VOT.. XXXIII Surprise I r~L 1 Prices. V %■ V -V"% We have marked down every thing. We know how to buy and we know how to sell. •/ If anybody else sells what we sell for less money than we sell it, tell lis and we will ' mark it down ao'ain. O A. RUFF & SON. Silver Ware Free! Handsome, triple plated hand engraved Teapots, Cakestands, Fruit stands, Butters, crtams, Spoon holders, molasses, sugars, castors, Porcelain and alarm clocks and other articles both ornamental and useful. Call in and inspect the ware. GET i\ CARD. Purchase you overcoat for Men, Hoys and Children. Suits, Pants/ Hats, Capes, Underwear, Shirts, Collars, Cufis, Ties, Suspenders,' Gloves, Mits, Overalls, Jackets, Sweaters, Umbrellas, Trunks Valises, Telescopes, Watches. Chains, Charms, Rings, Pins, Brushes, Pocket ana Bill-books,Purses,etc. and when your purchase amounts to"'sis.- oo you get your choice of any of the above articles. ) i '■> >• c Is complete, And Styles correct. Quality the best, And prices the lowest. D. A. HECK, No 121. N.Main St. BUTLKR, PA Two Ways of Selling Shoes, One other way I s fits J ( buyer'* leet lit the nhoos. AI4V V ill VI II UJ tiio I)UJ . Hr fl f eet "Thc^Otlif r Wny" is HUSELTON'S Way. Besides comfort, there is economy in One lot Women's Rubber Boots at 75c buying shoes at HUSELTON'S. He O n c l°t Hoys' sp{K T n Klplk F. ATK. H POTIOR TIIE LV. MivlllrD, JEWELER. No. 139, North Main St., B JTLEK, PA., THE Bin KR CITIZEN. i¥!akes the Weak Strong Hood's Sa-sapari!!a tones and strong hc-ns the digestive orgsns. creates an appetite, and gives refreshing sleep. Rememoor Hood's Sarsapari Ha a la the one True Blood Purifier. Hood's Pills „ ; Here's an ()}>j>orUinitv W ortli vour Consideration. inuring January and j February we will make : a reduction of 2Q PER CENT On all casl\orders or | Suits, Overcoats or | Trousers made from j ycur choice of any material in the house. These garments will have the same fit and finish which character izes our work. Do you catch on! ALAND, Maker of Men's Clothing. c. D. ommimumimio !LWer= 1 | Wear | 1 Points 1: oj 00 _ 2V 1 protection cxi i o«o rsj - oj No irritation rx 1 R>J OJ , rsj - '■ SjPes. . . £ & csj rvj nn *T (• ° A - - • So C^- 1 :. «-». So '^mmmmsaM All grad*» of rndcrwear at vcr\ low prices. Largest stock of hats and furnishings for gentleman ni the country. An inspection will prove this to any oms satisfacture. Colbert l*ti of t n pub ic. Everything in firet-daBB Btyle. MRS. MATTIE REIHING, Owner ffl H BROOKS, Clerk. TTTLKK. PA.,THURSDAY, FEBRUARY <}, 1SS)(». / £{ co***x*t. LIAS, av a P PUTNAM'S SONS. ' ' i i c_ *M ■t>~ -fi - -rass ■ - •we*' CHAPTER VI. MR. BARNES' TRAP. It must m>t be supposed from what has been related that Mr. Barnes had lost any of his old time skill. That he did nut yet, quite understand the case upon which he was working is little to be wondered at when it is remembered that less than two days had elapsed since the robbery had occurred, and that a great part of this time he had necessarily been absent from the city upon another After his disappointment at discover ing that the button which he had found was less valuable than he had at first supposed, he had decided upon a mode of procedure from which he hoped to gain much. He had seen many men flinch when brought unexpectedly into the presence of their murdered victim. He knew that many in a fit of passion, or even in cold blood, might have the nerve to take human life. Few resisted a shudder when shown tho ghastly, mu tilated, perhaps decomposing corpse. When he left the hotel that morning, it was about 10 o'clock. While he had been convinced by Mr. Mitchel that the button found at the scene of tho murder was not one of the original set, or rath er that it could not be proved that it had been, he was equally satisfied that the fact that it presented a portrait of Miss Remsen was significant. Thus, after all, it was possible that Mr. Mitch el had murdered the woman, or at least he had visited the apartment. In either case, supposing that he knew the woman was dead, it would be idle to take him up three flights of stairs to confront him with the body, for that would give him ample premonition of what was about to occur, and ho would readily control his countenance. This is what the detective did: Ho went ut once to the coroner and told him enough to have him render his assistance. Therefore during the time which had elapsed the coroner had im paneled a jury, taken them to the scene of the crime and then adjourned the in quest, leaving the doctors to perform the autopsy. Tho body had been taken down to a room on the first floor which opened directly on tho main hall. Here it was laid out upon a table, so placed that the gaping wound and now hideous face would at once meet the gaze of any one entering. The doctors had been in structed to postpone their work until the arrival of the detective. Thus Mr. Barnes knew, as he le 1 the way down stairs, that his trap was set. As they readied the main hall he spoko: "GentMhnen, I am about to ask a favor of you. You were both on the train when tho robbery was committed. There is a question in relation to it which I should like to ask I th of you and hear each answer separately. Would you oblige me?" "With pleasure," said tho French - man. "I have already told yon that you may ask me any questions*," said Mr. '""Thank you!" Turn Tag to the tall- J boy, who, of course, had been taught j his part, ho continued, "Can wo find a room where we cau talk privately for a few minutes?" "Yes, sir; step this way," aud the boy led them toward the ouo where the corpse lay. "Mr. Mitchel," said Mr. Barnes, "will you wait a few minutes? I will ] not detain you long." Mr Mitchel bow- | ed, and the Frenchman followed the de- I iective into tho room, the boy clo.