VOL. XXXIII
Surprise
in
\\ r e have marked down every
thing. We know how to
buy and we know how to sell.
J
If anybody else sells what we
sell for less money than we
sell it, tell us and we will
mark it down again.
A. RUFF k SON,
Silver Ware Free!
Handsome, triple plated hand engraved Teapots, Cakestands. Fruit
stands, Butters, creams, Spoon holders, molasses, sugars, castors,
Porcelain and alarm clocks and other articles both ornamental and
useful. Call in and inspect the ware.
GET A CARD.
Purchase you overcoat for Men, Boys 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 $15.-
00 you get your choice of any of the above articles.
J1 >:>:{ is complete,
And Styles correct.
Quality the best,
And prices the lowest.
D. .A. HECK,
No 121. N.Main St, BUTLER PA
Two Ways of Selling Shoes,
One other
l buyer'* feet (it the sheen. J I the buyer's feet.
"The Other Way" is HUSELTON'S Way.
Besides comfort, there is economy in
buying shoes at HUSELTON'S. He
buys direct from manufacturers, paying
cash for them at lowest prices. HUSEL
TON is able to sell to the consumer shoes
at same price that wholesalers sell to the
etailer.
We have done a larger trade in Slip
pers and Boots and Shoes this season,
and, considering the weather, far larger
than we expected. Our prices and styles
were right—this is what did it.
The balance of our Holiday Slippers
will all be closed at 25 per cent off for
mer price for cash.
The only place in Butler where you can get Foutweer at these prices and find
•U widths and sizes and styles strictly up-to-date is at
BUTLER'S LEADING SHOE HOUSE,
Opposite Hotel Lowry,
B.C. Huselton.
The place to buy
* A.S COOKING STOVES AND BURN MRS. G;vS LAMPS
FIXTURES. HOSK, WATER FILTERS, BATH TUB ENAMEL
etc, is ar
W.| II .O'Orieii Hon's
1 OT Kast ffelterson Htroet.
* gjg
Harness Shop!
Harness of all Kinds Made to Order.
Repairing a Specialty,
AND PROMPTLY ATTENDED TO.
BLANKETS AND ROBES.
CASH PAID FOR HIDES.
No. jll East Cunningham St., - - BUTLER, A
(The old Times Office.)
FRANK KEfIPER, Agt.
DIAMONDS | KINGS. KAR KINUS. WJAUKJ| , INH j BTUJ)S
«W A Itiri cx fC3C IOKNTS (MILD, LADIES' (MILD.
VW AJL i#£l CjS I lOENTS' SI I. V Bit. LADIRSICIUTLAIN.
TIT* TXT fr*T nXT ' I Odd tins. Kar Hint's. Kings.
JXIWIUIJCVI f chains,; Bracelets. Etc.
TT-XT' ¥«" Wl IJI/ Cll Tea Hets. Castors. ilJutter Dishes amlj Kveryiuliiii
33PXJU W xX.Mrk.tCMf that ran be foum! in a tlrst class stori-..
BODGES BROS. 1874
the
UKIC/D, jeweler.
No. 139, north Main St., B JTI.VR rA.,
THE BUTLER CITIZEN.
gul* Library j»ly96 .
One lot Women's Rubber Boots at 75c
One lot Boys'<sl Youths' " 75c & $ 1.25
Men's Buckle Arctics at SSC
Men's Rubber Boots at $2, $2.25, $2.50
Men's Wool Boots with Rubbers |i.6o
the l>est ever offered for the money.
Boys' Wool Boots and Rubbers at...51.35
Women's Rubbers at 20c
Women's Buckle Arctics at 75c
Women's Fine Shoes, pat. tip, but. 67 '/ 2 c
Women's Heavy Shoes at 65c, 75c, 85c
Misses' and Children's Shoes, heavy
at...... 45c, 50c, 65c and 75c
Our line of Enamel, Calf, Pat. Leather
Men's Shoes are not equaled in Butler,
Prices are reduced in all the lines all over
the bouse to close.
I Can't Sleep
I 9 the complaint of mucy at this season.
The reason is found ID the (act that the
nerves are weak and the bofiy in a fever
ish and unhealthy condition. The rerves
may be restored by Hood's Sar-iaparilla,
which feeds them upon pare bid d anil
thi? medicine will also create an
and tone up the system and thus ci.e
■weet refreshingsleepand vigorous h'-alth.
Hood's SarsapariHa
Is the only true blood purifier pronnnent
j ly in the public eye today, ; six for ?5.
HnnH'c Dillc acl h*rmonlomlf rvi'b
nOOU S Hood's iarsayarilla. Xo.
Here's an
()()j)ort unity
Worth your
Consideration.
During January and
February wewill make
a reduction of
2Q I'ER CENT
On all cash orders 01
Suits, Overcoats or
Trousers made from
ycur choice oT 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.x, D.
ouammmmmii
Si
§Upder= |
| Wear I
1 Points 1
§5 cS?
Tijorouglj prot
cvi
cv irr\kz.i\Q7i
Per fitting &
v price?
CO
NA'i u? Hygieoic
j® £vj
All grad'' of underwear at verj
low prices.
Largest stock of hats and
furnishings for gentleman ni the
country. An inspection will prove
this to any ones sa'.isfacture.
Colbert & Dale.
242 S. Main St., Butler, Penn'a
IF IT ISN'T RIGHT, +
+ WE- MAKE IT RIGHT
f
( j\w
that is OUT way ol Going business. We
do not want any customers of ours to
wear a suit of clothes that does not suit
him. It hurts our business with othee
people, even if lie does not know the dif
ference himself" It costs but little more
to have this kind of clothes than it does
to have those that look like "hand-me
downs."
