Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-03-19
taken by the conversation.

taken by the conversation.
"Oh, it is not a womanl I am sure
Of that read about it in the papers
this morning l bought three, so as not
to miss anything. No woman would
have been clever enough to plan it all,
and then carry it out so thoroughly.
''This is very interesting" said Mr..
Thauret. "Of course, I, too. have read
the papers, but besides that, as you
know, Mr.. Barnes, was on the train
1lyself, and the first to be searched. I
save thought of the case ever since In
my own country we claim that our de-
tectives can unravel any mystery, and 1
am curious to know how you will man.
age in an affair of this kind. The thief
evidently is clever do you not think so?"
Mr.. Mitchell had drawn apart and ap-
parently was absorbed in conversation
with Emily. Nevertheless Mr.. Barnes
was confident that he missed little of
what was being said by the group Of
which he himself was one. Under ordi-
parry circumstances he would not for a
moment have thought of speaking of so
important case before one who at least
might be suspected Of completely. But
these were not ordinary circumstances.
Here were two men, about both of
whom there was mysterious connection
with the crime, or crimes, which he was
investigating. If either, or both, were
guilty, it was evident from their cour-
age in visiting unconcernedly at the very
building in which the murder had been
committed that extreme skill would be
required to obtain a conviction. The de-
tective therefore considered that these
men must be met with methods as bold
as their own. Speaking in tone loud
enough to reach Mr.. Mitchel's ears he
said:
81 think that the thief is clever, but
that he is not so clever as he considers
himself.
"How is that?"
"He believed-I say he, because, like
Miss Remsen, think it is a mani
"How delightful of you to agree with
me-" said Dora.
"This man, then," continued Mr..
Barnes, considers that he has misled
me. He thinks that when l directed that
all the passengers should be searched l
did so hoping to find the lost jewels,
whereas I was not looking for the jew
els, but for the thief" E"
"How could you do that?"
"You may think me egotistic, but l
hoped to detect him by his conduct. I
was entirely successful. I know who
stole the jewels. =" This was bold as
sertion, especially as Mr.. Barnes had
not decided the matter in his own mind
He wished to note the faces of these men
when he made the statement. He gained
nothing by the maneuver, for Mr.. Mitch
ell seemed not to have heard, while the
Frenchman quickly said:
"Bravo! Bravo You are better than
Lecocq. 1t is like wizards trick. You
pass the suspects before you in review,
and then, presto! you pick out the Grim
inal with your eye. That is charming
method, and so simpleP'
"Mr Thauret," said Dora, "you are
laughing at Mr.. Barnes, and that is not
good natured. Mr.. Barnes says he knows
the thief. I believe him."
pardon! I believe him also. I did
not mean to laugh. But tell me, Mr..
Barnes, how did the man secrete the
diamonds-I suppose they were dia-
monds, were they not?"
Diamonds and other jewels. But let
me ask you-how would you have hid
den them had you been in his placer"
This time the shot went home. Plainly
the Frenchman did not like the sugges-
tion of being himself the criminal. He
quickly recovered his equanimity, how
ever, and answered:
"Do you know, have thought Of that
very thing. Of course 1 would probably
make bungle of it, Still I have
thought of a way"
ga way by which he could have hid
den the jewels, so that search could
not have found them, and yet in place
accessible to himself afterward?"
II think so. Perhaps l am wrong,
but I think my little plan would do
that much. The newspaper says the
Jewels were unset stones I should have
pushed them into the cake of soap in
the washroom. No one would think to
look for them there, and, even if so,
there would be nothing against me.
Afterward I should have gone back,
taken the soap, and the jewels would
have been mine. "
"You are mistaken" "
Chow sop
"You were the first person searched,
and I watched you till you left the
train. 1t would have been difficult for
you to come to New York from Stam-
ford on another train, and then gain ac-
cess to the coaches on side track and in
the hands of the scrubwomen. Even
then you would have failed, for I took
all the soap away and substituted new
cakes before the second man was
searched. "
A smile ON Mr. Mitchel's face proved
that he was listening, and thai he was
pleased at the detectives cleverness.
The Frenchman shrugged his shoulders
and said, laughing:
"There, you see, should never make
a thief. Besides, there was the satchel
I had forgotten about that. One could
not hide a satchel in cake of SOAP"
"But he could throw it out of the
window to mislead the man who picked
it up" replied the detective.
"You are shrewd, Mr.. Barnes" said
Mr. Thauret, after keen scrutiny,
which Mr.. Barnes thought betokened
uneasiness. But, he continued, Twill
you tell me how you think the thief hid
the treasure on the train?"
"He hid it off the traiu," said Mr..
Barnes quickly, and to his satisfaction
both his men started slightly. Evident
ly Mr.. Mitchell decided that it was time
T.. l. L L.