Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-01-29
Conyrieht. lS95. by G. ?. Putnam's Sons.
CHAPTER w.
CUT DIAMOND.


cameo button, Immediately left the
apartment With little loss of time he
reached the Fifth Avenue hotel. He
found Wilson sitting in the lobby and
learned from him that Mr.. Mitchell had
not vet come down stairs. He made his
subordinate happy by conlplimenting
him upon his work and eXonerating him
from blame because Of his having lost
his man for few hours the day before.
With the button in his pocket Mr.
Barnes found it easy to be good natured
If the truth were known, he was chuc-
king to himself.
The thought which proved such fund
of merriment was the idea that his man
up stairs had proved himself just as hu-
man as ordinary criminals, since he had
left behind him the very telltale mark
which he had boasted would not be
found after he had committed his crime.
Externally, however, there was no sign
to show that Mr.. Barnes was in any way
excited. He calmly asked at the desk for
MI. Mitchell, and sent up his card just
as any ordinary visitor might have done.
In few minutes the hallboy returned
with the curt message, Come up
Mr.. Barnes was shown up one flight
of stairs into a suit of two rooms and a
bath overlooking Twenty-third street.
The room which he passed into from the
hall was fitted up like bachelors par
lor. Comfortable stuffed chairs and two
sofas, a folding reading chair, an up
right piano in mahogany case with
handsome piano lamp beside it, a carved
center table on which stood reading
lamp, cigar case in bronze, photo al
buns, handsome pictures on the walls
in gold frames, elegant vases on the
mantel, an onyx clock, full sized figure
of Moor carved in wood serving as a
card receiver-in fact, everything about
the place was significant Of wealth,
luxury and refinement. Gould this be
the den of murderer? 1t seemed not, un-
less there might be some powerful hid
den motive, which would make man
who was evidently gentleman stoop to
such q crime. According to Mr.. Barnes
experience such q motive must involve
awoman. AS yet there was no woman IN
this case, save the corpse which he had
Just left. All this flashed through the
detectives mind as he noted his sur
roundings in few swift glances. Then
he heard q voice from the next room
say:
"Come in, Mr.. Barnes. We must not
stand upon ceremony with one another. "
Mr. Barnes, in answer to the invita-
ton, crossed into the adjoining room and
noticed at once that the sleeping apart
ment was as luxurious as the parlor.
MIR. Mitchell was standing in front of
mirror shaving himself, being robed in
silk morning wrapper.
Pardon this intrusion" began Mr..
Barnes. "But you told me l might call
at any time, and"-
"No excuses necessary, except from
me. But I must finish shaving, you
know A man can't talk with lather on
one side of his face"
Certainly not Don't hurry 1 can
wait"
"Thank you'll Take seat. You will
find that armchair by the bed comforta-
BILE. This is an odd hour to be making
ones toilet; but, the fact is, I was out
late last night"
"At the club, I suppose" said Mr.,
Barnes, wishing to see if Mr.. Mitchell
would lie to him. In this he was disap-
pointed, for the reply was
"No; went to the Casino. Lillian
Russell, you know, has returned. l had
promised friend to 60, so we went. "
"a gentleman"
care you not getting inquisitive?
No; not a gentleman, but lady. In
fact, that is her picture on that easel "
MIR. Barnes looked and saw an oil
painting representing marveiously
beautiful head-a brunette of strong
emotions and great will power, if her
portrait were truthful. Here was sig
nifcant fact. Mr.. Mitchell said that he
had been to the Casino with this wom-
an. Wilson claimed that they had gone
to the house where the murdered wom-
an lay 1t would seem that Mr.. Mitch
els friend must live there, and thus
he had gained access the night before.
Did he know that the other also lived
there and did he 60 into her apartment
after leaving his companion? As this
passed through Mr.. Barnes mind his
eyes wandered across the bed. He saw a
waistcoat, upon which he observed two
buttons similar to the one which he had
secreted in his pocket. Stealthily he
reached his hand toward the bed, but
his fingers had scarcely touched the
waistcoat when Mr.. Mitchell said with
out turning from his shaving:
"There is no money in that waistcoat,
Mr.. Barnes.
What do you mean to insinuatc:'
said Mr.. Barnes angrily, withdrawing
his hand quickly. Mr., Mitchell paused
moment before replying, deliberately
made one or two more sweeps with his
razor, then turned and faced the detect
i've
Il mean, Mr.. Barnes, that you forgot
that was looking into mirror.
Your remark indicated that I meant
to steal"
did it? am sorry. But really you
shonld not ADOPT thief'S Stealthv