An Artist In Crime

An Artist in Crime.

by Rodrigues Ottolengui

[Copyright, 1895, by G. P. Putnam's Sons.]

course I did not have any such sum. After listening to her I changed my mind. I found that, through certain papers 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 - I 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, she became 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 settle with her at once and did so on these terms: I agreed to give her cash enough to go to Europe and the balance in jewels. "

"In jewels?" cried Mr. Barnes, startled.

"Yes, in jewels. You are surprised, that that is because you do not know my hobby. I am a collector of jewels. I have $500,000 worth in these vaults. Therefore, while I had no such amount in cash as $10,000, 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 the woman, part of the agreement being that she should never return."

"Mr. Mitchel, a man of your intelligence must have known that such promises are not kept by that class of people."

"True, but I obtained from her all the documentary evidence which she had, so that I rendered her powerless to annoy me further. You said awhile ago that it was a serious admission for me 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 the woman's receipt, in which she states that for the sum of $10,000, or its equivalent, she delivers to me family documents, etc."

"Have you the documents still?"

"I prefer not to reply to that question."

"Very good, but answer me this one: Where did you obtain this leather case and what does it contain?" As he said this the detective picked up the case and held it before Mr. Mitchel'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 the table. It was lined with black satin and contained gems similar to those described in the paper found in the dead woman's pocket. What seemed more important, however, was a piece of writing paper upon which Mr. Barnes found an exact copy of the list and description which he had in his pocket. The detective noticed with astonishment that though Mr. Mitchel had refused to permit this examination of the contents of 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 yon object to my looking into this case?"

"I never show my jewels to strangers. 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 are the stolen jewels."

"Indeed! Do you discover that, as you claim to have detected the thief, simply by looking at them?" Mr. Mitchel assumed that sarcastic tone which had several times irritated the detective.

"Have done with child's play," said Mr. Barnes. "I have a list of the lost jewels, and this case, with its contents, accurately matches the description. What is more, this list in your possession is the facsimile of the one which I have in my pocket." 

"Ah, now we come to tangible facts and leave the realm of psychology," said Mr. Mitchel, leaning forward, with evident interest. "Let me understand this. You have a list of the stolen jewels. 'That paper is a facsimile of this one here. The description, too, tallies with the case and jewels. Is that right?"

"That is. quite right. Now can your remarkable inventive faculty fashion a story to meet this emergency?"

"Mr. Barnes, you do me an injustice. I am no romancer. That is the difference between myself and the criminal class, with which you deal. Those poor devils commit a crime and depend upon a sequence of lies to clear themselves. On the contrary, I follow this rule, 'Refuse to answer all questions, or else answer truthfully.' Now, in this case there are some points as puzzling to me as to yourself. Them I shall not attempt to explain. One of them is how you can possibly have a duplicate list of my jewels - for these are mine, I assure you."

"Here is the list," said the detective, taking it from his pocket and comparing it with the other, "and, by heavens," he continued, "the writing is the same!"

"That is interesting. Let me look," said Mr. Mitchel. With which he arose, walked around to the other side of the table and stood leaning over the detective. "You see, I do not ask you to let me take your paper from you. You 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 careful examination he handed them back, saying:

"I agree with you, Mr. Barnes. The writing is the same. What deduction do you draw from that fact?"

''What deduction? Why, I found this description of the stolen jewels in the pocket of a dress belonging to Rose Mitchel."

"What? Do yon mean to say that she was the woman who was robbed?" The blank amazement upon Mr. Mitchel's face disconcerted Mr. Barnes, for if he did not know this, the mystery seemed deeper than ever.

"Do yon mean that you did not know it?" asked Mr. Barnes.

"How should I know?" This caused a silence. Both men stopped a moment to consider the situation. At length Mr. Barnes said coldly:

"Mr. Mitchel, I am under the painful necessity of placing you under arrest."

"Upon what charge?"

"Upon the charge of having stolen jewels, and perhaps of having murdered Rose Mitchel."

"Are you in a hurry to take me with you?" asked Mr. Mitchel coolly.

"Why do yon ask?"

"Because if not I should like to ask you one or two questions."

"You may do so."

"First, then, as the robbery was committed on a moving tram, will you tell me how you supposed it to have been accomplished, since the passengers were searched?" Mr. Barnes had his own idea on this subject, which he did not choose to tell. He thought it well, however, to pretend that he had still another theory. At least he could observe how Mr. Mitchel received it.

