The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-06-22
CHAPTER XVII
YEARS plNNrR TARTY.

Mitchell mad heard nothing from MI
Barnes, Inquiry at his Office was met
by the simple statement that the chief
is out Of town When he would be
back or where Il communication would
reach him could not be learned. a few
days before, however, formal engraved
invitation To tho dinner party had been
mailed to his home address. Mr.
Mitchell was annoyed at not having any
notification of whether on not the detect
i've woold be present. However, he was
compelled to go ahead and depend upon
the slight chance that at the last mo-
ment he would appear upon the scene.
He hoped that this would occur, as 9TH
erwise his scheme for the evening would
be incomplete.
The dinner as to be served at 10
O'Clock that night at Delmonico's,
where private room had been engaged.
1t lacked ten minutes of the hour for
sitting down, and all the guests had ar
rived except Mr. Barnes. These vera
Mr. Van RawlSton, MIR. Randolph, Mr..
Fisher, Mr. Nuuilly, who had decided
70 spend the winter IN New York; Mr..
Thaurct, and several other gentlemen,
1t lacked barely half IL minute Of 10
when Mr.. Barnes was announced and
entered i'll handsome evening dress. Mr..
Mitchels faco wore look of triumph
as lie saw him, and he hurried forward
to receive him Every one present un-
derstood why the detective was invited,
for it was by this timewell known that
wager was TO be decided at / , o clock.
After the exchange Of greetings Mr..
Mitchell gave the walters the order to
open the doors Of the dining room, and
in the moments interval managed To
get a word with the detective.
TELL me quickly, have you succeed
ed:"
YES thoroughly.
Good Write the mans name on "a
card, and / viii give you one upon
which | have written the name Of my
man
Mr. Barnes did SO. Then they ex-
changed cards. glanced at them and
The cards bore the same name, With
the others they went into the dining
room. Mr.. Thaulet found himself seat
ed next TO Mr. Barnes, while on the
other side Of the detective sat Nh Fish
or.
1t need scarcely be said that the din
her was enjoyable and enjoyed, though
1t must he admitted that ali awaited
anxiously the hour Of H.. 1t will be as
well perhaps therefore, 10 come imme
diately to Etho denouemcnt, for which
all We're assembled. The last course had
been served, and coffee and nuts were
ON the table, when the clock chiined the
hour for which all were anxious.
Promptly at the first stroke Mr. Mitchell
arose. There was silence till IL was
tolled, aud then he began;
"Gcntlemen, you have all kindly ac-
cepted my invitation to see me win a
rash wager made 10 months ago 1t is
odd perhaps that should have won---
for announce that | have wou-when
we remember that the time was IS
mouths, which number, as we all
know, superstltiouS persons are inclined
to connect with misfortune. To show,
however, that | do not harbor such
childish ideas, | purpo.oly made the
time Of that length, and tonight at the
decisive moment we are 13. Here he
paused moment, and one might have
noticed that several persons quickly
counted those present TO test the fact.
Continuing, he said: "Ihe superstition
IN connection with IL at dinner Is Il
well defined ono, and the Supposition Is
that one of the number will die within
the year. / offer as toast therefore,
Long life TO all pesent-vho deserve
it. " The last clause, after slight hest
tation, made decided effect However,
The toast was drunk III silence.
"As some present may not entirely
understand what my wager was must
explain that l3 months ago tonight !
was in Pullman sleeper with my
friend, Mr. Randolph. Mr.. Barnes hme
had lust accomplished a neat capture cf
the criminal Pettiugill, who has since
been convicted The papers were prais'
ing him, and Mr. Randolph did so to
me in glowing terms. ventured the
assertion that detectives run down then
prey largely because the criminal class
lack intelligence sufficient to compete
with their moro skilled adyerSarleS.
offered 10 wager that | could commit 4
crime within month and not be de
teeted within a year thereafter The
amount was 10 be 81 ,0OG and was &C
cepted by Mr. Randolph. ] stipulated
for conviction. though had ] been ar
rested within the stated period aud con
yicted afierward ! should have consid
cred that / had lost tho wager That /
why | awaited the arrival # Mr.. Barnes
so anxiously. | had not seen him foi
some time, and ii was possible that a
the last moment he might Ire prepared
TO arrest me upon evidence thai WON'T
later convict me However, gentlemen
have escaped both arrest and conylc
ton, yet | committed the crime a
wagercd "
lyon must prove that" said Mr.
Randolph. land, according to our agree
ment it must have been "a crime whlcl
was much talked about -
Quite right, my friend, hut shall
be able To- demonstrate all that. BY
curious coincidence robbery was com