-ing I the duor after him. Nothing was to be , seen save the tablo bearing the body, the doctors being hidden in a room beyond. I Mr. Barnes stopped near tho corpse and simply gazed steadfastly at Mr. Thauret, I who in turn looked intently at tho mur dered woman. Not a musclo moved to show any agitation. Mr. Barnes waited, but apparently nothing was to happen. Yet he was determined that tho other should speak first that ho might draw some deduction from his words. There fore he maintained a stolid silence. Two minutes passed, which seemed an age, and then tho Frenchman gave tho de tective a genuine surprise. Looking him straight in the eyes he said in the coolest tones imaginable: "How did you discover that I am a physician?" "I don't understand you," said Mr. Barnes, not knowing what tho man was aiming at. "Mr. Barnes, you brought, mo into this room saying that you wished to ask mo a question. When I entered and saw this corpse, I knew at once that your pretended questioning was but a subter fuge. I wondered why you brought mo in here, and while thinking it out I kept silent. >So have you. Very good. All I can make of it is that, this woman having lieen murdered and knowing that I am a physician, you wished an ex pert opinion in tho case. I wondered how you had discovered that I have a medical education, and so I asked you the question. Do I make myself plain?" "Quito so," said the detective coldly and much disappointed. "My reply must be that I did not know you to bo a physician, and that I did bring you in hero to ask a question." "Indeed! Then what is it?" "I wish you to tell mowho this wom an is." "You overrate my ability. I never saw 11 io woman before. Is there any thing more you wish to say?" "Nothing." "Then I will wish you good morn ing." With a polite bow and drawing on his glove, Mr. Thauret started to leavo tho room. Mr. Barnes quickly stepped in front of him, determined that ho should not havo a chance to warn Mr. Mitchel. Opening tho door, he then let him pass, thus keeping his eyes on the two others. Mr. Thauret bowed formally to Mr. Mitchel and passed out. Then tho latter followed Mr. Barnes into the presence of tho dead woman. If Mr. Thauret was undis turbed at the sight which met him, it was not so with Mr. Mitchel. lie had scarcely observed what was before him than, with an ejaculation of horror, he stepped closer to tho corpse and ex claimed : "My God, Mr. Barnes, what does this mean?" "What does what mean?" said Mr. Barnes quietly. The two men stared at one another a few moments, when Mr. Mitchel, sud denly lowering his eyes, said, "I'm a fool!" and once more turned to look at the corpse. Presently he turned and said, with all of his old timocomposuro: "You said you wished to ask mo a question. What is it?" "I wish yon to tell mo who this woman is." "Was, I suppose you moan. She was Rose Mitchel." "All! Did you know her?" "I agreed to answer but onoquestion. I have do»o an " "You have admitted that you knew her?" "You will lind it difficult to prove that." "Oh, shall I? I have.witnesses. Gen ii.-men, please come forward." A door at the farther end of the room opened and two physicians entered. The detective continued,'' What have you to say now ?" "That I am most profoundly indebt Ed to you for having enabled me to prove what has happened, and also that you have so soon let me know that we are not alone." Mr. Barnes bit his lip at this taunt, and Mr. Mitchel, turning to the doctors, continued: "Gentlemen, I am delighted to know that you have overboard what has occurred. You may be called upon to give testimony. If you will remember, I think that you will admit that Mr. Barnes asked me who this woman is. C< rrecting his grammar, I replied, 'She was Rose Mitchel.' Am I accurate?" t,»uite so," said one of the doctors. "Mr. Barnes claims that I have ad' mitted that I knew the woman. I claim that I have merely admitted that I knew her name, which is a very different thing." "Youadmitted more than that,"said the detective testily, "for you must have known more than her name to l>e able to give a name to this dead body." "You are quite right, Mr. Barnes, I must also have known her faco. In flie Samo way I know both name av.il face of Lillian RusselL Were Ito identify her dead body, would that prove that I was a personal acquaintance?" "Certainly not, but you cannot claim that this woman was known to you in that way, for she was not a public char acter." "How do you know that?" •"Well, then, was she?" "That is another question, and I de cline to answer it—at least before wit nesses. If yon will walk with me as far as my hotel, I will do tho best I can to explain to you how I could identify this