It takes time to measure a man for a
good suit of clothes. Show us a tailor
who can measure a customer in five min
utes and we can show you a poorly fitting
suit a few days later. We takes pains to
take all the necessary measurements.
When you pay us f25 for one of those
stylish Clay suits you pay for the best
materials and workmanship v e can j/ivr
you.
Look one of our customers over and
see what kind of a suit we are Ki v '"g f° r
#25 before you decide to buy a $25 suit.
We study a man's make-up and endeavor
to give him the style of a suit that will
look well on him. We don't liav<- to be
told l>y our customers whether overcoats
are longer cr shorter this season. We
consider it a part of or.r business to be
posted on such matters.
COOPER & CO
Cor. Diamond. Bailor, Pa
Hotel Willard.
Reopened and now ready 'for the
comna > 1 iti )a of t ! i ♦ 'rtv elia;? pub
ic.
Everything in firft-Hnpp Btyle.
MRS. MATTIE REIHING, Owner
M H BKQQJtt, Clerk.
IU T TLKH. PA., THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 13, 1890
/PI TAGS. 8T P PUTNAM'S SONS
CHAPTER VII.
Mil. RANDOLPH HAS A FIGHT WITH HIS
CONSCIENCE.
Upon leaving the vaults Mr. Mitchel
and tho detective parted company, the
former going down to Tiffany's, where
he left the ruby, with instructions as to
how he wished it set. On the following
morning Wilson's report to Mr. Barnes
stated that Mr. Mitchel had spent the
afternoon at the Union League club and
had accompanied his fiancee to a private
ball in the evening.
On the morning of tho 6th, as Mr.
M itehel was dressing, a card was brought
to him which bore tho name of his
friend, Mr. Randolph, and that gentle
man a few minute:) later entered. Mr.
Ifit.-hel was cordial m his greeting and
extended his hand, but Mr. Randolph
refused it, saying:
"Excuse me, Mitchel, but I have
come to see yon about that wager I was
stupid enough to make with you. "
"Well, what of it?"
"I did not suppose that you would go
so far."
"So far as what?"
"Why, haven't you read the papers?"
"No; I never do. I am above that
class of literature."
"Then, with your permission, I will
read one to you.''
"Go ahead ; lam all attention. " Mr.
Mitchel seated himself in his most com
fortable armchair, and Mr. Randolph,
without removing his overcoat, sat in an
other. Taking a morning paper from his
pocket he read the following:
"Tho inquest upon the body of the
mysterious woman found murdered in
tho Thirtieth street apartment house
was resumed jestor<lay at the coroner's
office. Mr. Barnes, the well known de
tective, testified that he had lieen npon
the Boston express at the time of the
robbery of tho jewels; that he had an
interview with the woman at which she
gave tho name Rose Mitchel and made
an appointment with him at her resi
dence. Ho called at the time agreed
upon—9 o'clock on the morning of the
Bd—and discovered her lying in bed with
her throat cut. One singular fact brought
out by the detective's testimony is that
the woman's name had been deliberate
ly cut from every garment. This may
indicate that Rose Mitchel is an assumed
name.
"The doctors who performed the au
topsy declare it as their opinion that the
woman was attacked while she slept.
Otherwise there would have been more
blood stains found, as the jugular vein
and carotid artery were both cut. They
think that the useassin used an ordinary
pocketknifo, becauio the wound, though
doop, is not very large.
"A curious story was obtained from
the janitor. Tho woman Mitchel had
been in the house about three weeks.
She was not a tenant, but occnpied tho
apartments of Mr. and Mrs. Comstock,
wlio are absent in Europe. Tho woman
gave him a letter purporting to be writ
ton by Mrs. Com: tock, instructing tho
janitor to allow the bearer to occupy tho
ppartment until suited elsewhere, and
also asking that the janitor's wife would
nee that she had proper attendance. The
janitor did not doubt the authenticity
of tho letter, but it now appears from
the testimony of a relative of the (lom
stocks, who is well acquainted with
Mr s. Comstock's writing, that this let
ter is a forgery.
"After a little further evidence of no
special importance the inquest was ad
journed until today. It is plain that the
detectives are all at sea in this case. A
startling piece of evidence lias now been
obtained by a reporter which may serve
its a clew. It is no less than the discov
ery of tho lost jewels. It will be remem
bered that Mr. Barnes was on tho train
and ordered that tho passengers should
be searched. Nothing was found, from
which it seemed safe to presumo that
thero were two persons connected with
the theft. Ono of these secured tho
plunder and handed it through a win
dow of the car to his accomplice out
side. A reporter went over tho route
yesterday, beginning his investigation
in New Ilaven. He went tho rounds of
the hotels, endeavoring to discover if
uny suspicious person had been noticed
in the city. At ono of tho last which lie
visited, which is about five minutes'
walk from the railroad depot, the clerk
remembered a man who did act strange
ly. It seems that this man came into
the hotel at about noon 011 the .'id, regis
tered, asked that his satchel should be
placed in tho safe, wont out and has
not returned since. The reporter at once
guessed that this was the missing satch
el, and, so stating, tho chief of police
was sent for, and in his presence it was
opened. In it was found a red Russia
leather ease containing unset jewels of
such size and luster that one can well
believe that they are worth #IOO,OOO, as
claimed. That these are the missing
gems is plainly indicated by tho fact
that the jewel case lias the name of
Mitchel stamped upon it. Unfortunate
ly there was nothing about the satchel
or in it which gives any clew to tho
thief himself. The clerk, however, re
members him distinctly, and from his
description the detectives hope soon to
have him under lock and key."
"What have you to say to that, Mitch
el?"
