Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-01
smile OF friendship SO common 20 nc

naive southerner.
Left alone, Mr.. Barnes at once pre-
pared for a trip to Algiers, determined
not to let any mere time be lost. He
reached the shops Just after the men had
knocked Of for luncheon. The foreman,
however. told him that Leroy Mitchell
had been at work in the morning, 50 he
waited patiently.
When the men came back to resume
work, the foreman pointed ont man
who he said was Leroy Mitchell The
fellow had a bad face, and if ever he
was gentleman he had sunk SO low
through drink that no evidence of it re-
manned in his appearance. Mr.. Barnes
went up to him and asked when he
| could have talk with him.
Snow, if you pay for it, =" replied the
man insOlently
What do you mean?' asked the de-
tectiva
Just what l say" said the other.
''We get cur pay here by the hour, and
if you want my time, why, you II have
| to pay for it at union rates. And he
laughed as though good joke had been
propounded.
"Then," said Mr.. Barnes, taking in
the kind of a man with whom he had to
deal, "I'll engage you on job that I
have for you and pay you double wages
as long as I use you"
"Now you are talking" said the fell
low "Where'll we go:''
Il think I'll take You to my hotel"
And thither they proceeded. Up in his
own room again Mr.. Barnes felt mt ease,
while his companion certainly made
himself comfortable, selecting rocking
chair ard putting his feet up ON the
window sill.
"Now then," began Mr.. Barnes, 81
want to ask you a few questions. Are
you prepared to answer them:''
"That will depend On what they are.
II you don't ask impertinent Questions
or ones c..: J think ought to get more
than double wages for answering-why,
an with YOU
In the first place, then, are you will
ing to say whether you ever knew q wo-
man who called herself Rose MITCHELL
"Well, rather. lived with her till
she broke me-"
''Do yen know where she is now?"
1
"Suppose l Were to tell you that she
is dead. and that she had left 500, 600
which is unc!aimed?'
The man jumped to his feet as though
shot and stood staring at the detective
He gave long, low whistle, and a keen,
tricky gleam came into his eye, which
Mr.. Barnes noted. At length he spoke:
"Are you giving me this straight"
Il am telling you the truth. The wo.
man is dead, and that amount Of prop.
erty is where can get it for the man
who can prove that he is entitled to it. u
land who would that be:' He wait.
cd eagerly for the reply, and Mr.. Barnes
saw that he was playing trump cards.
"Why, Mr.. Mitchell, that is what
: am down here for. You see, thought
the party would be willing to pay me .
good commission for proving him the
heir, ard that is why am hunting him
up. l started out with the idea that
! might find her husband. He would have
q claim
81 See" Saying which, he sat down
, and seemed lost in thought. The detect
i've deemed it we'll to wait for him tt
speak again, which he did.
} "See here" he exclaimed Glow
much do you want for getting this mon
, ey fer me:"
, Il cannot get it at all unless you are
the woman's husband" replied the de
: tective.
"Wel1, am her husband. Didn't
tell you ! lived with her till she brok'
me:''
} Eyes, but are You legally married tt
her:''
? "Why. to ne sure. Don't tell you
, am her husband:''
} "Then, III the name of the law, ar
t rest you,' said Mr.. Barnes, suddenl,
. rising and standing over the man.
: ARREST me-" said the fellow, jump
| ing up, pale with fright. "What for?"
''Rose Mitchell has been murdered
l and the man who killed her has con
fessed that he was hired to do it BY
lyou.''
! "He's blasted liar" -
i 81 hope SO for your sake. But as 20,
: admit that you are her husband, you
Q are the man we are looking for. IL
have to take you to New York. !"
0 "But, I say" said the fellow, nov
thoroughly alarmed, "there is a hi,
: mistake here. I've been lying to you
: I'm not the woman's husband, and m,
= name is not Mitchell
=. ''That won't do, my man. had yo'
s pointed out to me by Seton, the detect
S i've here"
r ''But he is the very man that hire,
MO to pass off as Mitchell to you."
Q Mr.. Barnes chuckled as he found hi
ruse successful. He had suspected al
h along that the New Orleans dctectiv
n was trying to lead him off Oh q wron
o scent and now thought he saw a chanc
/ to turn the tables upon him and &c
9 some valuable information.
d "That is a very thin story" said he
"but if you will tell me all you know
perhaps I may believe you"
"You bet I'll give You the Who'll
IS story straight to get out Of this scrape
In the first place, my name is Arthu
| I inf Tho xvCvJd