The Cairo bulletin., 1904-06-14
CHAPTER XI.

VII Niic uolHillB VI Aut OH VI JuludfY
the mail which reached Mr.. Barnes
+ contained several letters of interest to
those who follow this history The first
which he opened was very brief. 1t
read:
If MIR. Barnes win call at his earliest con.
vcnienee he will greatly olligo
ENVY REMsEN
He read this twice, and then took up
another, which was as follows:
J, Barnes, Esq
DEAR Sill take the liberty Of recalling 70
your mind the conversation which had with
you last month. | regret very much that
should have limited that there was any posi-
bility that my friend Mr. Mitchell might be
implicated in the Pullman car robbery As
you know Miss Emily Romson was robbed at
the festival, night before last Of a ruby pin
worth $4,000 1t is very evident to my mind
that Mr.. MitChcl's hand Is IN this ! know
that he prctCnds to he sick at a hotel in Philu
dclphla, but may not that be a humbugf 1t
would have been easy enough FOR him to Slip
over, don ono Of tho Forty Thieves dominos,
take the gem and get back to PHILADELPHIA the
same night This would be safe theft for
him 20 commit especially as he may have the
assistance Of Miss Rcmscn. Now, as all Is fair
in a bet, want you to undertake TO prove for
me that Mr.. Mitchell committed this theft
want to win that wager from Lin and don't
mind spending money. Even if should adj
vance you The whole $1,000 should save my
own provided You convict him within year.
Besides, the satisfaction to mo would DO worth
the money, II takes sharp man to got ahead
Of Mr.. Mitchell, incloso check for 500 as d
sort Of retainer, and you may draw on me for
more, up to$lO0O, il you should need it, By
the way, while writing to you | may as well
confess that was wrong In my suspicion Of
Mr.. Thaurct. | am sure that he does not
cheat at cards | have watched him frequent
ly since then and he certainly plays a square
game. have no reason for liking the man,
and, as - fact, dislike him most heartily
Nevertheless justice cOmpcls me to rrtraet the
imputation which put upon him Another
thing the partner with whom he played that
night told you was unknown to me. have
since made his acquaintance, and, though he
is poor he is u gentleman and above suspicion
His namo Is Adrian Fisher. Hoping you will
help me to win my wager, yours truly,
Arthur RANDOLPH.
$50, Thought Mr. Barnes "eyen
Mr. Randolph sees through the trans
parent scheme Of being sick in Philadcl-
phia and stealing his sweetheart's jew
elry in New York. 1t is one thing to
see the trick, however, and quite an
other to prove 1t. He thinks that
Thauret and Fisher are both virtuous
Well, am afraid he is mistaken there. "
file took up another letter II read.
PHuApEt puIA Jan. q
DEAR Mr.. DEMONSTRATION my familiarity,
but | think wc are getting pretty well ac.
quaintea with one another. ! have Just read
the New York newspapers and am startled to
see that Miss Rcnsen was deliberately robbed
Of that valuable ruby pin which | recently
gave her, You will remember that showed
you the gem tie very day that took II 10 he
set. am very much disturbed about this AT
fair, especially as am unable, through sick
ness, to return 70 New York, and my physi-
clan warns mo that II win bc several days be
fore can leave my room. viii you do mo a
great iaror2 Forget that I ever disparaged
the detective force Of which you are ndoubt.
rdly brilliant member and take this case in
hand. will give youSL 0O0if Twill recover
,Nc iowcl. which IL only small reward, CON
sidcring Its value. / send you a check for 800
which you may use for expenses. and, If more
be needed, let inc know | wish you could
run over to Philadelphia 10 see me. A cen.
with you would be great satisfac
ton 70 me. viii you obligc, yours very truly,
ROBERT LEROY MITCHELL
Mr.. Barnes read this no less than
three times, and then said aloud, though
there was no one TO hear him, WellW
That was all, but the tono was rich in
suggestiveness. What he thought, but
did not put into words, was: THAT
man has the coolest audacity ever met.
Here he actually offers me 81, 600 to re-
cover that ruby, when he knows that
was right by his side at the time Of the
theft. Is he so egOtistic that he dares to
guy me? Is he psure that lie cannot be
l kissw that he was not in
Philadelphia anyway, as my man found
his room empty: His alibi is broken,
ut all events, clever as he thinks him
self. viii | % 10 Philadelphia to see
himf Well, | SHOULD think sol A CON
yersation with bim viii be as Satisfac-
tory to me as it possibly can be to him.
But first must obey the call from Miss |
Remsen. There may be much to learn /
there.
1t was nearly an hour before Mr.
Barnes duties III connection with other (
,ases made him at liberty He went /
straight TO Miss Rcmscns and was
shown into her prescncc
lyon sent for me, Miss Rcmscn, " he /
began
Eyes. Mr.. Barnes, she replied. /
will you be seated;" The detective ae-
,cpted her invitation. and she contin-
ned To come to the point at once, ] .
wish to see you about my lost ruby 1t /
was present from Mr.. Mitchell to ne,
md besides being very costly attach a
sentimental yaluo % it, ! want yUu to I
to recover il, aud will give /
7Ou + 600 if you succeed.
Mr. Barnes bad Hover had 80 many /
thousand dollar offers made TO him in 50 I
;l1ort a time before He smiled slightly /
and said: /
"Your offer comes too late, Miss Rem- I
sen ! have a letter from Mr. Mitchell /
himself. making similar offer 1t /
would scarcely be proper for me to nc
.ept two rewards for one service
"Then You refuse to help mo:'
"On the contrary, will use my ut
most cndeavors TO detect the thief and +
ocoyer your property for you. But .
need no money from you.
lyon arc very conscientious. Mr.. /
Barnes. and | admire it, | honor a
nan whoplaces his duty above money
Il thank You for your courteous re-
.,,~E- NJ - I o,,, 4, Ir1s. ,-,-- go,