Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-01-22

into the air, Catching 1t IS 1t came down,
and then said:
''This would make pretty situation
in play, Mr.. Barnes. Follow me. De-
tective discovers crime and finds curious
button. Goes straight to criminal and
boldly tells him Of the fact. Criminal
admits that he has but six buttons out
of seven and asks to see the button
found. Detective foolishly hands it to
him. Then criminal smiles blandly and
says: Mr.. Detective, now l have seven
buttons. and my set IS complete again.
What are You going to do about it, -
"And the detective would reply"
said Mr.. Barnes, falling into the humor
of the situation, Mr. Criminal, will
just take that back by force
Exactly. You catch the spirit Of the
stage picture. Then fight between two
men, applause from the gallery, and vic
tory for either party, Is the author has
decided. That is the way il would be
done III play. But in real life j: is diff
ferent. simply hand you back your
button thus" handing ruttcn to Mr..
Barnes and bowling politely. Then he
remarked: "Mr. Barnes, you are wei
come to that. 1t is not part of my set"
"Not Il part Of yCur set:" echoed the
detective, dumfounded.
Not q part of my set. am sorry to
disappoint you, but so it is I Will even
explain, for sympGthize with you. l
told you the set was originally seven.
So it was, but the seventh button has
the head of Shakespeare Cn it. All seven
were given TO NE by my friend, but as
l could wear but six returned to her
this odd Shakespeare button, which /
had Eiade into 4 breastpin, and kept
the others, thus reducing the set Of but
tons to six. The seventh is 10 longer a
button, yen see"
But how DO you account fer the fact
that this button which have IS plainly
| portrait Of your friend and 4 counter
part to those Cn yCur vest?"
Ny dear Mr.. Barnes, l don't account
fer it. ! don't have 70. yCu know. That
sCrt Of thing is your business.
| 'What if should decide to arrest you
at once and ask jury to determine
whether your original set included this
| bUttCn or nut:"
| THAT wCuld be incouvenient TO me,
of course. But it is one of these things
that we risk every day mean arrest
by some blunGering detective. Pardon
me, do not get angry again. l do no,
| allude to yourself. l am quite sure that
| you are too slrewd to arrest me.
'And why so, pray"
because l am surely not going t.
run away, i'll the first place, and, second
ly, You would gain nothing, since il
would be so easy for me to prove all thai
I have told you, and in your mind yor
are saying to yourself that 1 have moi
led to you. Really have not"
Il have only one thing n:ore TO say t.
you, Mr.. Mitchell" said Mr.. Barnes
rising. "Will You show me that seventh
button, or breastpin?'
''That is asking great deal, but
will grant your request upon one condi
tion. Think we'll before yen make The
bargain. When I made that wager,
did not calculate the possibility of en-
tangling in my scandal the name Of til
woman whom love dearest Gil earth
That is the portrait Of the woman VIII
will soon become my wife. As hav
said, she has the other button and wear
it constantly. You will gain nothing b.
seeing it, for it will simply corroborat
my word, which, think, you believ
now. Twill take you to her, and sh
| will tell you of these buttons, if yo1
promise me never to annoy her i'll an,
way in connection with this affair.
II will give you that promise cheer
fully. l have no wish to annoy lady.
"That is for you to decide. Meet m
in the lobby at noon precisely, and
Will take you to her house. And nov
will you excuse me while l complet
my toilet"
fro BE CONTINUED