"Why, it is just that kind of thing
that made mo give up reading the news
papers—a sensational description of a
mysterious robbery and murder. Yet if
ono reads the 'papers he must submit to
that almost overy day. "
"Do yon mean that this particular
case has no interest to you?"
"Why should it interest me? Because
I happened to bo on the train and was
compelled to submit to being searched
by an order from a blundering detect
ive?"
"Thero in more reason than that for
attracting your attention. Any man with
a grain of sense and with the knowledge
of your wager must seo your hand in
this."
"lii which, the robbery or tho mur
der?"
"My God, I don't know. YOll and I
have been tho best of friends ever wince
we first luet. I have stood by yon and
believed in yon in spite of all that your
enemiuH have said agaiuHt you. Hut.
now"—
"Well?"
"Well, I don't know what to tiiink.
You bet me that you would commit i»
crime. In a few hours there is n robbery,
und a little later a woman in killed in
the very honse where thoßeuiseiis lived.
It is known—there in another account
in another paper here—it is known that
you were in that house for an hour after
11 :80 at night and that whilo yon were
there a woman wan heard to scream
from that apartment where tho corpse
WHS found. Then here they find tho
jewels, and the case had your name on
it."
"The woman's name, you mean. The
uuuer made that deduct"
"That is true. I did not think of that.
Of course it was her name, but don't
you see I am ail muddled up and excited?
I came here to ask yon to say outright
that you have had nothing t do with
this thing. "
"That is impossible."
"What, you refuse? You will not
claim that you are innocent? Then you
practically admit that you are guilty?"
"I do not. 1 neither deny nor admit
anything. Dei you remember our wager?
I told you then that this crisis would
arise—that >on would hear of some
crime and como to ask me about it. I
warned you that I would refuse to en
light ui you. I simply keep my word."
This was followed by a silence. Mr.
Randolph seemed much disturbed. Jam
ming his hands into his pockets he went
and looked out of the window. Mr.
Mitchel looked at him for some minutes
with a smile of amusement hovering
about his lips. Suddenly he said:
'' Randolph, does your conscience trou
ble you? '
"Most decidedly 1" answered his com
panion sharply, turning toward him.
"Why not go and unburden your soul
to the police?"
"I think it is my duty to do so. But
I feel liko a coward at the idea. It
seems like betraying a friend."
"Ah, you still count me your friend !
Then, my dear friend—for I assure you
I value your good will—l will show you
how to act so as to satisfy your con
science and yet not injure me."
"I wish to heaven you would!"
"Nothing easier. Go to Mr. Barnes
and make a clean breast of all that yon
know.''
"But that is betraying yon to the po
lice. "
"No; Mr. Barnes is not the police.
He is only a private detective. If you
remember, he is the very one about
whom we were talking when the wager
was made. Yon were boasting of his
skill. It should satisfy you then to have
him on my track, and it will satisfy mo
if you agree to talk with no other. Is it
a bargain?"
"Yes, since you are willing. I mnst
tell some one in authority. It is impos
sible for me to withhold what may bo
the means of detecting a criminal."
Mr. Randolph, upon leaving the ho
tel, went in search of Mr. Barnes.
Meanwhile that gentleman was holding
a conversation with Wilson.
"Yon say," said the detective, "that
Mr. Mitchel gave you the slip again
yesterday afternoon?"
"Yes; he doubled so often on his
tracks on the elevated road that at last
be eluded me, getting on a train which
I failed to board. You see, it was impos
sible to tell, till tho moment of starting,
whether he would take a train or not.
Ho would mix with the crowd and seem
anxions to get on, and then at the last
moment step back. I had to imitate
him at the other end of the coach, and
finally ho got on just as tho guard at
my end slammed tho gnti"
"This was at Forty-second street?"
"Yes; ho took the down train."
"Did he uotico yon in any way?"
"I suppose so, but no one would have
guessed it. He appeared entirely igno
rant of the fact that he was followed, so
far as watching me was concerned. "
"You are not to blame. Go back to
his hotel and do the best you can. Leave
the rest to me. I will discover where it
is ho goes on these mysterious trips."
Left to himself Mr. Barnes' thoughts
took this form:
"Wilson is 110 match for Mr. Mitchel.
That is evident. I wonder whether thero
is any real object in this game of hide
and seek, or whether it is simply an in
timation to mc that ho cannot be shad
owed. If the latter—well, we shall seo.
Now lot 1110 think about those jewels
found in New Haven. They tally exact
ly with tho description. Their discovery
complicates the case once more. I had
almost concluded that those 111 the safety
vaults were the ones stolen and that as
they really belong to Mr. Mitchel, as
proved by his receipts, be stole them to
win his wager. In this way he ran no
risk, since, if tho crime were brought
home to him, ho could not bo imprison
ed, though 110 would lose the bet. Now
here is another set, evidently tho right
ones. Mr. Mitchel was plainly surprised
at sight of tho list which I found. I am
sure ho did not know of its existence.
Therefore he may equally well have
knatvn nothing about this duplicate set
of j ewels. In that case tho occurrence of
tho train robbery on tho very night of
tho wager may bo simply a coincidence.
