Mr.. Barnes. Follow me- De-
teotive discovers crime and finds curious
button. Goes straight to criminal and
boldly tells him of the fact Criminal
admits that he has but six buttons out
Of seven and asks to see the button
found. Detective foolishly hands 1t 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, will
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. But in real life it is diff
ferent I simply hand you back your
button thus" handing button to Mr..
Barnes and bowling politely. Then he
remarked: "Mr. Barnes, you are well
come to that. It is not a part of my setr"
"Not a part Of your set?" echoed the
detective, dumfounded. -
"Not part Of my set. I am sorry to
disappoint you, but so it is. I will even
explain, for I sympathize with you.
told you the set was originally seven.
So 1t was, but the seventh button has
the head of Shakespeare ON 1t. All seven
were given to me by my friend, but as
I could weaS but six returned to her
this odd Shakespeare button, which
had made into breastpin, and kept
the others, thus reducing the set Of but
tons to six. The seventh is no longer
button, you see"
"But how do you account for the fact
that this button which I have is plainly
a portrait of your friend and counter
part to those on your vest?"
"My dear Mr.. Barnes, I don't account
for it. I don't have to, you know. That
sort Of thing is your business +"
"What if should decide to arrest you
ut once and ask jury to determine
whether your original set included this
button or not?''
"That would be inconvenient to me,
Of course. But it is one of those things
that we risk every day-I mean arrest
by some blundering detective. Pardon
me, do not get angry again. do not |
allude to yourself. I 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
", you would gain nothing, since it
would be SO easy for me to prove all that
I have told you, and in your mind you
are saying to yourself that I have not
lied to you. Really have not"
"I have only one thing more to say to
you, Mr.. Mitchell" said Mr.. Barnes,
rising. "Will you show me that seventh
button, or breastpinr"
"That is asking great deal, but
will grant your request upon one condi |
lion. Think well before you make the
bargain. When 7 made that wager, I |
lid 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 |
II constantly. You will gain nothing by |
seeing it, for it will simply corroborate |
my word, which, I think, you believe |
now. I will take you to her, and she
will tell you Of these buttons, if you
promise me never to annoy her in any
way in connection with this affair. "
IT will give you that promise cheer
fully. I have no wish to annoy lady"
"That is for you to decide. Meet me
in the lobby at noon precisely, and I
will take you to her house. And now
will you excuse me while I complete |
my toiletf"