The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-06-02

show some interest however, for he
arose from his chair, and walking up to
Mr. Barnes he asked simply;
Have you il with you? May see III"
Mr. Barnes hesitated a moment, Won
dering if he riskcd losing the button by
handing it to him, He decided to give
it to him and did so.
Mr.. Mitchell looked at it closely, as
though an expert, and after several mo-
ments Of silence he tossed it Carelpssly
into the air, catching it as it came down,
and then said;
"This would make pretty situation
in a play, Mr.. Barnes. Follow me. De
tectiye discovers crime and finds curious
button Goes straight to criminal and
boldly tells him Of the fact. Criminal
admits that he has but Fix buttons out
Of seven and asks to see the button
found. Detective foolshly hands it 10
him. Then criminal smiles blandly and
says Mr.. Detective, now | have seven
buttons, and my set is complete again.
What are you going to do abont it, p"
"And the detective would reply,
said Mr. Barnes, falling into the humor
of the situation, Mr.. Criminal, | will
Just take that back by force.
Exactly, You catch the spirit Of the
stage picture Then fight between two
men, applause from the gallery, and vic
tory for either party, as the author has
decided. That is the way it would be
donoin play. But in real life it is diff
ferent. | simply hand You back your
button thus, +" handing button to Mr.,
Barnes and bowling politely. Then he
remarked; "Mr. Barnes you are vel
come to that 1t isnot Il part of my setW
Not a part Of your set2' echoed the
detective, dumfouuded,
Not a part Of my set. am sorry to
disappoint you but SO it is will even
explain, for sympathizo with you. !
told you the set was originally seven.
So it was, but the seventh button haS
the head of Shakespeare on il, Allsoyen
were given to me by my friend, but as
| could wear but six | returned to her
this odd Shakespeare button, which /
had made into a breastpiu, and kept
the others, thus reducing the set of but
tons TO six, The seventh is no longer a
button. You see "
But how do You account for the fact
that this button which | havo is plainly
"A portrait Of your friend and counter
part to those on yom vcstH'
My dear Mr. Barnes, don't account
for it. don't have to, you know. That
sort Of thing is your business. -
"What if ] should decide to arrest you
at once and ask a jury to determine
whether your original set included this
button or n0t?"
"That would be inconyenient to me,
Of course. But il is one Of those things
chat we risk every day mean arrest
by some blundering detective. Pardon
me, do not get angry again, do not
alludo to yourself am quite sure that
you are too shrewd to arrest me,
And why SO, pray?'
Because | am surely not going to
run away, in the first place, aud, second
ly, you would gain nothing, since il
would be so easy for me to prove AL that
| have told yen, and in your mind you
arc saying to yourself that / have not
lied to you. Really have not "
Il have only one thing more to say to
you, Mr.. Mitchell, " said Mr. Barnes,
rising "Will you show me that seventh
button, or hreastpin;'
THAT is asking a great deal, but |
will grant your request upon one cundi-
ton. Think well befme you make tho
bargain. When | made that wager, !
did not calculate the possibility Of en-
tanglng in my scandal the namo Of the
woman whom love dearest on earth.
That is the portrait Of the woman who
will soon become my wife. As ! have
said, She has the other button and wears
it constantly You will gain nothing by
secing it, for it will simply corrohorate
my word, which, think, you believe
now. will take you to her and She
viii tell You Of these buttons, if you
promise mo never to annoy her in any
way i'll connection with this affair.
II will give you that promise cheer
fully | have no wish to annoy a lady. =
"That Is for you TO decide. Meet me
III the lobby at noon precisely, and 1
will take you to her house. And now
will you excuse me while | complete
my toilet"
Ito lie continued)