Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-04-09

Clety, 1t became OF vital Importance 10
my own safety that l should be in po-
sition to prove this man guilty. form
ed q rather bold plan. I made friend
of the fellow. I invited him to my room
one night and then accused him of hav-
Ing cheated at the card game. He at
first assumed q threatening attitude,
but I ---"'Hnd my composure and per
haps start4.-. " proposing TO form
partnership by v, 20 v~o could fleece
the rich clubmen. | hlLt.,. 49, -- that
really possessed less money than 1 am
credited with, and that what l did have
had taken at the tables on the conti-
nent. He then admitted that he had
system, and from that time we posed
as good friends, though l do not think
he ever fully trusted me. l learned
from him that his partner in the game
where I caught him cheating was en-
tirely innocent aud made him promise
n 9 to play with him again, for l had
discovered that the detectives had been
told Of this game, and therefore knew
| that they would be watching both men
when playing cards. | therefore pre-
ferred TO be the partner myself upon
such occasions,
Having somewhat won the fellows
confidence, l was ready for my great
scheme in battling the detective so that
1 might win my wager and at the same
time entrap my suspect. had conceiv-
ed the Ali Baba festival I showed Mr..
Barnes one day the ruby which l after
ward presented to my wife. At the same
time I told him that if he should come
to the conclusion that was innocent of
the train robbery, he might as well re-
member that / would still have to COM
NIT the crime as agreed upon. Then l
arranged that the festival should occur
on New Years night, the very day on
which my month would expire. knew
that all this would lead the detective to
believe that meant to rob my fiancee,
a crime for which 1 might readily have
escaped punishment, with her assist
ance. There he misjudged me. Iwould
not for treble the sum have had her
name mixed up in such transaction.
She knew absolutely nothing of my in
teutions though being at that time in
ignorance of the details Of the train rob-
berry, I left her mind in a condition not
to offer resistance to the thief, who she
might suppose to be myself. Then, after
laying my trap, at the last moment /
baited it by asking my iancee to wear
the ruby pin in her hair. 1 went to
Philadelphia, and feigned sickness.
Then 1 eluded the spy and came on my
self Mr.. Barnes l supposed would be
present, and I had arranged that if so
he would necessarily be in one of the
dominos of the Forty Thieves. l had in
vited my suspect TO assume the role of
Ali Baba, but he shrewdly persuaded
some one else to take the costume, him
self donning one of the Forty Thieves
dresses. This compelled me to go around
speaking to every one so disguised, and
to my satisfaction, by their voices, L
discovered my man and also Mr.. Barnes.
In the final tableau Mr.. Barnes, who
evidently was watching Ali Baba, at
tempted to get near him, and by chance
was Immediately behind my man.
Fearing that he would interfere with
my plans, 7 fell In just behind him.
Ny design was to tempt the fellow to
steal the ruby, which, if he did, would
satisfy at least myself that my suspi-
cions were correct. 1t was perhaps
mad scheme, but it succeeded. 1 had so
arranged that every one should pass the
! sultan and make obeisance. In doing
this, as my fancee was seated on the
floor, the ruby in her hair would be just
at hand, and one who knew its high
value could easily take it. I fully ex-
pected my man to do this, and / saw
him gently withdraw it. Immediately
Mr.. Barnes stepped forward to seize
him, but 1 held the detective from be-
hind, then threw him into the advanc
ing crowd, and, in the confusion, escap-
ed from the house. "
Mr.. Mitchell paused, and silence pre-
vailed. All felt, rather than knew, that
a tragedy might be at hand. Mr.. Thau-
ret, however, in a moment said:
care you not going to tell US the
name of this sneak theft"
mo" quickly responded Mr.. Mitch
ell. "But you are wrong to call my sus
pect sneak thief. If crime were a rec
ognized business, as gambling in Wall
street is now considered, this man
would be counted "a bold operator.
confess that I admire him for his cour-
age. But it would scarcely do for me to
mention his name, when am not in
the position to provo that be is the
guilty man. "
''I thought you said that you saw
him steal the ruby?" said Mr.. Thauret.
II did, but as myself had been sus-
. 4lnA +n1 xuOYH
would be inadequate. Let me tell you
what 1 have done in the matter since.
The most important step for me perhaps
was to prevent the sale of the gem.
This was not difficult, as it is known
the world over. I warned all dealers
and let my man know that had done
go. Next, I wished to delay denoue-
ment until tonight, the time when my
wager with Mr.. Randolph would be
settled. 1 soon discovered that my sus-
pect would not be ayerse to marriage
with rich American girl He ques-
toned me adroitly as to the fortune
which would come to my little sister
in-law, and 1 replied in such way that
I knew he would bend his energies in
that direction. Then / did that which
perhaps l should not have done, but
felt myself master of the situation and
able to control events / made wager
with Dora that she would not remain
unengaged until tonight, and l stipu-
lated that should she have offers she
should neither accept nor reject suit
or. | also told her, though : declined to
fully explain how, that she would ma
terially assist me in winning my wa
ger -
This explains what Dora meant when
she asked Mr.. Randolph if money would
count with him against her love. When
she accepted the wager with Mr.. Mitch
ell, she had been feeling resentful to-
ward Mr.. Randolph, who, as long as he
suspected his friend of the graver crimes,
hesitated to become connected with him
by marriage. This made him less atten-
tive to Dora, so that she had not thought
of him as u suitor when making the
bet. When he declared himself, she rec
ognized her predicament and was CORE
spondingly troubled, yet determined to
win, and so acted as related.
BY this time, though Mr. Mitchell
mad not mentioned the name of the
criminal, several present knew to whom
he was alluding. Mr. Randolph said
impetuously;
"Then that explains Here he stop
ped, confused.
yes said Mr.. Mitchell, smiling,