Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-03-04

place will be in readiness, and you can
take it in safety"
Mr.. Barnes followed these instruc-
tions, and Mr.. Randolph went to the
dining room to perfect his arrangements
At 2, on the minute, he was Joined by
his invited guests, and the three sat at
table. Shortly after the noise Of dishes
on the other side of the portiere indi-
Gated that Mr. Barnes was being served.
About the third course Mr.. Randolph
endeavored to lead the conversation in
the desired direction.
"Itrust, said he. addressing Mitchell,
"that you have entirely recovered from
that unfortunate illness that prevented
you from attending the affair at Rawls-
ton's?"
"Oh, yesi" said Mitchell. "It was
but temporary matter. The only seri-
ous result was that I was kept from the
festival think I might have saved
Miss Remsen from the annoyance Of los
ing her ruby"
"But, Mitchell" said Mr.. Randolph,
"while of course one does not like to
lose so valuable gem, at the same time
you can safely replace it..
"What makes you think SOP"
"Why, you have so many jewels. Do
you know I was saying only recently that
any one who, like you, would hoard
up rare gems, keeping them locked in q
vault where no one can see them, is in
way insane. I was glad when you
gave that ruby to Miss Remsen, and
took it as symptom Of returning lucid
ity that you should unearth one Of your
hidden treasures. I have no doubt That
you have others like it buried in some
corner Of your safe. Why not get one
out and present it to the lady?"
"You are mistaken, Randolph. I can
not so easily produce a mate to that
ruby"
"Why not? Was there anything Pc
culiar about it?"
eyes, but we will not talk of it"
This curt way of dismissing the sub
iect was a surprise to Mr.. Randolph,
for however little Mr. Mitchell cared to
show his gems he had never before been
unwilling to embrace any opportunity
to talk about them. Mr.. Randolph start
ed in new direction, remembering the
hints Of the detective.
"Mitchel, said he, II would almost
be willing to wager that you not only
can give Miss Remsen as good ruby,
but that you could actually give. her the
same one. "
II hope to do so," was the quiet re-
ply.
"You don't understand me. mean
that half believe that your sickness in
Philadelphia was all a farce; that you
came over and yourself stole the gem. "
"Indeed? And what leads you to such
preposterous deduction?"
"I think that this is your way Of en-
deavoring to win your wager. I think
that no one but yourself could have
taken the pin from Miss Remsen's hair,
as for no one else would she have sub
mitted."
Randolph, your repeated allusions
to Miss Remsen in this connection, and
especially your insinuation that would
ask her to be an accomplice in such a
piece of duplicity, and that she would
consent, are distasteful to me in the ex-
treme. If you will pardon my saying so,
it is q poor entertainment to offer q
guest.
"Oh, meant no offense, old man,
assure you! We will drop the subject,
Of course"
This was followed by a silence. Mr..
Randolph was at his wits end to find
way to force Mr.. Mitchell to talk. he
felt that nothing had been accomplish
ed. Mr.. Barnes, however, thought diff
ferently, for he had at last come to a
positive conclusion. From Mr.. Mitchel's
tone of voice and the words of his last
speech the detective felt certain that
whatever part Mr.. Mitchell himself may
have played in the robbery Miss Rem.
sen was innocent. He also wondered
whether the conversation would now
drift back to the ruby. Perhaps it would
not have done so had not Mr.. Thauret,
who, up to this point, had scarcely
spoken during the progress of the meal.
once more broached the subject.
81 beg pardon, Mr.. Mitchell" said
he, "but your remark just now, that
there is something special about the lost
ruby, has greatly excited my curiosity.
Unless you have some private reason for
not doing SO, I beg that you will tell us
the history of the gem, if it has one" "
There was pause, during which Mr..
Mitchell looked at his plate and seemed
as though studying a problem. Mr..
Randolph was delighted that Mr..
Thauret had come to his assistance in
this unexpected way, and as he observed
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