corpse without having been acquainted with tho woman herself. " "Of course I will go with you, for ex plain this you must," and together the two men left the building. They walked across to Fifth avenue and down that thoroughfare for several blocks in silence. Mr. Mitchel was evi dently thinking over the position in which he found himself, and Mr. Barnes was satisfied not to hasten the explana tion. He thus gave himself time to mako a few mental notes, which if writ ten down would have read as follows: "Why did both 'if these men start when I said that the jewels re hidden off tho train? It might bo because both know that to be a fact. If a feet,Thanret might have known it, ! :•-<> he him self may bo the thief. In - r wis".either Mitchel is an accomplice < he iw riie other man hide tho satchel at ■ ■ »no sta- tjon. Could Mitchel himself havo hid den the satchel How could he havo done so when I watched his section all night, unless of course ! fell asleep, which is must discover what acquaintanceship exists between these men in order to de termine whether they are in leaguo to gether. "Next, as to tho murder. It i 3 odd to find both men possessing the means of admittance to tho house. It is odd that both were undisturbed and plainly in credulous when I suggested that tho woman might havo been murdered to obtain tho jewels. If Thauret killed the woman, his demeanor in tho presence of tho corpse was simply miraculous. Ho showed not the least agitation. On the other hand, he admitted that he has a medical education. Physicians are less escited by cadavers, and, what is more significant, a physician would know how to find tho jugular vein with a pen knife. Still it is not difficult to sever that vessel without special knowledge. As to Mitchel, his behavior is more mysterious. Had ho committed tho crime, knowing his extraordinary abil ity to control his emotions,l had a right to expect him to bo calm boforo tho corpse. Yet he was much excited and went toward the body for a closer scru tiny. Murderers usually shrink away from their victims. In spite of that he gavo the woman's name, and it tallies with that which she herself had claimed. Now, if he was willing to tell mo the name, and if ho committed tho crime, why did ho remove tho names from all tho garments? Why, unless Roso Mitch el is an alias, and tho real namo is thus kept secret? I may ask him some of these questions." At this point Mr. Mitchel addressed his companion: "Mr. Barnes, I should liko to know of what you have been thinking as we walked, and I pupposo you have a sim ilar curiosity regarding my own thoughts. I mean to gratify you. I have been endeavoring to view my own posi tion from your point of view, to guess what your deductions aro from my be havior in the presence of that dead woman." "I cannot give you my deductions," said Mr. Barnes, "for the simple reason that I have adopted none as yet. It has always been my practice to avoid decid ing upon a theory too early. A detective with a theory will invariably be tempt ed to work to prove his assumption. I work to discover tho truth. Therefore I avoid theories." "Good! I see that my opinion of de tectives, :is expressed in tho conversa tion which you overheard, must be modified. I still think I am right in the main, but you aro an exception to the general rule. " "Mr. Mitchel, I dou't care for compli ments. You aro at present in a very sus picious position. You said you could ex plain how you were ablo to identify that woman." "I will do so. First let me state that I never saw her but once before in my life. Tho story is very short. I have been in this city less than two years. I became engaged to Miss Romsen last winter. About a mouth later I received a letter signed Rose Mitchel, which in formed mo that the writer could divulge a secret in relation to my family which would cause Miss Remsen to break with me. A price was named for silence, and a photograph inclosed that I might bo able to recognize the woman, for she boldly announced that she would call in person for the money. She did so, and I have never seen her again till today." "Can you prove this story?" "I will show you the letter and the photograph if you will come with me to the Garfield safety vaults." "I will go with you at once. Did yon pay the money demanded?" "I did." "Do y#u not know that it is suspicious for a man to submit to blackmail? It tends to prove that ho is in the black mailer's power." "That is correct. I was in this wom an's nower." I "That is a serious admission, now ihat she has been murdered. " "I know it. But here we are at the vaults." The two men entered the building, and Mr. Mitcbel obtained the key to his compart went. H>* never took it away from the place, fur he thought it safer iu the keeping of the officers of the vaults. Descending into the great strong ro m he took a tin box from his drawer, and then went into a little private rm provided with a table and chairs. Open ing the box he took out several packages which he laid on one side. Among these the detective was amazed to see a red Ru.