Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-01-24

bowed formally to Mr.. Mitchell and
passed out. Then the latter followed
Mr.. Barnes into the presence Of the dead
woman. If Mr.. Thauret was undis-
turbed at the sight which met him, it
was not SO with Mr.. Mitchell He had
scarcely observed what was before him
than, with an ejaculation Of horror, he
stepped closer to the corpse and ex-
claimed:
my God, Mr.. Barnes, what does
this mean?''
"What does what mean?" said Mr..
Barnes quietly.
The two men stared ut one another q
few moments, when Mr.. Mitchell, sud-
denly lowering his eyes, said. Tim a
fool!' and once more turned to look at
the corpse. Presently he turned and
said, with all of his old time composure ::
"You said you wished to ask me a
question. What is it:''
II wish you to tell me who this
woman is.
"Was. suppose you mean. She was
Rose Mitchell
''Ah! Did you know herr"
81 agreed to answer but one question.
I have done So"
"You have admitted that you knew
herr"
"You will find it difficult to prove
that.
"Oh, shall I? have witnesses. Gen
tlemen, please come forward. A door at
the farther end of the room opened and
v,l,Uc;oionc anforoI Tho no
continued, what have you to say now?"
"That I am most profoundly indebt-
ed to you for having enabled me to
prove what has happened, and also that
you have so soon let me know that we
are not alone" Mr.. Barnes bit his lip at
this taunt, and Mr.. Mitchell, turning to
the doctors, continued: Gentlemen, I
am delighted to know that you have
overheard what has occurred. You may
be called upon TO give testimony. If you
will remember, think that you will
admit that Mr.. Barnes asked me who
this woman is. Correcting his grammar,
replied, She was Rose Mitchell. Am
I accurate:'
"Quite so" said one of the doctors.
"Mr. Barnes claims that I have ad-
mitted that I knew the woman. l claim
that have merely admitted that knew
her name, which is very different
thing"
"You admitted more than that, said
the detective testify, "for you must have
known more than her name to be able to
give q name to this dead body"
'Ton are quite right, Mr.. Barnes. I
must also have known her face. In the
same way know both name and face of
Lillian Russell Were to identify her
dead body, would that prove that I was
personal acquaintance:'
Certainly not, but you cannot claim
that this woman was known to you in
that way, for she was not a public char
acter.''
"How do you know that:''
"Well, then, was she?''
"That is another question, and de-
cline to answer it-at least before wit
nesses. If you will walk with me as far
as my hotel, will do the best I can to
explain to you how could identify this
corpse without having been acquainted
with the woman HERSELF
''Of course I will go with you, for ex-
plain this you must" and together the
two men left the building.
They walked across to Fifth avenue
and down that thoroughfare for several
blocks in silence. Mr.. Mitchell was evil
IDENTIFY thinking over the position in
which he found himself, and Mr.. Barnes
was satisfied not to hasten the explana-
tion. He thus gave himself time to
make few mental notes, which if writ
ten down would have read as follows:
"Why did both Of these men start
when said that the jewels We're hidden
off the train? 1t might be because both
knew that to be a fact. If a fact, Thauret
might have known it, because he him.
self may be the thief. In that case, eithe,
Mitchell is an accomplice or he saw the
other man hide the satchel at some sta.
ton. Could Mitchell himself have hid
den the satchel? How could he have done
so when watched his section all night
unless of course fell asleep, which il
not probable. 1t follows, then, that
must discover what acquaintanceshiI
exists between these men in order to de-
termine whether they are in league to
gether.
Next, as to the murder It is odd tc
find both men possessing the means OF
admittance to the house. 1t is odd tina,
both were undisturbed and plainly in
credulous when I suggested that the
woman might have been murdered tt
obtain the jewels. If Thauret killed the
woman, his demeanor in the presence OF
the corpse was simply miraculous. HI
showed not the least agitation. On the
other hand, he admitted that he has g
medical education. Physicians are less
excited by cadavers, and, what is more
significant, a physician would know
how to find the jueular vein with pen
knife. Still it is not difficult to sevel
that vessel without special knowledge
As to Mitchell, his behavior is more
mysterious. Had. he committed the
crime, knowing his extraordinary abil
ity to control his emotions. i had right
to expect him to be calm before the
corpse. Yet he was much excited ant
went toward the body for a closer scru
tiny. Murderers usually shrink away
from their victims. In spite of that hi
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