Ho says that tho dead woman was a
blackmailer and that he gave her the
address of his Paris jeweler. May ho
not have bought his set from that very
man and may not this woman have
stolen tho duplicate set recently and
brought them to this country? Plainly
tho Paris jeweler must bo looked up. I
have his name, which I copied from tho
bill of sale. If this line of argument is
true, some one has' followed this woman
from Franco in order to rob her, after
allowing her to accomplish the risky
business of smuggling. Is that person
our friend Thauret? Along this lino of
argument we arrive at the conclusion
that Mr. Mitchel has not yet, committed
his crime. Ko hinted that I should re
member this if I should exculpate him
from those already committed. But do
I? Why did 110 show me that ruby and
say that he meant to present it to his
sweetheart? Will lie give it to her and
then rob her of it? If so, will she bo in
the plot and make a hue and cry, so that
the papers may make a noise? That was
a part of tho agreement in makirg his
bet. But, after all, what about that but
ton? No explanation explains which
does not throw a light upon that. "
Hero Mr. Barnes was interrupted by
tho announcement that Mr. Randolph
wished to speak with him. It must be
remembered that Mr. Randolph was not
aware of tho fact that the conversation
in tho sleeping car had been overheard.
Brought face to face with Mr. Barnes,
ho felt confused and hwitated.
"Mr. Randolph, I believe," said tho
detective, glancing at tho card which
had been sent in. "lie seated. You have
come to fee moabout this Mitehel case?"
The rising inflection with which tho
last word was spoken seemed almost
unnecessary to Mr. Randolph. For if
the man could ask such a question he
might as well have made it a positive
statement. This assumption of knowl
edge made him more than overconfident
of the skill of detectives, and esjteciaily
of the one before him.
"You know that?" said ho. "Would
you mind telling mo how:"
"We detectives are supposed to know
everything, are we not?" This was said
with an affable smile, but tho answer
plainly indicated that Mr. Barnes pre
ferred not to be interrogated. Mr. Ran
dolph therefore concluded to hurry
through with his unpleasant business.
"Mr. Barnes, I havo a confession to
malm und"—
"I must interrupt you, to remind you
that whatever you say is unsolicited,
and that if you incriminate yourself the
evidence will be used against yon."
"Thank you for your warning, but I
have come here that I may not be in
criminated. The facts, in brief, are sim
ply the»e." Then he narrated as accu
lately us ke could recall them all the
circumstances in connection with the
wager. Mr. Barnes listened as though
it was all a new story to him. He even
jotted down a few notes on a bit of pa
per as though for reference. At the con
clusion he said:
"This is a most astounding tale, Mr.
Randolph. It is very difficult to believe
that a man like Mr. Mitchel, who cer
tainly stems to be a gentleman, would
undertake to become a criminal simply
to win a sum of money. Now you must
have been thinking this < ver, and, if
so, you havo some explanation to offer.
Would you mind telling it to me?"
" I should be glad to do so.'' Mr. Ran
dolph spoke eagerly. In his heart he
was fond of his friend, and therefore
his theory was one which in a measure
would exeu** him. He was delighted to
havo tho chanoo of confiding his views
to the detective. "You see," ho contin
ued. "it is one of tho most difficult
things in tho world to say who is and
who is not perfectly sane. Some experts
contend that nine-tenths of the peoplo
in the world are affected by mania in
some form or other. I hold that any
man who makes a collection of any
kind of things, using them for other
than their legitimate uses, is in a meas
ure insane."
"Do you mean legally insane? That
is to say, irresponsible?"
"As to responsibility, I cannot say.
But I think such a mania might tempt
a man to an illegal act. I must explain
my idea further. Postage stamps un
doubtedly have a very important value.
One who collects tlicm after they have
been canceled", paying many times their
faco value for them, is in my opinion
somewhat crazy, since he pays a ficti
tious price for what has no intrinsic
value.''
"You might say the same thing of
paintings. Tho intrinsic value repre
sented in canvas and oil is little, yet
thousands of dollars arc paid for pic
tures. ''
"That, too, is nn insanity, one, of
course, which cannot bo indulged in by
any save tho rich. But it is not tho
same as with the old stamp craze. Pic
tures remind ns of nature and appeal to
tho senses of all mankind by recalling
recollections brought into being by tho
scene presented. There is therefore a
legitimate use for paintings, and a rea
sonable price as compensation for the
work and genius of the artist is perhaps
permissible. But should a man pay a
fortune for a singlo canvas and then
hang it in a room in his own honso
where it will be seen by few save him
self, that man I should consider de
mented. So with jewels"—
"Ah! What of them?"
"Jewels have a market value, and a
place in tho world. But when a man
goes about buying up every magnificent
specimen that can bo found, and then
locks his treasures up in a safe, ho is
simply a crazy man puro and simple."
"What has all this to do with tho
case in hand?"
"Everything. My friend is a crank on
the subject of jewels. Sensible and en
tertaining on any other topic, if you
mention tho name of any kind of jewel
ho is off in a minute, giving a long his
tory of this or that celebrated stone.
His especial crazo in this connection is
to relate tho crimes that have surround
ed every stone of any great price. Ho
has made my Mood curdle at his ghast
ly tales of cruel murder, committed to
gain possession of diamonds and rubies."
"Then your conclusion is that by fill
ing his mind with such thoughts he
may have accustomed himself to the
idea of crime in connection with jew
els?"
"Exactly. Tho worst of it is that wo
may became habituated to anything.
For instance, all ordinary men are
abashed in tho presence of the dead. No
matter how strong minded a man may
be or how much he may scoff at tho
idea of ghosts and tho like, he will pre
fer company if he must sit up with a
corpse. More than that, the slightest
sound in the room, as the moving of tho
ice in the icebox, will cause a shiver to
pass through him. Yet physicians who
study frequently in tho dissecting room
come to have that contempt of a dead
body that a butcher has for tho meat
which 110 sells. "
"Your argument in not bad, Mr. Ran
dolph. It is not impossible that your
friend might bo generous and gentlo
and yet with a mania for tho possession
of jewels, and with the knowledge of
all the crimes that have been committed
to gain them, tho temptation to kill or
steal would perhaps become overpower
ing, where his passion sees an opportu
nity to bo satisfied. It is an odd world."