-aia leather case bound around with a strap, upon which appeared the name Mitchel in gold letters. Could it be pos sible that this was the case containing the missing jewels? "Ah! Here it is," said Mr.Mitchel. "Here is the photograph." He handed it to Mr. Barnes, who saw at once that it was the picture of the dead woman. "And here is the letter. Shall I read it to yon?" Mr. Barnes assented with a nod. His thoughts were mainly upon the led leather case. Mr. Mitchel read aloud: "Mr. R. Mitchel: "Dear Sir—You will 1>» -urpri.< d to n-ocivo this from on«* of whom perhaps you know lit - tlo, hut who knows much concerning your fumily—o much that, wore sh.- to tell all she knows, your high ton when 1 shall call for it. I send my ph6tograph that you may know I am the writer when I call. Vou see I am not afraid to do this because if you call in the police I will simply tell my story and you will bo r med. I may go to jail, but that does not worry me much, as there are worse places. So be ready to receive me on Thursday night. Tours truly, "Rosk Mitchei," Mr. Mitchel handed the above to Mr. Barnes, who read it over carefully, ex amining the envelope and postmark, both of which proved that the letter was genuino and a year old. "Did yon give her the amount de manded?" asked Mr. Barnes. "I must explain what I did. When I received that letter, it was plain that there would be nothing to lose by re ceiving the woman and hearing her story. I determined not to give her any money. Therefore, when she called, of courso I did not have any such sum. After listening to her I changed my mind. I found that, through certain pa pers which she had, and which she did not hesitate to show me, she would be able to ventilate a scandal which might result just as she adroitly prophesied—l mean in the rupture of my engagement. Naturally I wished to avoid that. When I told her that she should have the money if she would call again, sho be came furious and said I had tricked her and now wanted a chance to hand her over to the police, etc. I saw that I must settlo with her at once and did so on these terms: I ogreod to give her cash enough to go to Europe and the balanco in jewels." "In jewels?" cried Mr. Barnes, star tled. "Yes, in jewels. You are surprised, but that is because yon do not know my bobby. lam a collector of jewels. I The case lay open on the table. have $.300,000 worth in these vaults. Therefore, whilo I had no such amount in cash as SIO,OOO, I could easily give her three diamond rings, which I did, with a letter to a Paris jeweler, who would purchase them from her. Thus was I rid of tho woman, part of the agreement being that she should never return." "Mr. Mitchel, a man of your intelli gence must have known that such prom ises are not kept by that class of people." "True, but I obtained from her all tho documentary evidenco which she had, so that I rendered her powerless to annoy me further. You said awhile ago that it was a serious admission for mo to make that I was in this woman's power. I suppose you meant that such a fact supplied a motive for this murder. Now you see that this is not true, since I can prove that I released myself from that position a year ago. " "How can you prove that?" "I have tho woman's receipt, in which she states that for tho sum of SIO,OOO, or its equivalent, she delivers to mo family documents, etc." "Havo you tho documents still?" "I prefer not to reply to that ques tion. " "Very good, but answer me this ouo: Where did you obtain this leather case and what does it contain?" As ho said this tho detective picked up tho case and held it before Mr. Mitcliel's eye. That gentleman was evidently confused for a moment, but finally answered: "It contains some jewels." "Jewels? That is what I thought May I examine them?" "Not with my permission." "Then I must do so without." And with a quick movement the case lay open on tho table. It was lined with black satin and contained gems similar to those described in the paper found in tho dead woman's pocket. What seemed more important, however, was a pieco of writing paper upon which Mr. Barnes found an exact copy of tho list and de scription which he had in his pocket. The detective noticed with astonishment that though Mr. Mitchel had refused to permit this examination of the contents uf the case he made no effort to prevent it, and now sat back looking on in the most unconcerned way. "Mr. Mitchel," said Mr. Barnes, "why did you object to my looking into this case?" "I never show my jewels to—stran gers. It is wrong to tempt people. " "You are impertinent, sir! What do you mean?" "I mean that I regulate my life by rule. This is one of my rules, and though I do not doubt your honesty, you are a stranger to me and so come within the operation of my rule." "Your cool impudence will not. avail you in this instance. These aro the stolen jewels.'' ' 'lndeed ! Do you discover that, as you claim to have detected the thief, simply by looking at them?" Mr. Mitchel as sumed that sarcastic tone which had sev eral times irritated the detective. "Have done with child's play," taid Mr. Barnes. "I have a list of tho h>st jewels, and this case, with its contents, accurately matches the description. What is more, this list in your posses sion is the facsimile of tho ono which I have in my pocket." "Ah, now we come to tangiblo facts and leavo tho realm of" psychology," said Mr. Mitchel, leaning forward, with evident interest. "Let mo understand this. You have a list of the stolen jew els. That paper is a facsimile of this one here. The description, too, tallies with tho caso and jewels. Is that right?" "That is quito Now cau your remarkable inventive faculty fashion u story to meet this emergency?" "Mr, Barnes, yvu iiv.mo iw injustice. lam no romancer. That is the differ cnco between myself an 1 the criminal class. with which you dcuL T!i .