Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-01-16

"But-the conductor trdntS to search me. "
undertake to recover the jewels and keep
this robbery out of the newspapers l
would pay you well. "
Il will take the case. Now answer
me a few questions. First, your name
and address"
"My name is Rose Mitchell, and am
living temporarily in furnished fiat in
East Thirtieth street, New York. have
recently come from New Orleans, my
| home, and am looking for suitable apart
ments.
Mr.. Barnes took out his note book
and made memorandum of the address.
Married or singleF"
Married, but my husband has been
dead for several years. "
"Now about these jewels. How did
it happen that you were travelling with
so valuable lot of jewelry?"
II have not lost jewelry, but jewels.
! They are unset stones Of rare beauty
| diamonds, rubies, pearls and other pre-
cious stones. When my husband died,
he left large fortune, but there were
also large debts. which swallowed mp
everything save what was due him from
one creditor This was an Italian noble
mani need not mention his name
who died almost at the same time as
my husband. The executors commune
Gated with me, and our correspondence
eliminated IN my accepting these jewels
in payment of the debt. Ireceived them
in Boston yesterday, and already / have
lost them. 1t is too cruel-too cruelP'
She gripped her hands together convul-
sively, and q few tears coursed down
her face. Mr.. Barnes unused few mo-
ments and seemed not to be observing
her.
"What was the value of these jewels?'
Zone hundred thousand dollars. ~
by what express company We're they
sent to your" The question was sim
pie one, and Mr.. Barnes asked it rather
mechanically, though he was wondering
if the thief had come across the ocean
from France, perhaps. He was therefore
astonished at the effect produced The
woman arose suddenly, her whole man
ner changed. She replied with her lips
compressed tightly, as though laboring
under some excitement.
THAT is not essential Perhaps l am
telling too much 10 a stranger anyway.
Come to my apartment this evening,
and l will give you further particulars
If | decide to leave the case in your
hands If not, I will pay you for what
ever trouble you have in the interim.
Good morningp'
" lanUn
room without offering to detain her or
making any comment ON her singular
manner. Without rising from his seat
he looked out Of the window and strum-
med ON the pane. What he thought it
would be difficult to tell, but presently
he said aloud, though there was no one
to hear him:
II think she is liar y
Having relieved himself thus. he re-
turned to his own coach. He found two
gentlemen in the toilet room allowing
themselves to be searched, laughing over
the matter as huge joke He passed
by and entered his own compartment,
which the porter had put in order One
after another the few passengers arose,
heard of the robbery and cheerfully
passed through the ordeal of being
searched
At last his patience was rewarded by
seeing the curtains of No moving,
and a moment later n fine looking young
man of six and twenty emerged, partly
dressed, and went toward the toilet.
Mr.. Barnes sauntered after him, and en-
tered the smoking room He had scarce
ly seated himself before q man entered,
who was evidently the other occupant Of
section 8. While this second man was
washing, the conductor explained TO
the other about the robbery, and sug-
gested that he allow himself TO be search
ed. By this time the conductor was be-
coming excited. They were within a
few minutes Of New York, and all his
passengers had been examined save these
two Yet these two looked moro aristo-
cratic than any of the others. He was
astonished, therefore, to observe that the
young man addressed seemed very much
disturbed. He stammered and suffered,
seeking words, and finally in hoarse
voice addressed his companion:
bob, do you hear, there's been a
robbery"
His friend Bob was bending over the
water basin, his head and face covered
with a stiff soap lather and his hands
rubbing his skin vigorously. Before
replying he dipped his head completely
under the water, held II so submerged
a moment, then stood erect with eyes
shut and reached for a towel. In mo-
mept he bad wiped the suds from his
eyes, and looking at his friend he an
swered most unconcernedly:
What Of it,"