"Do you think that in a case of that
kind tho man would be excusable on
tho plea of mania? Legally, I mean?"
"Well, no, 1 do not! Psychologically,
I admit that you may bo correct, and I
can sympathize with a man who became
a criminal in such a way. But legally
he would ho culpable. At least I think
so. The question to be answered is, Did
your friend steal those jewels? You
slept with him that night. NVluit do you
think?"
"I don't know what to think. He
could not have left the berth without
climbing over me, and, though I sleep
soundly, that ought to have awakened
mo. Then besides, if he did get out and
take tho things, where could he have
hidden them, and how did they get to
New Haven? By the way, I suppose
you have the description of the man
who left the satchel at the hotel? Does
it tally with that of my friend?"
"I can't say. It is rather vague. The
clerk say* tho man was of medium size,
with red hair and beard, while tho por
ter who saw him also is equally posi
tive that he had black hair and 110
beard. The last tits Mr. Mitchel better
than tho first, but it is a description
which would do as well for 1,000 men
found in a walk along Broadway."
"I almost think that after all the
thief is some one else."
"Let us hope no, Mr. Randolph. I
will say this much, if there is any com
fort in it for you. At present there is
Hot enough evidence against him towar
rant his arrest."
The detective said this with a pur
pose. By relieving this man's mind he
hoped to make him more communicative.
Alter a pause he asked:
" You have known Mr. Mitchel for a
number of years, I believe?"
"No, not more than a year and u
half. He has not been in New York two
years. '
"Ohl I see. A Boston man?"
"No, I think he came from New Or
leans. ''
A curious sensation passed over Mr.
Barnes. There is a (superstitious Isdief,
much esteemed by many, that a shud
der or chill of thin character means that
some 0110 is walking over tho spot where
the jierson affected is to be buried.
Therefore an uncanny thought accom
panies it. With Mr. Itunies it is differ
ent. He is free from all such notions,
yet insensibly he is moved when this
occurs to him, because it has so often
happened that at tiie time ho just hit
upon a clew. Therefore he stopped to
consider. All that Mr. Randolph had
said was that Mr. Mitchel, ho thought,
had come from New Orleans. In a mo
lueut it flashed across Mr. Barnes' mind
that dead woeful hud tuld him that
fl.o liaa lived in New Orleans. Was
there any significance in this fart? Did
the man and the woman know each < th
cr in tlio southern city:
"How do you know that he isa >uth
c-mert" asked Mr. Baine.-.
"Oh, that was •. 1 v dis<- vi red by
his accent," replied Mr. Randolph.
"Besides, he claims to he from the
south, though I think !.<> is rather in
clined not to speak of his home. I have
an indistinct recollection his telling
once that be was born 11. New Or
leui. 1 ' u *»t he had some painful rec
ollections 'rce. That is the only
time that he eve. ' to it, how
ever. "
"I would liko to ask you a question
übout another man, Mr. Randolph. I
wonder whether you have met him. His
name is Thauret-"
"Alphonse Thauret? ~/es, 1 know
him, and I do not like him."
"Why not?"
"I don't exactly know. Perhaps it is
only a prejudice. Still we are apt to
form quick estimates of men, and I have
distrusted this man from the first in
stant that I met him."
"Distrusted him?"
"Yes. I may bo entirely wrong, and
perhaps I should not tell you the story,
but I will do so. It was at one of my
clubs about two weeks ago. Some gen
tlemen were playing whist, and this
Thauret was of tho number. Others
were looking on. The stakes were small;
still there was money up. Thauret and
his partner 6eeined to have a great deal
of luck. Ordinarily, of course, two
packs are used, but for some reason
there was hut one that night, so that
tho bottom card would be the trump.
Now it is pretty well known that as the
cards run in whist, each trick contain
ing four of a suit mainly, it is a mathe
irir
£=;—r"V rr——
It
<^>
' I 1 1 > .J .J 1 1 JL
"T7i is time he tr»i« alonv."
matical certainty that if tho pack is
shuffled twice only, and the dealor is
skillful enough to handle the pack so
that the two halves split eacli other ex
actly both times, the result will l>o that
tho majority of trumps will go to him
self and partner. Cutting does not alter
this fact at all. Now what I observed
was that Thauret doalt in that way ev
ery time. He and his partner won about
|2OO during the ovening. I think he
cheated.''
"Who was his partner?"
"I do not know."
"Was Mr. Mitchel present that night?"
"Yes, and agreed with me that tho
man is a card sharp. Yet of course we
may be doing him an injustice. After
all we only know that he shuffled his
cards twice, and played in good lack. I
havo since seen him lose at the same
game.''
"Well, I am much indebted to yon,
Mr. Randolph, for tho information
which you have given me. I will say
that if I can prove that your friend had
no hand in this affair I shall be most
happy."
The detective arose and Mr. Randolph
accepted the action as a hint that ho
was dismissed. After his departure Mr.
Barnes sat down again. In his mind ho
wondered whether this partner in the
card game might have been the accom
plice of Thauret in the jewol robbery,
and whether ho was the man who left
the jewels in tho hotel at New Haven.
Why ho should have done so, however,
was a mystery.
A few minutes later Mr. Barnes left
tho building and walked rapidly to
ward Third avenue, where ho took the
elevated road, getting out at Seventy
sixth street. Going eastward a few
houses, ho rang tho bell of one, and was
shown into a modestly furnished parlor.
A few minutes later a comely young
woman of about 34 or 25 entered. The
two talked together in low tones for
some time, and then the girl left tho
room, returning in street attire. To
gether they left tho house.