-■■ p 0,1 devils commit a crime arid depend upon a sequence of lies to cltar tlu !v s. On the contrary, I follow this rale, 'Re fuse to answtT all questions, or C!M' an swer truthfully.' Now, in this case there are some points as puzzling to me as to yourself. Them J shall not attempt to explain. One of them is how you can possibly have a duplicate list of my jew els—for these are miu\ I assure yon." """•«> is the list, "said the detective, taking , " 'n« pocket and compar ing it with u„ -. "and. by heav ens," ho continued, ' is the same!" "That is interesting. Let me look," said Mr. Mitchel. With which ho arose, walked around to the other side of the table and stood leaning over the detect ive. "You see, Ido not ask you to let me take your paper from yon. Yon might suspect that I would destroy it." Mr. Barnes handed both papers to him without a word. Mr. Mitchel bowed as he took them and returned to his seat. After a moment's cureful examination he handed them back, saying : "I agree with yon, Mr. Barnes. The writing is the same. What deduction do yon draw from that fact?" "What deduction? Why, I found this description of the stolen jewels in the pockot of a dress belonging to Rose Mitchel." "What? Do you mean to say that she was tho woman who was robbed?" Tho blank amazement upon Mr. Mitchel's faco disconcerted Mr. Barnes, for if he did not know this, tho mystery seemed deeper than ever. "Do yon mean that ynu did not know it?" asked Mr. Barnes. "How should I know?" Thi3 caused a silence. Both men stop ped a moment to consider tho situation. At length Mr. Barnes said coldly: "Mr. Mitchel, I am under tho painful necessity of placing you under urrest." "Upon what charge?" "Upon the charge of having stolen jewels, and perhaps of having murdered Rose Mitchel." "Are you in a hurry to tako me with you?" asked Mr. Mitchel coolly. "Why do yon ask?" "Because if not I should like to usk you one or two questions." "You may do so." "First, then, as the robbery was com mitted on a moving train, will you tell me how you supposed it to have lteen accomplished, since the passengers were searched?" Mr. Barnes had his own idea on this subject, which ho did not choose to tell. He thought it well, however, to pretend that he had still another theory. At least ho could observe how Mr. Mitchel received it. "As yon say, all were searched. The first was Mr. Thanret. Nothing was found. Let us suppose a case. This man Thanret was in the samo carriage with the woman Rose Mitchel. When the train stopped at New Haven, suppose that he took the satchel, left the (rain and passed it to you through the win dow of your section, thinking that only his carriago would be searched. After his own examination he left the train at Stamford. Why may ho not have tapped upon your window and have roceived back the satchel?" "That would make him my accom plice. Yon are wrong. Ido not know the man at all." "Yon admitted having met him when Mi.-a Dora Remsen introduced him to yon.'' "Onceonly— at a gamingtable. That is why I was displeased to see him in tlio home of my intended. Passing the robbery, then—for despite my denial yon may think your explanation correct, and a iurv might agree with von—let a W!f*l» V\A»iU Mmnv M . >rn —III , i a crime and then go to the extreme of killing a woman?" "I do not. But, having committed the robbery, and then having discovered that this woman, who, you say, has blackmailed yon, had actually taken an apartment in the same building with your affianced, you may have gone there to urge her to leave and have killed her to save yourself." "Plainly you do not know me. There is one jioint in what you say which is interesting. Did I understand that this woman had an apartment in the Thir tieth street building?" "Certainly, and you knew it." "You are mistaken. Lot us return to the jewels. You thinu that these are the missing gems. If I prove to tho con trary, will you agree not to place me under arrest?" "With pleasure,'' said tho detective, feeling safe in the idea that what Mr. Mitchel offered to do was an impossi bility. "Thank you! That gives oio my free dom, in exchange for which courtesy 1 promise you all tho assistance in my power in finding tho murderer." Say ing which, Mr. Mitchel touched an elec tric button, and when it was answered sent a message up stairs asking Mr. Charles to come down. In a few mo ments that gentleman appeared. "Mr. Charles," said Mr. Mitchel, "would it be possible for me to enter these vaults without your knowledge?" "It would bo impossible for any one to epter here without my knowledge," said Mr. Charles. "You keep my key, do yon not?" "Yes, sir." "Have I ever taken it out of this building?" "IJo, sir." "Tb&n you think it impossible that I ajiould have been ablo to havo a dupli