Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-13

cake into the dining room. The store IL no
place for IT,"
No" echoed Barnes, mocklngly. such.
carelessness is inexcusable."
The woman frowned at the visitors, and.
picking up the cake. carried Il into the
other room. Almost simultaneously Barnes
hurried around the end OF the counter and
followed her into the apartment. The
dealer clutched him by the sleeve, his face
as pallid as a sheet
What do you mean by this-this intru-
slon?'
Pardon the impertinence," said the chief.
bowing low but my friend and l." polnt-
ing to Clancy, want to impose on your
hospitality for a moment"
yes, yes" murmured the dealer feebiy.
Hannah, get-the-the gentlemen glass
Of wine. They look-look-cold."
AS they seated themselves at n small
round table there was a clatter from the
yard in the rear. II sounded as II some one
was scaling the fence. Clancy rose Inn
pulsively and started for the back door.
Barnes detained him with look.
Stay here; this is more important"
The man and the woman, thoroughly
alarmed stood as II petrined. The ieweler
was the first to recover
Hannah" he said irritably, IT asked you
to get the gentlemen some wine"
The woman went to the sideboard and
with trembling hands poured wine into two
tiny glasses. She so nervous that
drops OF the red liquid fell and dlsoolored
the white linen covering. Still shaking,
she carried the glasses over to the round
table and placed one in front of Barnes
and the other before Clancy. The man had
partly recovered his possession by this
time. He filled glass for himself and
lifting II said with assumed POPULARITY:
Gentlemen, your health; hope this will
warm you BIT"
Clancy drank II down with one gulp, but
Barnes did not tou1h his glass. He looked
up and spoke In his smoothest accents:
II dislike to impose on your hospitality
so much. but really a small piece of cake
would 60 good with this wine"
The dealer was so startled by this re-
quest that he laid his glass on the table
untasted and gazed in frightened way at
his unlimited guest. The next moment the
eyes OF every one In the group turned to
the sldeboard, where the cake lay. 1t was
Of medium size and artistically frosted on
top. AS no one moved. Barnes arose, as IL
to reach for IT,
The dealer ran over and stood in front Of
him. exclsiming excitedly:
mo, no, you can't have any OF that"
''why, l just love Devonshire pound
cake"
You can't have it,
The chief looked him in the eye with
cold. relentless glance, outwardly he
was unmoved. When he spoke 1t was to
sey:-
What a misery host"
without parleyins any further he thrust
the man aside and going over to the cake
picked it up and laid 1t on the center OF
, the table. The others stood about as IL
, transhxed, Clancy found voice to say,-
Would you like knife1'
5 mo" The voice rang clear and tri-
umphant.
Barnes stood tremendously before, the
: table. He leaned over and extending his
open hand laid his palm nat over the
center of the cake. He gave quick
glance about him and then pressed with
all the strength OF his wrist upon the
= frosted confection. II must have been very
stale for I dissolved instantly into mass
= OF crumbs. The result was truly amaE-
3 ing, for minglIng with the crumbs and
sparkling in the gloom Of the dimly lighted
Q room were hundreds of little diamonds,
unset and OF the most exquisite cut.
Clancy gasped for breath.
The man and the woman stared until
their eyeballs protruded from their
i sockets.
Barnes alone was calm. He pulled a big
channels bag from his pocket and, tossing
It TO Clancy, said in businesslike tones:--
Gather the gems carefully and leave
nothing for our hospitable friend but his
II crumbs"
10 Clancy began his unique task immedl-
ately The dealer turned to the chief. with
le hands olasped and cried out IN a suppl
eating manner
IT II swear that I'm not concerned in this. y
10 NO" said the chief cynically, 'yot
d didn't quite have the chance"
le Clancy put the last diamond in the bag
ID He turned to his superior
ID What about the chap that jumped tn.
re fenceY
Barnes laughed and waved his hand
a toward the gems.
He was superfiuous; we have all W,
need in this room"
b. After that the chief was still, as IL IN
e, deep thought. From time to time his gag,
~ wandered to the other side of the room
Presently he put his hand in his poke
and pulled out a little fragment OF cloth
r He examined It carefully and then exhlb
w tied II to Clancy. The young man recog
b. nized It instantly.
The bit OF cloth we found on the raj
outside OF stateroom No. IS on the 'Pell
cam"
The chief nodded and. turning to tn
dealer. said:
That's a fine piece OF furniture owe
there"
The article was a large wardrobe, reach
- Ing from the floor almost to the ceiling.
or The tall man was too much agitated 4
talk. He merely nodded his head in asssH
ia The chief walked over to the wardIobs
nv II was closed. but the tail OF q coat pro
ed truded from beside the hinges /Barne
held his sample OF cloth against the fraE
ment OF garment
"A perfect match" he murmured inslnu
-, atingIy.
ca The next moment his whole appearance
,is changed. His face became hard and sterr
j. He grasped tbs handles OF the doors an
he threw them open.
he man was crouching in the corner Of tn
wardrobe. He came stumbling out in
fir. daSed sort OF fashion. Instantly the chile
he had seized his wrists and fastened Their
a with pair OF silver handouts.
Now. Mr. Abernethy." he exclaimed
he your professional career Is ended!'
~, 'sYou've Rot nel" suIlenlv retOrfed m