Four days later Mr. Barnes received
a note which simply said, "Come up."
He seemed to understand it, however,
and was quickly 011 his way to tho house
on Seventy-sixth street. Once more tho
girl joined him in tho parlor.
"Well," said Mr. Barnes, "have you
vuceeeded ?''
"Why, of coarse," replied the girl.
"You never knew mo to make a failure,
did yon? You don't class me with Wil
son, I hope?"
"Never mind about Wilson; tell mo
your story."
"Very good. Don't bo impatient.
You know 1110. I take my own way of
doing tilings. Well, you left nio in
Madison Square park. I sat 011 u bench
and watched Wilson. Two hours later a
man came out of the hotel and Wilson
followed him. It made me laugh to see
tho gawk skulking along in the rear.
He's 110 artist. Why, any booby could
tell iu a minute that he was on the
trail."
"I told you to omit remarks about
Wilson. "
"I know, but I choose to tell you
about him, because I make you appre
ciate nie more. So there ho was chasing
after your man Mitchel. Yon see 1 have
found out his name. You didn't tell
mo, but that could not trouble 1110 long,
you know. It was real fun. One minute
Wilson would be actually running to
keep up, and all of a sudden Mitchel
would stop so short that Wilson would
almost bump into him. of course he
knows Wilson by this time, and just
lias fun with him. I wanted to get one
good sqnaro look at him myself. I
jumped on a car and reached Third ave
nue ahead of them. I ran up stairs to
the platform of tho elevated station and
hid in the waiting room. Soon up came
Mitchel, and away lie goes to the end of
tho platform. Wilson stopped in tho
middle and tried to look natural, which,
of course, ho didn't. When the train
came along, 1 got aboard and walked
through till 1 found my man, and down
I sat right opposite to liim. 1 just stud
ied his face, you bet."
"Yes, miss, and ho studied yours.
You are a goose, and you disobeyed or
ders. I told you not to let that keen
devil see you at all. "
"That's all right. It came out straight
enough. At Forty-seuotul street ho got
out, and so did Wilson, and so didn't I. "
"Why not?"
"Because then ho might havo suspect
ed me. No, sir; I rode on up to Forty
seventh street, crossed over, took a
train down, and was waiting in tho
station when Mitehel came along tho
second time. This time lie was alone,
evidently having eluded Wilson at
Thirty fourth street, lb' t«>"k tho down
train. Ho did I, this time keeping out of
sight. He went straight to his lay, and
I after him. It is a house in Irving
place. Here is the number. " Sho hand
ed u card to Mr. Barnes.
"You have done well," said he, tak
ing it. 41 But why did you not report to
iuu ut vuce?"
"I am not through yet. When I take
up a case, Igo to the end of it. Do yon
suppose 1 would track that man and
then let you turn Wilson on him again?
Not much. Next day I called at the
honse and rang the bell. A servant girl
opened the doer. I asked to Fee the mis
tress. She asked what I wanti d. and I
told ht r that 1 had been mm fur to take
a situation. She looked surprised, be
cause. of course, she had not been noti
fied that she WM t<> be <tltlUUM<4 I
quickly went on t -ay that I would not
like to make her I>>S< her place, and
asked what sort of people they were
who lived in the bouse. I got her talk
ing and soon found • at that it is a kind
of private boarding school, and that
there is u child there, a girl of 14,
nailed Ki«e Mitchel, and that yonr man
is her father. How d* s that strike
your"
"My girl, y, u are a genius. Cut still
you knew this the day before yesterday.
Why did you not report?"
•'I went down again yesterday to try
to learn more. I sat out in the paik and
watched the young girls when they
came out for an airing. I could not
find a chance to speak to the girl, but I
found out which is she by hearing the
others call her name. I had my camera
along, and 1 took her portrait for you.
What do von say now? Have I wasted
| my time?"
"Not at. all. Yon are clever, but you
will never be great, because you are too
: conceited. However, I have nothing but
, praise for you this time. C-Jet me the
: picture.''
The girl went up stairs and returned
[ with a small, rather dim photograph of
| a young, pretty girl, and gave it to Mr.
i Barnes. About half an honr later bo
| left the house.
[CON-TINTED.]
These art- the daj • M inn women rule
And men must meekly 1' w.
The ardent swain his words must cool,
For times art- different now.
Then linger not so shyly here.
While blush'-s come mid go.
Nay, if yon love me, Mary, denr.
Why don't jou tell me so?
With tendurest words your heiirt I'd thrill,
But usage bids beware.
The places men are wont to till
Arc chosen by the f.iir.
Where once a lover's course was clear
Propriety says "No."
Then, if you love me, Mary, dear.
Why don't you tell mo so?
A rapturous trembling at my heart
Proclaims you 'mid the throng—
Kay, nay; forgive me! I depart
From customs new, but strong.
"Tis yours to speak and mine to hear.
This impulse I forego.
But If you love me, Mary, dear,
Why don't you tell me so?
—Philander Johnson in Washington Star.
llroke H llride's Heart.
There is a bitter coolness right in tho
bosom of u family I know, and It happened
In this wise: They haven't been married
vory long, and she is in just that stage of
devotion when she wants to do everything
for him. The band about his hat needed
renewing tho other day, and thinking to
surprise him she put a brand new ribbon
on one day while ho was down town.
Whon ho came home, ho noticed the now
band.
"Who did that?" he asked.
'•I—I had It done," replied she coyly.
"Well," ho snorted, '-what boru idiot
ever put a bow on the wrong sido of the
hat?"
And of course her tender heurt was bro
ken, for it isn't given to any woman to
understand why self respect will not allow
u man to wear either a hat, bow or nose
gay on his right side.—Washington Post.