cate key ami to have entered hero with out your knowledge?" "An utter impossibility, sir." "Can you remember when I was hero last?" "Certainly. It was about two weeks ago, when you told mo that you were going to Boston." "Thank you very much, Mr. Charles. That is all." Mr. Charles retired and Mr. Mitchel looked at Mr. Barnes with a smile, saying: "You see you are wrong again. The jewels were stolen yesterday morning, and I havo not been to this place since, and therefore could not havo placed them in this box. Are you satisfied?" "No. If you were able to commit tho robl>ery on tho train while I watched your section all night, and to havo suc ceeded in getting tho jowols away al though you wore searched, you are in genious enough to havo found a way of getting here without the knowledge of Mr. Charles. Or, ho may bo paid to lie for you. I feel too sure that these are the gems to bo so readily convinced to the contrary.'' "So you did watch mo that night. Well, I am sorry you had so much trou ble. I must give you further proof? Very good. Kxamino tlieso.' He took out a package of letters and from them extracted a bill of sale, dated fivo years previous, in which was once more an accurate description of the jewels and case. In addition there was pinned to it a receipt from tho New York custom house for tho duties paid, which paper was also dated back. This was evidence which Mr. Barnes could not refute. Plainly this particular set of jewels be longed to Mr. Mitchel. "That is sufficient. It would tie folly to arrest you when you could show those documents to any judge and bo released. At tho same time I shall not forget the coincidence of theso two lists, and that ono of tho button. " "By the way, Mr. Barnes, would you juind saying where you found that but ta&il' • in the riXJiu where the woman was murdered.'' "No wonder you valued it. I am sur pri -til that yon should have printed it. to Miss Remsen." There was a twinkle in Mr. Mitchel's eye which •nr.. ytxl Mr. Banns, hut he made no reply. Mr. Mitchel continued: "In consideration of your not pLiciug me under arrest, Mr. Barnes, 1 will give yon a hint. I made that wager with my friend Randolph yesterday morning—that is to say, Dec. 1 1 have until Jau. 2 to commit the crime about which the bet was made. Should you come to the conclusion that I am not guilty of either of those now engaging your attention it might enter your head that I still have a crime on hand, and it might pay yon to watch me. Do yon catch the idea?" "There is little danger of your com mitting any crime during the next month without my knowing it," said Mr. Barnes. "Now let us change the subject. Do von see this ruby?" tukiug a large ruby from the case before them. "I am thinking of having it sot as a present to Miss Remsen. Will she not be envied when !->ie wears it?" [CONTIMCED.] Woman, a creature "nobly planned, to warn, to comfort and command." Wonu.n, the fairest work of the great Author. The edition is latg o , and no man should bo without a copy. THE LISTENER. .Tfihn T. Hughes of Lexington, Ky., has takon (1*0,750 in premiums at the State fair during the last 29 years. Oliver Booth of Poughktvpsie. N. Y., 1 owns an iceboat which was built in iT'.to. i It i- believed to be the llr-t iceboat ever built. George Alfred Townsend has built a family touib on his estate in Maryland mid over the door Is tlii.s inscription: ''Good night.— Gath." President Samuel Spencer of the South ern railway is a small, slender man, with a quick, cool manner and lots of energy and determination. John C. Crosby, who had a brilliant but not lengthy caret r In congress, is living at Pittfleld, Mass., where ho recently served a term as mayor. ProtV.-sor Garner, the monkey expert, propoMS to start a school in Calcutta for the education of apes. Ho is confident that he can teach the creatures to talk. Major Alexander McDowell, the new clerk of the house of representatives, is an enthusiastic student of music ami jvjs sesses a tenor voice of rare power arid sweetness. V.', Hascll Wilson, president of tho Uel viduro railroad, a part of the Pennsylvania system, is probably the oldest railway president in the world in active service. Ho Is 86 years old. The Right Hon. Charles Pelham Vll liers, tho father of tho house of commons, bus just celebrated his ninety-fifth birth day and has represented Wolverhampton continuously in C>l sessions of parliament. Ruskln once wrote to Dante Gabriel Rossettl: "If you wanted to oblige me, you would keep your room in order and go to Ihml at night. All your flno speeches go for nothing with me till you do that." When recently asked the value of his London real estate, the Duke of West minster replied that he could not form an estimate of its value, but that ho would not take £15,000,000 for his holdings in the metropolis. Kroger, president of the Transvaal re public, said when he was traveling in Holland in 188ti, "You may protect your self against tho cold air with weather strips, but there is no protection against Rritish infiltration." General Miles somewhat resembles tho late Lester Wallack in his jaunty manner and crisp, breezy style of speech. Ho talks with soldierly directness, and wherever he lius boon stationed has been a