Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-06-04

| way. IL wait Only say that there Is
some chance of my succeeding.
why. Of course, every one has a
chance. But / must not tell you how
great yours is, because if did would
not be winning my bet fairly And l
must say good night, with which she
left him. Her last words fingered with
him, and he took comfort. For what
could she mean but that his chances
were coed, since if otherwise how could
the telling prevent her from winning
her wager? Nevertheless, as the weeks
went ON he tried many times to get a
more definite reply from her, but never
succeeded. Still he hugged the cherish
ed hope to his heart and waited as pa
tiently as man could.
Randolph was simply miserable all
the time. Whenever he was with Dora,
she was good to him, kind to him and
often used tender tones that thrilled his
heart. But he, too, failed to get any
thing from her, save the old request that
he should be patient and wait. He, too,
waited, but not patiently.
Meanwhile, in New York, Mr.. Barnes
was still burrowing into everything that
seemed to have any connection direct or
otherwise with the mystery or mysteries
that baflled him. OF one thing he had
satisfied himself beyond all doubt. That
was that Mr.. Fisher had not been i'm
| plicated in the train robbery. His spy
had found that he had been absent from
the city during three days at the time
Of the crime, but this very fact had been
shown to be his safeguard.
By some skillful work the man dis
covered that during that time he had
simply been off shooting ducks in a part
of the country where it would have
been impossible for him to be an accom-
plice. This simple fact should not have
been hard to discover were it not that
Fisher had kept his trip secret. This
for some time puzzled the detective, but
finally he followed him out Of the city,
and practically accompanied him on a
similar outing, after which he learned
that his sister was morbidly opposed to
all killing, whether for sport or for a
livelihood. 1t was to humor this idea
that her brother made his excursions in
secret. The spy learned from the man
from whom the dogs were hired that
Mr.. Fisher had used them in December.
So that left him out Of the score, or at
least so it seemed. 1t was still possible
that he was implicated in the ruby rob-
berry, though, save that he was present,
there seemed nothing against him. Mr..
Barnes did not entirely leave him out
Of the account.
Thus practically the detective made
no progress, and was chagrined to be
compelled to admit it. Finally, how
ever, an idea occurred to him, upon
which the more he dwelt the more fas-
cinated he became with it, To put it
into practice, however, he felt that he
must await the return Of Mr. Mitchell
He thought he would injure his cause
by seeking him and SO disturbing him
during his pleasure trip
The Mitchels did not keep their prom
ise to go to the White mountains, but,
on the contrary, prolonged their west
ern travel so that it was November be-
fore they We're at home again and tenn
porarily quartered at the Fifth Avenue.
A few days after, Mr.. Barnes sent up
his card, and, as usual, was cordially
received.
"Any news Of my wife's ruby" ask
ed Mr.. Mitchell, grasping the detective
warmly by the hand.
uNo Nv Mitchell o,,, -or-,- 10 eo1-
that 1 am utterly unable to prove any
of my theories about that. But have
come to set determination, and one
that to you may seem a peculiar one.
have come to ask your assistance III the
murder case.
why, certainly, l will help you.
Did l not tell you so at the very outset?
Have l not always been willing to talk
freely to you:"
lyon have, but as long as l thought |
that you yourself might have committed |
the crime, how could l come to you to |
ask you to assist me-"
Then | am to understand that at |
present you do not suspect lne:"
Il have come to that conclusion at |
last and wish now that had done SO
sooner.
Would you mind telling me why
you have altered your mind? You have |
told Inc so much that seemed to imph- |
cate me that am curious to hear the |
other side.
Certainly. overheard your wager. |
Then caTe the robbery and then the |
murder. Later there was a second jewel |
All Of these crimes occurred |
within the limit which you set. One of |
them Of course you committed. 1t seems |
more probable that you stole the single |
ruby, for in doing that you committed o |
crime for which you could not be pun-
ished, especially since you have married |
the lady. Even before she would will |
ingly have testified that it was under |
stood between you, and that it was SIM |
ply trick to win wager. Is not that |
correct E0gic?"
Correct logic? Yes. OF course ad-
nit nothing as to facts.
Either or both of these robberies are |
secondary to the murder. That l have |
determined to unravel if lean. At pres |
ent think the train r0bber and the |
was one and the same person.
Now, there is one clew which have |
not been able to follow. but which, if |
pursued, l am certain will lead me
straight to the criminal "
And that is?"
HHrNbo buttO,, 1vbinb I found in kbo |
room. That is significant. 1t is too great
a coincidence that it should match your
set not to have an explanation that
would shed light upon this case.
How do you expect me to assist you
in that direction?"
A., L. L