Tho Modern Muse.
I wroto n llttlo poem; 'twas bright and sweet
and gay,
The cleverest and best I'd done for many and
many u day.
I sent It to an editor—alas I my hopes were
vain!
Ho coldly wrote, "Returned with thanks,"
and sent it back again.
And then I took that poem apart and tried a
now Invention.
I put it into dialect past human comprehen
sion.
Obscured the sense, and spoiled the rhyme,
and mailed the shapeless wreck
Back to that selfsame editor, who promptly
sent a cheek! •
—Sew York TriliSfhe.
Ills Kxcrclse.
Mrs. Jolllboy—My husband takes regu
lar exercise at tho club gymnasium now,
and I judge from what he says that he Is
getting on linoly.
Mrs. Klngsley—Has he beoorne expert
enough to do anythingf
Mrs. Jolllboy—He tolls me that he has
learned how to crook his elbow, though I
don't know what that means exactly.—
Detroit Free Press.
Hard to Realize.
Tho Hash and glint of steel shod, clinking heels,
Thu rasp and glitter of the skates on glaring
Ice,
And round and round the Hchoolboy -kirns and
wheels.
Above his qulrkeaed breath in vapor takes
its rlso,
Awhile he sits upon the bank in snow
And o'er the frozen surface sweeps his
shrinking eye,
"I wonder how 1 ever come to swim
In this hero pond In hottest days of fats'
July!"
—Chicago Record.
An t'nfalr Advantage.
At tho meeting of the Hod Carriers' as
sociation:
Cluncy—Mr. Chairman, Ol t'lnk we
should expel Murphy far not attendln
moutln's. He's absent agin the noight.
Brady—Ye'ro noglntleman, Clancy, fur
t' make thot complaint lieholnd a man's
back. Philadelphia Beet>rd.
A Christmas Krho.
A sense of Christmas in the air.
(Ten dollars for thot hat?)
Glad bells oro chiming everywhere.
(I'll not (iay bills llko that!)
Tho snow-flakes trickle from the sky.
(And fifty for that cloak?)
And brighter beam the stars on high.
(Another, and—l'm broke!)
—Atlanta Constitution.
Not a CJreat Deal.
"I'm engaged to three just at present,"
she said. 'Yes; a good deal on hand?
Oh, no! Not nearly as much as I have
hail. There Is but one diamond In this
lot.''
Upon « rough estimate she would put
tho aggregate value at 1150.—'Detroit
Tribune.
What She Said.
A charming young Is'lle of the Kioax
Htooped over to lace up her shloux.
But she said as she Wed,
"I must have these replaced.
For I see they no longer will dioux."
—Chieago Record.
Canse to Complain.
•'I don't think it's fair, Joslah," said
Mrs. Chugwater as the attendants luitbed
her sprained ankle with soothing lotions
and wrapped bandages about It. "You're
the one that always carries the accident
Insurance policies, and I'm the one that 's
always getting hurt!"— Chicago Tribune.
To J. Mull,
We don't want to play in your yard.
Wo have playgrounds of our own.
But you'll have to, we assure you.
Let our old liack fence alone.
—Washington (star.
She Wo* I'rodent.
"He must be worth at least SIOO,OOO,
mamma."
"llow do you know!"
"Ho told me his fortune ended In five
ciphers.''
'' Jl'in! Maybe it begins with one too."
Detroit Tribune.
I'lalut of a IVanluiUt.
1 never hitU a pencil that
I'd spent both time and skill to mend
But what It foil ujMin tho floor
And always on the Nhar|*'iied end.
—Chicago Ilceord.
A sii fTV re r Da Fre neb.
Sympathetic Wife —Oh, dear, I'm so
sorry you are sick. What could you have
eaten at the dinner?
Sufferer —I've not the Mligbtest Idea.
Thu 1)111 of fare was printed in French,
vou know.—Boston Transcript.
RINGS AND RING LORE.
IVtr- thai rings came into use in Europ#
as early as the ninth century.
T!i • ring of Childcrlc is still preserved
in the Imperial museum in Paris.
In the later Homan empire rings cut
from -olid stone, generally agate or onyx,
became f.ishionablo.
John Bull's Idea of war is still to run
away with the other man's pocketbook.—-
Grand Rapids Press.
Anelo Saxon rings were fashioned after
knotted cables, the knot lieing worn on
the outside of the hand.
In tho seventh and eighth centuries, at
♦very wedding among wealthy Saxons,
numbers of gold rings were given away
to friends as mementos of tho occasion.
Quintilllan laid down certain rules for
the wearing of rings. Ho protested against
the use of too many and said that it was
not in good taste to wear rings below the
middle joint of the finger.
In both ancient and media;vol times div
ination rings were common. The setting,
generally of onyx, was carved with sym
bolic figures, in which were supposed to
reside the mysterious potency of the jewel.
The dagger ring, the blade of which was
poisoned, was one of the infernal machines
concocted by media vel Italians. A tiny
c!..w of steicl was projected by a spring,
and a scratch from this atrocious weapon
meant certain death.
In the Roman burial urns h • been
found great numbers of rings . itli
sin lis. The use of these was to; i kug
time conjectural, but It lms ei jv
ercd that they were worn Lyme .am)
as charms to protect them fr mi e'
Poison rings, during the twelf thir
teenth and fourtee nth centuries, w vory
oommon in Italy. The bezel of the ring
was a hollow cup, opened by a spring and
designed to contain a quantity of poison
to IH< used either for sulcido or murder.—
St. Louis Globe Democrat.
CURRENT COMMENT.
