Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-01-22
CHAPTER ".
Copyright, 1895. by G. P. Putnam's sons.l


CHAPTER ".
DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND.
Mr.. Barnes, after discovering the
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 complimenting
him upon his work and generating him
from blame because Of his having lost
his man for q 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 boosted would not be
found after he had committed his crime.
Externally, however, there was no sign
to show that Mr.. Barnes was i'll any way
excited. He calmly asked at the desk for
Mr. Mitchell, and sent up his card just
as any ordinary visitor might have done.
In a few minutes the hallboy returned
with the curt message, Come up.
Mr.. Barnes was shown up one flight
of stairs into suit of two rooms and
bath overlooking Twenty-third street.
The room which he passed into from the
hall was fitted up like bachelor S par
lor. Comfortable stuffed chairs and two
sofas, folding reading chair, an up
right piano il mahogany case with
handsome piano lamp beside it, q carved
center table on which stood q reading
lamp, cigar case III 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 i'll wood serving as a
card receiver-in fact, everything about
the place was significant of wealth,
luxury and refinement. Could this be
the den of murderer? 1t seemed not, I'M
less there might be some powerful hid
den motive, which would make a man
who was evidently gentleman stoop to
such crime. According to Mr.. Barnes
experience such q motive must involve
woman. 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 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.
Mr.. Mitchell was standing in front Of a
mirror shaving himself, being robed in
q silk morning wrapper.
Pardon this intrusion" began Mr..
Barnes. "But you told me might call
| at any time, and"-
NO excuses necessary, except from
| me. But l must finish shaving, you
know. A man can't talk with lather on
one side of his face
Certainly not. Don't hurry. can
watt
"Thank you! Take u 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, was on,
late last night
AT the club, suppose" said Mr..
Barnes, wishing to see if Mr.. Mitchell
would lie 10 him. In this he was disap.
pointed, for the reply was:
| mo; went to the Casino. Lillian
Russell, you know, has returned. I haG
promised a friend to go, SO we went"
"A gentleman
care you not getting inquisitive,
No; not gentleman, but lady. Ir
fact, that is her picture on that easel. :"
! Mr.. Barnes looked and saw an oil
painting representing a marvelously
beautiful bra;i--a brunette of strons
emotions and great will power, if hel
portrait were truthful. Here was a sig
nificant fact. Mr.. Mitchell said that HI
had been to the Casino with this WON
an. Wilson claimed that they had gone
to the house where the murdered WON
an lay. 1t would seem that Mr. Mitch
els friend must live there, and thu
he had gained access the night before
Did he know that the other also ivet
there and did he go into her apartment
after leaving his companion: As thi
passed through Mr.. Barnes mind hi
eyes wandered across the bed. He saw
waistcoat, upon which he observed tw,
buttons similar to the one which he hat
secreted in his pocket. Stealthily h
reached his hand toward the bed, bu
his fingers had scarcely touched thu
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 insinuate?'
said Mr.. Barnes angrily, withdrawn.
his hand quickly. Mr.. Mitchell paused