Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-01-29
CHAPTER Z.

AIter IeUluS tn6 foregoing MI.
Barnes carefully locked his diary in his
cabinet and Immediately after left the
house On his way to New York. Reach
ing there, he proceeded up town, finally
ringing the doorbell of the Van Rawl-
ston mansion. He requested to see the
master Of the house upon urgent bust
ness, and that gentleman soon presented
himself.
"Mr. Van Rawlston," said Mr..
Barnes, II am detective. May have
a few moments of strictly private con-
versation with you?'
Certainly, was the reply. "Step
into my study. We will be entirely safe
from prying ears there" A moment
later the two men were seated in COM
Portable leather chairs facing each other.
"Mr. Van Rawlston, began the de-
tective, "to explain my purpose at once
have only to say that I desire your
permission to attend the masquerade
which will be held here tonight. am
aware that this must seem an odd re-
quest, but make it entirely in your
own interests"
eff you will explain more fully, sir,
I may be quite willing to grant your re-
quest" said the other.
lyon should know that masquerade
is a dangerous kind of entertainment.
At such affairs large robberies have often
been committed-the thieves operating
boldly and escaping through the aid of
their disguises. have good reason for
believing that such crime is contem-
plated tonight"
my dear cir, impossiblei Why, no
one will be admitted save those with
whom we are well acquainted. Tickets
have been issued by the society which
gives the festival, and every one must
unmask before being allowed to enter.
Therefore, while am grateful to you
for your warning, hardly think that I
need your services"
"Mr. Van Rawlston, regret to say
that you are mistaken. In the first place
your close scrutiny of all who enter will
probably be relaxed as the night wears
on. Again, there are ways Of getting in
unperceived, and once within the thief
would be unsupported. But this is no
guesswork on my part. do not think,
1 know, that unless am here to prevent
it robbery will be committed. Indeed
I may even fail to prevent it,
why, sir, You speak as though you
know the person who is to play the Grim
inal''
II Go. For several weeks my men
have been watching certain suspicious
parties. From data furnished by my
spies I am sure that plans have been
perfected by which ono or more Of your
guests will be robbed during the prog
ress of the entertainment.
"Still it seems incredible. As I have
said. no one will be able to enter with
out our knowledge"
"Of course I cannot intrude upon you,
Mr.. Van Rawlston, but if you are
obliged to appeal to the police tomorrow
for the recovery of stolen property you
alone will be to blame if the thief shall
have had several hours the start Of us. I
have warned you. That is the best can
do. wish you good morning" Mr.
Barnes rose to go, but Mr.. Van Rawl-
ston stopped him.
Zone moment" said he. eff you are
so sure that there is scheme of robbery
afoot, of course Unjust not be so rash as
to refuse your aid. What do you advise?
We could postpone the festival
"By 10 means. The course to pursue
is to keep what I have told You strictly
secret-in fact, if possible, dismiss it
entirely from your mind, SO that by
your behavior the thief may not know
that suspicious have been aroused. Do
| as requested at first, and as l know
my man will be able to keep an eye
upon him should he be present.
81 suppose it must be as you say. But
you must be i'll costume. / have it! Tit
| committee have ordered some costume.
which they will give to those who come
unrrovided. You may have one O
| those"
! "What costume shall I ask for?"
ooh, they are all alike! They are thu
| Forty Thieves"
"Tho Forty Thicves:' Mr.. Barne
was surprised. SIS not that an odd cos
tuner
| "Oh, no! 1t was Mr.. Mitchel's idea
! he is the chairman of the committee
He argued that rather than provide ;
| lot Of meaningless doninCs the strag
| glers, who viii be chiefly invited guest
who are not members of the society
| may be thus CARRIED and still fall int,
the scheme of the evening, whicl
is that every one shall play the par
| Of soC:c character of the Arabian
Nights.
Very well. Mr.. Van Rawlston, 70
once the detective viii den the garb of
thief. After all, you know the adage
1t takes thief to catch q thief
Very good. Mr.. Barnes-I believ
that is the name on our card? Yes
Well, come tonight early, and you shall
be fitted out. Later, if you should wis
to speak to me, shall be dressed as til
| sultan, a character about as foreign t
my true self as yours will be to you. !"
Mr.. Barnes left the house thorough,
satisfied with the result Of his visit. Il
the first place he had learned something
Mr.. Mitchell had decided upon the cos
tuning of the guests. He had arrange,
that at least 40 of them should be dress
ed alike. Could there have been any sc
cret design in this? If SO, Mr.. Barne
| u-ac Glad m I,o ono ~ tho An Ar.;x,