Actor Mansfield is going to elevate the
lecture platform. The stage is too crowd
ed. —Pittsburg Chronicle-Telegraph.
A man of tho name of Sign is In jail in
lowa on tho chargo of forgery. Who says
there's nothing In a namof—St. Joseph
Gazette.
A Michigan man ooughs up bullets.
Tills is different from the average man,
who merely coughs up his wad.—Kansas
City Journal.
As Mr. Anson retires from the stage he
cannot withstand tho temptation to cast
a withering glance at tho umpire.—Chi
cago Times-1 erald.
It is estimated that Americans spend
120,000,000 annually for chewing gum.
Where is the anti chewing gum party?—
Grnyvllle Independent.
There are in Chicago, according to Com
missioner Kent, 83tl streets that look like
—well, that is to say, they aro paved only
witli good Intentions.—Chicago Trlbuno.
We kick at the weather. It Is one of the
vested rights of an American to objeot to
everything, and we propose to enjoy tho
benefits of citizenship.—Youngstown Tol
egram.
We don't proposo to get excited over
war reports until wo have hoard from Mrs.
Helen Gougar, Sister Leaso and George
Francis Train. If they say fight-, shegoee.
—Wisconsin Stato Journal.
It Is stated that buttor contains 40 tlmos
as many mlcrobe>s as oleomargarine*, and
yet the latter has never succeeded In over
coming Its shrinking modesty about as
suming its own name.—St. Louis Globe
Democrat.
COSTLIER THAN GOLD.
Zirconium comes In flat,, thin, grayish
blue crystals and Is worth $lO per ounce.
Barium Is kept in kerosene. In color it
Is silver white, and Its price is $32 per
ounce.
Strontium Is kept In kerosene to provent
oxidation. It Is dark gray in color beforo
melting, but after It Is light gray. Its
price is S4O per ounce.
Cerium Is a brownish green mass in ap
pearance, but In reality It Is a white inctM
belonging to the aluminium family. Its
value Is S4O per ounce.
Rhodium is another metal which It Is
very difficult to molt. It is a dark metal,
very llttlo used because It is next to im
possible to absorb It. Its valuo is S4O per
ounce.
Borlum comes In line, grayish black
crystals and Is very hard. Tho crystals
much resemble emery In appearance, but
borlum will dissolve in hot aluminium,
while other metals of the sumo hardness
Will not. It Is worth $26 jier ounce.
Most of those metals aro shown In pow
der form boe-ause they aro obtained In that
form. It is difficult often to obtain them
In globules because they decompose very
cjulokly when exposed to tho air. If kept
In lump, they are usually preserved In
kerosene. —Now York Herald.
OUR NATIONAL FINANCES.
In the year 1004 $100,000,000 in bonds
must be redeemed.
In 1835 the public dobt of tho United
States was only $37,613.
Last year the United States spent $42,-
806,223 more than its receipts.
Not quite half of our rovenue last year
was received from customs duties.
The total ordinary expenditures of the
government in 1806 were $360,195,208.
Thirty-seven cents per capita in 180*
was sufficient to pay the Interest on tho
nation's borrowings.
France, Russia, Great Britain, Austria-
Hungary, Italy, Spain and Prussia aro
the only nations deeper In debt than is the
United States.
In 1807 3 cents per capita of silver and
60 cents per capita of gold was coined. In
1804 13 cents per capita of silver and $1.17
of gold was minted.
The Indebtedness of tho United States,
less cash on hand on Nov. I, 1865, was
$812,137,010.87. Without deductions and
luoludlng certificates uud treasury notes
It was $1,717,4&1,779.
ADVERTISING AXIOMS.
Tho duller the season tho more need
there Is of advertising, and of good adves
tlslng at that.
Never sit down to write an ad. until roa
have thoroughly thought out the subject
and know exactly what you wish to say.
No newspaper reader will ever liellove a
"selling out below cost" announcement
unless adequate reasons for tho sacrlfloo
are given.
Sincerity In an advertisement Is tho
condiment which frequently makes an
otherwise unattractive "business-literary"
dose palatable.
Tho baro statement that you soil cheaper
than any otb r merchant In your lino in
town isn't worth the paper It's printed on.
Prove it by quoting prices.—Octavun
Cohen.
The "new woman" has not boon con
spicuous In tho war flurry. Wo are evi
dently far from the time when bloomers
will wave, so to speak, in tho thick of tho
liattle. —Clevoland Leader.
New Jersey's first woman lawyer has
been granted permission to wear her hat
In court. But the court dldu't agree to
keep h«r informed as to whether or not It
was on straight. Kansas City Journal.
Hetty Green has a Bible, but It men
tions only the difficulties of a rich man in
getting to heaven. There is not a word
about a rich woman. Mrs. Stanton ought
to readily perceive this rlrtoe In the old
fashioned book. —St. i-iouls l'ost-Dispatch.
The question has been raised as to what
the new woman would do In case of war.
Without venturing luto details It may lie
lately said that If she should engage the
attention of the enemy as much as she
now docs that of her contemporaries ho
would not have much time left for fight
ing.-—Philadelphia ledger.
JEWELRY CONCEITS.
Out of the ordinary are princess lamps
In oohalt blue, with figure panels.
Stocking supporters are brought out
with all the ordinary buckles, slides and
loops of gold.
Purses of woven gold have heavy gold
clasps circled with jewels and a small
watch In the center.
The showcases still disclose side combs
In many varieties, with pearl and diamond
heading, or with a waved tidge of gold.
Feminine smokers can hardly fail to be
pleased with cigarette bidders havlngTa
mouthpiece of amlwr uud tiny liowl of
gold.—Jewelers' Circular.
TSTo. 7