Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-03-26


day before, and performed ut the may
or's Office. Thus, whatever reason the
detective had for stopping the marriage
the telegram from Seton had enabled
Mr.. Mitchell TO once more outwit Mr..
Barnes by simply allowing civil con-
tract to antedate the religious ceremony.
CHAPTER XIV.
NIB. Mitchell EXPLAINS FEW THINGS.
Immediately upon his arrival in New
York Mr.. Barnes went TO his Office.
Here he was slightly surprised to find
Luoette.
We'll" said he tersely.
II came here" said the girl, so
that I could report to you the minute
you got here There is no time TO lose. "
"Why, what is up:"
Your plan about my getting infor
nation from the East Orange postofice
did not work. The man said that, though
he would like to serve you, be was
afraid il might be construed into tam
pering with the mails; that you would
need an order from the postmaster gen.
eral. went to work then on the other
line and began systematic examina-
tion Of every house in the place. 1t was
hard work, but at last found the child.
You don't want details now, because
she has been taken away again. Mitch
Ell went down yesterday and brought her
to New York. 4"
"Why did you not follow him and see
where he took her?"
"I did, and this time am sure he
did not suspect that was after him.
He took the child to the Remsens. "
"To the Remsens? What can that
meanf"
"I don't know. But Mitchell and Miss
Remsen are to be married at St. Pat
rick's cathedral at 10 o'clock this morn
ing"
mot IL I can stop it," replied the
detective, and he hastened up to the
church with the result told in the last
chapter.
Promptly at . O'Clock Mr.. Barnes
presented himself at the Fifth Avenue
hotel accompanied by Mr. Neuilly.
They were asked to 60 up to Mr.. Mitch
els apartments, and there they were
greeted by that gentleman as affably as
though they had been Of his wedding
party. Indeed he began the conversation
In rather q jocular way. saying:
"Ahl Mr.. Barnes. delighted that
now I can entertain you more at my
leisure This morning, you see, / was
In great hurry. You called at very
inopportune time, and am afraid that
I was rather abrupt"
"Mr. Mitchell, am not in the humor
for nonsense. This Is very serious
visit, assure you. This gentleman is
Mr.. Neuilly of New Orleans. and he
has come all this distance to aid the
cause of justice.
Delighted to meet you, Mr.. Neuilly,
/ am sure, said Mr.. Mitchell, approach
Ing and extending his hand so cordially
that the elder man took it, though he
had thought that he would rather han
die hot Goals than the hand of the man
who he supposed was guilty of wrong
ing the daughter Of his old friend in
the south. Mr.. Mitchell did not seem to
notice his agitation. but, begging them
| to be seated, he himself took a comfort
able chair and continued, Now, MIR.
Barnes, am wondering il 1t is possible
that you have traced my wife's ruby as
far away as New Orleansf"
IT have not been looking for it. Isup-
pose You know why wished to stop
your marriage?
"Why, no; not precisely. What was
your reasonP
"If you do not know it, why did you
get married yesterday"
"I might reply that it is often done,
but / will be honest and tell you that
such q procedure never occurred to me
till heard that you were coming home
Then, you see, thought that you might
take the idea into your head-you do
get odd notions, you must admit-that
ought not to get married just now. !
knew you we'll enough to believe that II
you did harbor thought Of that nature
you would not hesitate to interfere. |
did you no injustice there, for that is
Just what you tried to do, you see Con-
sequently, as had set my heart ON be-
ing married in the cathedral precisely
ut the time appointed, l just took the
bull by the horns and persuaded my lit
tie girl to marry me yesterday. That is
my story in full, assure you Now,
what was your object?'
"You know 1t very we'll, and all this
EARNING is pure bluster. You know well
enough that I wanted to use Miss Emily
Remsen as a witness against you, and
that could not do so after she became
Mrs. Mitchell
"Ohl Well, yes; admit that idea
was In my mind, Mr.. Barnes. And now
what are you going to do about itr'
"In the first place l shall arrest you
for abducting the child who was In the
care Of Rose Montalbon. Mr.. Barnes
expected some surprise from his adver-
sary, but he was disappointed.
"Yes," said he, "and thenI"
"Then l shall compel you, through
the court. to reveal her present hiding
place and to produce her. -"
at think you might have trouble to do
that were 1t not that ! do not object to
IL. In fact, we will reverse your order
OF things and begin with the production
Of the child. Emily" In answer to his
call his wife came into the room, bring
Ing with her beautiful girl. Her hus-
band arse. and taking the little one BY
the hand coolly approached Mr.. Neuilly,
and said: Rose. this is Mr.. Neuilly
He was dear good friend to your moth
or, and has come all the way from New
Orleans to see you. l think he would
like to kiss you, would you not, Mr..
Eeuillyf"
That gentleman seemed much moved.
To him the vision Of loveliness stand
ing demurely before him brought back
the memory Of the long ago. She re-
minded him Of another little girl whose
growth into budding womanhood he
had watched tenderly, having in his
youth loved her pother. the grandpar-
eut OF the child before him. bis suit
had noe been successful, and for love OF
that woman he had remained bachelor
all his DAYS. Now he could see chang
ing expressions in this young face,
which reminded him Of both those won
an who had been dear to him. Without
O word he drew hen toward him, and
kissed her once. Then he arose, still
holding her hand, and led her toward
the door Of the next room; there he
kissed her once more, this time On the
f|sAead. and then .badE. .hez Yatt. kplt-