Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-01-30

monds, We're they not:'
Diamonds and other jewels. But let
me ask you-how would you have hid
den them had You been in his placer
This time the shot went home. Plainly
the Frenchman did not like the sugges-
tion of being himself ths criminal He
quickly recovered his equanimity, how
ever, and answered:
90 YOU know, l have thought Of that
very tin. ~07rse l would probably
make a bung-s 8. Still l have
thought of way.
"a way by which he could LA,1 ID
den the jewels, so that search could
not have found them, and yet in place
accessible to himself afterward?"
Il think so. Perhaps l am wrong,
but 1 think my little plan would do
that much. The newspaper says the
jewels We're unset stones. l should have
pushed them into the cake of soap in
the washroom. No one would think TO
look for them there, and, even if so.
there would be nothing against me.
Afterward I should have gone back,
taken the soap, and the jewels would
have been mine.
"You are mistaken.
"How so?"
"You were the first person searched,
and I watched you till you left the
train. II would have been difficult for
you to come to New York from Stam-
ford on another train, and then gain ac-
cess to the coaches on side track and in
the hands of the scrubwomen. Even
then you would have failed, for 1 took
all the soap away and substituted new
cakes before the second man was
searched.
A smile ON Mr.. Mitchel's face proved
that he was listening and that he was
pleased at the detectives cleverness.
The Frenchman shrugged his shoulders
and said, laughing:
"There, you see, should never make
o thief Besides, there was the satchel
had forgotten about that. One could
not hide a satchel in cake of soap. -
But he could throw it out of the
window to mislead the man who picked
it up, " replied the detective.
"You are shrewd, Mr.. Barnes, said
Mr.. Thauret, after a keen scrutiny,
which Mr.. Barnes thought betokened
uneasiness. "But, he continued, will
you tell me how you think the thief hid
the treasure ON the train?"
He hid it off the train, said Mr..
Barnes quickly, and to his satisfaction
both his men started slightly. Evident
ly Mr.. Mitchell decided that it was time
for him to enter the game, for he crossed
and joined the group, saying as he did
SO:
care you all discussing the train rob-
bery?"
"Oh, yesr" said Dora. "And it is
just lovely, the way Mr.. Barnes has
found out all about it ~
Found out all about 1t? Has he in
deed?'
Yes He knows who the thief is,
and that he hid the jewels off the train. "
"How very clever of you, Mr.. Barnes,
to discover that. Where else could he
have hidden them, since the train itself
and everybody Oh it was searched?"
1t irritated Mr.. Barnes the way in
which Mr.. Mitchell always seemed to be-
little his skill He was a trifle angry
therefore as he made his next bold
stroke.
81 will tell you, ladies and gentle
men, where the thief might have hidden
the jewels, on the train-a place which
no one thought of searching, not even
myself.
"Oh, tell us r. exclaimed Dora. The
two men looked interested, nothing
more. Emily had come behind Mr..
Mitchell and slyly slipped her hand with
in his.
1.-The woman carried the jewels i'll a
satchel. Suppose the thief had stolen the
satchel and thrown it from the window.
Missing that, the woman would have
naturally concluded that the jewels were
gone, would she not? Very we'll. The
thief might have hidden the jewels i'll
her own pocket while she slept" Mr..
Barnes had hoped much from this prop
osition, but it was a distinct failure.
Either that was not the thief's method
or else Mr.. Mitchell and Mr.. Thauret
were both innocent Both smiled incred
ulOuSIl. 1uO SpOhGs
"That is too farfetched, Mr.. Barnes
How do you suppose that he would re-
gain possession of the gems?"
"By numbering the woman, answer
ed the detective Again he failed, for
neither of the men WINGED. Mr. Barnes
was foiled for the moment, bat not en-
tirely discouraged. The start which both
40 ha hat
the stolen property had been hidden off
the train still remained to be explained.
Come, come, Mr.. Barnes, said Mr..
Mitchell, patting his shoulder familiar
ly. Don't let this case upset you so.
When you go so far for a theory, you do
not show the skill which you displayed
in tracking Pettingill. Why, even I can
get you better one than that. "
"You must not think me quite fool,
Mr.. Mitchell If my theory seems pre-
posterous, it does not follow that it is
the only one at my command. We de-
tectives must look at these cases from
all lights. will wager that / can tell
you what your theory is?''
"Good! 1 am glad New York has
such clever man to defend her. ac-
cept your wager Here, will write my
idea on bit of paper. If you guess it,
l owe you an invitation to a good din
ner. F" Mr.. Mitchell wrote few lines on
the back of an envelope and handed it
to Dora.
"You think, said Mr.. Barnes, THAT
the thief might have simply handed the
satchel and jewelry to a confederate at
q station decided upon in advance. "
"Bravo, Mr.. BarnesV' said Dora.
''You are a great detective. You have
won your wager. That is what is writ
ten here"
"I owe you dinner, Mr.. Barnes, and
it shall be a good one, remarked Mr..
Would Mr.. Barnes like to win an
other?" asked the Frenchman, with
slow distinctness.
81 would, " said the detective sharply.
"Then will wager with you that if
you ever clear up the mystery you will
be obliged to admit that none Of the
theories advanced is the correct one"
Il cannot accept that bet, " said Mr..
Barnes slowly, because | am sure that
we have not mentioned the true method
"
"Ah, you have another theory, " Mr..
rhauret almost sneered.
II have, and it is the correct one,
,etorted Mr.. Barnes, 'but l prefer not
20 disclose it. +"
II think you are quito right, Mr..
Barnes" said Emily. "In fact, know
ing you by reputation as a man of great
l have not thought that you
..,.. - ,.J,,,, +,.,,, ;,1a., T+