favorite as an after dinner speaker. Harlan 11. Ballard, president and organ- HfHfs !n nil *»"• wrto. w a «au, scholarly man of middle age, with a gravo yet pleasant countenance. Grove Johnson of California, the new Republican congressman who made such a fierce onslaught on the bond bill, is one of the best jury lawyers on tho Pacific coast. One of his strong points is to kneel down in tho courtroom and shed real tears to move the jury. Davld Morris, the son of the Louisiana lottery millionaire, whose marriage with Miss Shepard, whose mother, Mrs. Klliott F. Shepard, Was a Vunderbllt, made such a sensation at the time, has gone hack to Harvard, as he said ho would, to finish his course, which his wedding interrupted. CURIOSITIES OF WAR. Tho total cost of our navy during tho civil war, 1801-5, wns $H13,000,000. The first standing army of history was that of Macedonia —about three and a half centuries before Christ. At the great battle of llannockburn 185,000 men fought, and of that number 88,000 wero killed or wounded. The new German rifle ranges up to 4,000 yards, and at 900 yards the bullet will pierce ten Inches of solid pine timber. In ISB7 General Sherman predicted that "the most terrible war ever known will take place in this country before the end of tho century." Tho Italian navy is composed of 275 war vessels of 829,000 tons uii(l 600,000 horse power, including some of the best battle ships of tho world. Tho dally ration of the British soidler is 16 ounces of bread, 13 of meat, 2 of rice, 8 of dried vegetables ami 16 of potatoes. Once a week he receives 2 ounces of salt, 4 of coffee and 9 of sugar. One of the big guns at Montorey, Cal., is 35 feet long and weighs 104,000 pounds. A two bushel bag of powder Is used every t time-the gun is fired, and the cartridge which it hurls into the air with a velocity of 2,000 foot a second weighs 851 pounds. —St. Louis Republic. THE CYNIC. The dog in the manner sentiment Is the foundation of every love affair. Most people waste tho best part of tholr lives making other people rich. When a man is asleep and forgets that ho Is alive, It, Is his happiest time. Thero must bo some mistake about orange juice being good fur you. It is so pleasant to take. Tho man who hasn't sand enough to re fuse a leap year proposal deserves tho kind of a wife ho will got. After a man is old enough to have whiskers ho should not Imi seen on th* streets carrying a pair of skates. A girl should boar in mind that her lover will overlook her faults, but she Is lucky if her husband does not find them. Every night before a man has put his head upon his pillow ho has learned gome new way of making a fool of himself.— Atchison Globe. SOME OPINIONS. To reclto one's sermon lwforotho mirror is one way to practlco what one liroaches. —Dallas News. It makes a great difference, In deter mining whether a man Is obstinate or only firm, whether ho agrees with you or hot. "Does position affect sleepf" asked a medical writer. It does when tho man holds tho position of nljrht watchman.— Texas Slftlngs. Yes; there are queer people In this world, but It is almost Impossible to find anybody who places himself in that category.— Boston Transcript. The man who says ho loves his follow man and then neglects to sprinkle ashes on his slippery sidewalk is either very in consistent or very forgetful.—Boston llor ald.—Somerville Journal. LUNCH TABLE HINTS. Use a lunch cloth In preference to tho bare table with dlshos. Avoid serving a heavy soup. Clam broth or bouillon will be much more acceptable. Don't ncgloct to have a janllnloro In the center of tho table, no matter how sluiplo It may be. ; « HORSES AMD HORSEMEN. Morrroe Salisbury has leased the racing qualities of Oakland Baron. Je-si.< it. dam of the great colt Bj .Sure, 2:0»i V Is In fool U> Online, 2:01 Blue Sijfn, 2:05 1 ,. will In* raced on tha snow In Philadelphia this winter. The New England Breeders' association cleared i 7,500 on its la*t meeting. Ould.i, with a record of pacing, will appear as a trotter next season. During the year 1805 Vienna hung up (121,500 In purses for horse racing. An effort will !h> made to pace Strath berry. without hopples in 1806. Ihe Oakley Derby for IsiHj eloscd with IS# nominations, and its guaranteed valuo is #12,500. A 2 year-old by Joe Pate hen, 2:04, re cently won a race of half mile heats, tak ing a record of 1:14. Wiggins, 2:lS>. I j. out of a mare by Starn boul. J:v7'i, is the greatest racing 2-year old ever campaigned. Belle Mead Stock farm is said to have sold *47 head of yearlings in the past ten years at an average of SB3B. Jake Erpeiibeck of I'hiladelphia has picked up a pair of steers that can trot double at a four minute gait. Alcyoner, 2:25*4, has Si living foals. There are about 20 of these that promise to uevelof) into 2:80 performers. Tho bones of the famous old horse Ethan Allen art> said to be In the mn«"um of Kansas university, at Lawrence, 1 Strathberry started in 28 races ( .ng the past season, won 20 a:.d >. cu I a track record at every place ho s...rt \- cepting one. Scott Hudson, the well kcr>wn «' i , or, has formed a partnership with Will Y ..ng, and tho new llrm will train horscs a: the Lexington (Ky.) track during the ensu ing season. The