Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-01-31
CHAPTER XII.

during the next two weeks there were
numerous references to the ruby robbery
IN the daily papers. Interviews were
published purporting to have been held
with every ono Of note who had been
present. The police were twitted with
their inability to discover the thief. The
detectives from the central office came
and went niysteriously, and were silent
TO all questioners, the while maintain
ing an expression which plainly said,
I'VE could and we would" One or
two persons were even arrested, only to
be promptly discharged when brought
before the committing magistrates. So
that interest in the affair soon iiet. out.
Another crime occurred, and all New
York had something else to talk of. The
Remsen ruby was forgotten by the
masses
MIR. Barnes, however, thought Of little
else. He racked his brain for promis-
ing starting point, and the moro he
thought the more he was tempted to
made trip to New Orleans to unravel
this, as he had many other mysteries,
from tie other end" Yet he hated to
leave the scene where were the chief &C.
tors in the drama, and as he felt certain
the principal in one or all of the crimes.
At last lie resolved to make q move,
hoping little from it, yet unwilling
longer to rest actually idle in this case
He wrote the following letter:
Mr.. Arthur Randolph:
DEAR SIR-SiHcc you have engaged me to
undertake to prove that MIR. Mitchell himself
stole the ruby on the night Of the festival,
presume that You will consent to give me
some assistance in the matter. In the first
Interview that had with yen you may recall
that you stated that your friend, in your opin-
ion, IL somewhat insane on the subject Of eel
cbra'ed jewels. You said, in effect, that il he
We're pressed q little this line he would
drift off into the narration of tales of gems
and crimes committed to obtain them.
would much like to hear Mr.. Mitchell talk up
on his hobby, but, a. you know. he is on the
defensive with me. Can you in some way ar
range to hive a talk with him yourself and
draw him out, while / should he secreted
where ! could ovcrhear the conversation? i
should wish you to mention the loss of the
ruby-to suggest, il not charge outright that
he himself has taken the gem, and when he
denies IL. ~ ho surely will, ask him whether
there Is any peculiar story connected with it
that IL, whether it has ever been stolen be-
fore. From such u conversation might get a
us nctIl-!g you, might
be valuable to me. Will you do this? Remem-
Der you yourself said that 'all is fair" etc
Yours truly, j. BARNES.
In reply to this he received note
asking him 10 meet Mr.. Randolph at his
club on the following evening.
The next afternoon Mr.. Mitchell call
ed at tho Hoffman House and went up to
the room occupied by Mr.. Thauret, find
ing that gentleman at home. Mr.. Thau-
ret advanced to meet him, and the two
shook hands cordially.
''Thauret," began FIR. Mitchell, ct
want to talk to you seriously about that
jewel robbery
II am all attention, said Fir. Thau-
ret, lighting 4 cigarette and dropping in
to comfortable rocking chair.
ITO begin with, let me recapitulate.
will 60 back to our partnership ar
rangement. You and I became in a way
secret partners, OR perhaps gambling
pals would be more accurate. At that
time I agreed to furnish the capital for
our operations up to certain point.
believe I have done SO, in spite of the
fact that our losses have been rather
heavy and the further fact that you con-
fidcntially told mo that you had meth
oil or 0 system by which losses could be
avoided, or ut least controlled. Am I
accurate;"
"Quite so, my friend. You have
proved yourself an admirable silent part
ncr, since you have allowed me to have
my own way, paying the bills and ask
ing no questions till now. Am I to I'M
derstand that the losses annoy you, and
that you wish an explanation?"
lyon may give me one in a moment.
There is another point. You promised
to drop Adrian Fisher"
"Well?'
"You have not done SO. requested
you to wear the Ali Bahia costume the
other night, and yet You chose to give it
to Fisher. Why was that?'
"It will be more simple to explain
about the losses first and come to Fisher
later. As you perhaps know. that de-
tective Barnes has chosen to place spy
ut my heels. Under the circumstances
thought 1t wise to play the spy upon my
spy. Several times have gone to the
club and then placed myself where I
could watch my man. In this way
soon discovered that he had become init
mate with one of the club servants. One
day called this fellow, and partly by
threatening to have him discharged, but
mainly by using money, got out of
him what the detective was asking
about me. This was chiefly whether I
lose or win when play cards. found
that the result of every game that !
played was being reported Consequent
ly after that made it rule to LOSE"
Ito lose my money!
ITO lose our money, since we are part
ners. You IRE simply advancing the
funds till getremittances from Paris.
You have my I GUS If you are. tired
OF the arrangement. ! will pay you at
once, though it would be inconvenient -
mo The money is Of no conse-
quence. But tell me why did you think
1t best to lose?''
1t is very simple. From the fact
that the detectives are investigating this
point 1t is evident that they have heard
Of the winnings which I made when
Fisher played with me. They may have