The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-06-13
CHAPTER X.

A~"'h'N NhiNh ANFNiA'' A'''' 1870 :
cabinet and Immediately after left the
house ON his way to New York. Reach
ing there, he proccoded'up town, finally
ringing the doorbcll of the Van Rawl-
Eton munsion He requested to see the
master Of tho house upon urgent bust
ness, and that gentleman soon presented
himsolf
"Mr Van Rawlston, " said Mr.
Barnes, II am detective May have
fow moments Of strictly private CON
versation with YOU
Certainly, waS the reply. step
into my study We will be entirely safe
from prying ears there. A moment
later tho two men were seated IN com
Portable leather chairs facing each other,
"Mr, Van Rawlstun,' began the de
tcctivc, Ito explain my purpose at Gnce
l havo only to say that / desire your
permission to attend tho masquerade
which will be held here tonight am
aware that this must seem an odd re-
quest, but | make it entirely in your
own interests,
IF you will explain moro fully sir,
Imly be quitowilling to grant your 70
quest, said the other.
You should know that masquerade
is a dangerous kind of entertainment
AT such affairs large rubbories have often
been committed--tho thieves operating
boldly ana escaping through the aid Of
their DISCUSSES | have good reason for
believing that such crime is contem
plated tonight, "
Ny dear sir, impossiblol Why, no
ono will be admitted save those with
whom we are well acquainted. Tickets
have been issued by the society which
gives tho festival, and every one must
unmask before being allowed to enter,
Therefore, while | am grateful to you
for your warning, hardly think that
need your services ~
MIR. Van Rawlston, / regret to say
that you are mistaken In the first place
your close scrutiny Of all who enter will
probably be relaxed as the night wears
on Again, there are ways of getting IN
uuperceived, and once within tho thief
would he unsupported But this is ne
guesswork on my part do not think,
know, that unless am here to prevent
ii a robbery will bo committed JUDGED
may even fail TO prevent it,
Why, sir, you speak rs though you
know the person who istoplay the Grim
inal.
II do. For several weeks my mer
have been watching certain suspicious
parties From data furnished by my
spies | am sure that plans have beer
perfected by which one ur moro Of YOU
guests will be robbed during the prog
resS Of the entertainment
'Sull it seems Incredible. As | have
said. no ono will be able to enter with
ont our knowledge.
cor course lcannot intrude upon you
Mr. Van Rawston but if you ar,
obliged to appeal to the police tomorrow
for the recovery of stolen property yol
alone will be to blame if the thief shall
have had several hours the start Of us.
have warned You. That is the best | cal
do wish You good morning. Mr.
Barnes rose to 90, but Mr. Van Rawl
ston stopped him.
Zone moment, said he. IF you ar
so sure that there is scheme of robber.
afoot, Of course must not be SO rash a
TO refuse your aid What lyon advise
We could postpone the festival.
by no means The course to pursu
is to keep what have told you strictl
secret---in fact, if possible, dismiss
entirely from your mind 50 that b
your behavior the thief may not knoN
that suspicious have been aroused. ID
as | requested at first, and as | knox
my man | will be able to keep an ey
upon him should he be present "
"a impose it must be rs you say Bu
you must be in costume. | have Ill I'll
committee have ordered some costume
which they will give to those who con
unprovided. You may have one {
those.
"What costume shall | ask for;'
ooh, they are all alikel They are Il
Forty Thieves
"The Forty Thieves?' Mr. Barn
was surprised. "Is not that an odd co
tume|'
ooh, mol 1t was Mr. Mitchel's idc
He is the chairman Of tho Conmitte
He argued that rather than provide
lot Of meaningless dominos the stra
glers, who will be chiefly invited CUES
who are not members Of the SCciet
may be thus CARRIED and still fall in
the scheme Of the evening, viii,
is that every one shall play the pa
of some character Of the Arabia
Nights "
VERY we'll. Mr. Van Rawl>ton, {
once the detective will dom the garb Of
thief. After all, You know the adae
1t takes thief to catch thief. "
Every good, Mr. Banes--I belle
that is the name on our cardf II
Well, como tonight early, and You sh'
be fitted ont. Later, if you should WI
10 speak 10 me, shall be dressed as t
sultan, a character about as foreign
my trne self as yours will be TO you.
Mr.. Barnes left tho house thorough
satisfied with the result # his visit
the first place no had learned somethir
Mr.. Mitchell hid decided upon the G.
tuning Of tho guests. He had arrang
that at least 40 Of them shouldbe DIRE
oil al;ka Could tbcro hoVo bccu any