five regulation mile tracks that were In the New Knglund circuit during the past season hung up *177,000 in purses, lielng within *45,000 of the total amount distributed among the grand cir cuit winners —Turf, Field and Farm. PERFUMES. Perfumes aro extensively used In all Chinese sacrifices and devotional offerings. Hippocrates prescribed the oil of roses us a medicine for several kinds of disease. Napoleon loved perfumes and always had a bottle of rosewater or violet water emptied into his bathtub. The recipes of over 000 different oils and perfumes have been preserved In *lio re mains of Roman literature. Perfumes wero introduced Into Spain by the Arabs, who brought many roclpcs for making them from the oast. From the offensive fusel oil tho skill of the chemist has been oblo to extract tho odors of soveral flowers and fruits. Hippocrates Is said to hava greatly al layed the violence of the plaf.-uo at Athens by a liberal use of perfume In tho streets and houses. When Catherine do' Modlol went to Franco to marry Henry 11, she toOk with her a noted perfumer, who Introduced many varieties of Italian perfumer From the gas tar, repulsive In its orig inal condition, the art of chemistry ha* developed an Immense variety of essential oils and essences of fruits and flowers. The cholera has repeatedly, during the present century, visited London and Pftrls, but at no time was thero a death from that disease among tho operatives of tho perfume factories. Charlemagne is said by his biographers to have been extravagantly fond of almost any kind of perfume. Oneof hie courtiers said that the approach of tho omporor could always be detected by tho odor of perfume that invariably accompanied him. TO SAVE THE SIGHT. Don't read books printed on thin paper. Don't hold the reading close to the eyes. Don't select yonr own glasses at the Out set. Don't read by firelight, moonlight or twilight. Don't read by a flickering gaslight or ________ "Don't ro.irt lying down t» In a con strained position. Don't read books which have no spoco between the lines. Don't study at •night, but in tho morn ing, when you are fresh. Don't read for more than 60 minutes without stopping, whether tho oyes are tiruil _ THE LAND OF THE BOERS. Gold was discovered there in 1886. Finished or In progress are 3,700 miles of telegraph. Country has been enjoying its Independ ence since 1802. In 1884 a convention at Loudon recog nized the republic. Two-thirds of tho Christians belong to tho Dutch Reformed church. Thero are about 20,000 farms, whoat und tobacco being the chief crops. Transvaal moans ' 'across Iho Vaal," or tho country north of tho Vaal river. The largest town is Johannesburg, with a population of 15,000. Pretoria has C, 000. it is there that tho famed tsetse fly, whose bite Is death to oxen and horsps, is most prevalent. , The area of Transvaal is 121,854 miles, or about that of Illinois, lowa and Massa chusetts combined. Population Is 679,200. Tho whiten pumber 110,128, and about half of those are of Dutch descent. In parts of tho country tho climate re sembles that of Colorado and is regarded us healthful for consumptives. Tho loglslut ure consists of two bodies of 84 members each, one-half retiring ovcry two years. The president's term is flvo years. BRITAIN AND GERMANY COMPARED. The Brlllsh navy Is as much lurger than the German navy as the German army li larger than that of Groat Britain. In the ovont of war Great Britain could put In tho Hold 062,000 officers and men, with 696 guns, against Germany's 4,643,- 023 soldiers ami 3,470 guns. Tho British navy contains 85 armored ships, 147 unarmorod ships, 80 gunboats and 232 torpedo l>oats, with 6,403 guns, while tho Gorman navy has 26 armortxj ships, 27 unarmorod ships, 33 gunboats and 200 torpedo boats, with i,009 guns. On a peace footing the German army l»as 395,478 infantry, 67,518 cavalry, 72,- juß artillery, 02,406 engineer corps, 102,- 680 horses and 2,070 guns, against Great Britain's 111,300 infantry,* 15,252 cavalry, 18,360 artillery, 6,450 engineers, 20,006 horses and COO Runs. This dooe not In clude the British Indian army —Chicago Times Herald. TAIL TWISTERS. Suppose we begin operations by chasing out tho Knglish sparrow.—Washington Post. How does Kngland like the German edi tion of the Monroe doctrine*—New York Press. Having reached tho poetry stago now, this war question ought to bo dropped.— Erie Dispatch. Any other nation desiring to twist th" lion's tail will kindly stop up and apply now before the fur has boon all rubbed off. —Chicago Record. "What has England to fear from arbl tration! 1 " does the country ask? Nothing more than the thief who objects to being searched. —Soginaw News. The year 1595 will be numbered as the year in which John Bull was Ilrmly but politely warned off,Ujf American grass.—Saginaw Courier-Joujjf nal. THE LAUREATE. Some critics think there is still a ygf coney in tho laureateshlp.—PlttsbuflJ Chronicle. The difference between a poet and a popt laureate Is that one Is born, while thO other Is made. Boston Herald. While Alfred Austin draws his lauropta'i pension Mr. Swinburne can console bUQ* self with the reflection that It Is to err with I'npe than shine with Pye.ylfc Atlanta Constitution.