"As you say, all were searched. The first was Mr. Thauret. Nothing was found. Let us suppose a case. This man Thauret was in the same carriage with the woman Rose Mitchel. When the train stopped at New Haven, suppose that he took the satchel, left the train and passed it to you through the window of your section, thinking that only his carriage would be searched. After his own examination he left the train at Stamford. Why may he not have tapped upon your window and have received back the satchel?"

"That would make him my accomplice. You are wrong. I do not know the man at all."

"You admitted having met him when Miss Dora Remsen introduced him to you."

"Once only - at a gaming table. That is why I was displeased to see him in the home of my intended. Passing the robbery, then - for despite my denial you may think your explanation correct, and a jury might agree with you - let us come to the murder. Do you suppose a man would make a wager to commit 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 you, 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 point in what you say which is interesting. Did I understand that this woman had an apartment in the Thirtieth street building?"

"Certainly, and you knew it."

"You are mistaken. Let us return to the jewels. You think that these are the missing gems. If I prove to the contrary, will you agree not to place me under arrest?"

"With pleasure," said the detective, feeling safe in the idea that what Mr. Mitchel offered to do was an impossibility.

"Thank you! That gives me my freedom, in exchange for which courtesy I promise you all the assistance in my power in finding the murderer." Saying which, Mr. Mitchel touched an electric button, and when it was answered sent a message up stairs asking Mr. Charles to come down. In a few moments that gentleman appeared.

"Mr. Charles," said Mr. Mitchel, "would it be possible for me to enter these vaults without your knowledge?"

"It would be impossible for any one to enter here without my knowledge," said Mr. Charles.

"You keep my key, do you not?"

"Yes, sir."

"Have I ever taken it out of this building?"

"No, sir."

"Then you think it impossible that I should have been able to have a duplicate key and to have entered here without your knowledge?"

"An utter impossibility, sir."

"Can you remember when I was here last?"

"Certainly. It was about two weeks ago, when you told me 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 have not been to this place since, and therefore could not have placed them in this box. Are you satisfied?"

"No. If you were able to commit the robbery on the train while I watched your section all night, and to have succeeded in getting the jewels away although you were searched, yon are ingenious enough to have found a way of getting here without the knowledge of Mr. Charles. Or, he may be paid to lie for you. I feel too sure that these are the gems to be so readily convinced to the contrary."

"So you did watch me that night. Well, I am sorry you had so much trouble. I must give you further proof? Very good. Examine these." He took out a package of letters and from them extracted a bill of sale, dated five 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 the New York custom house for the duties paid, which paper was also dated back. This was evidence which Mr. Barnes could not refute. Plainly this particular set of jewels belonged to Mr. Mitchel.

"That is sufficient. It would be folly to arrest you when you could show those documents to any judge and be released. At the same time I shall not forget the coincidence of these two lists, and that one of the button."

"By the way, Mr. Barnes, would you mind saying where you found that button?"

"In the room where the woman was murdered."

"No wonder you valued it. I am surprised that you should have presented it to Miss Remsen." There was a twinkle in Mr. Mitchel's eye which annoyed Mr. Barnes, but he made no reply. Mr. Mitchel continued:

"In consideration of your not placing me under arrest, Mr. Barnes, I will give you a hint. I made that wager with my friend Randolph yesterday morning - that is to say, Dec. 2. I have until Jan. 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 you to watch me. Do you catch the idea?"

"There is little danger of your committing any crime during the next month without my knowing it," said Mr. Barnes.

"Now let us change the subject. Do you see this ruby?" taking a large ruby f rom the case before them. "I am thinking of having it set as a present to Miss Remsen. Will she not be envied when she wears it?"

CHAPTER VII 

MR. RANDOLPH HAS A FIGHT WITH HIS CONSCIENCE.

Upon leaving the vaults Mr. Mitchel and the 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 the 5th, as Mr. Mitchel was dressing, a card was brought to him which bore the name of his friend, Mr. Randolph, and that gentleman a few minutes later entered. Mr. Mitchel was cordial in his greeting and extended his hand, but Mr. Randolph refused it, saying:

"Excuse me, Mitchel, but I have come to see you about that wager I was stupid enough to make with you."

(To be continued.)

Harmony in Chunks.

Said that Ann Arbor Republicans Must Have it.

The Ann Arbor Register, the anti-Judson republican organ says:

"Make up or be left out in the cold. That is the substance of the treat that is supposed to hang over the heads of Ann Arbor republicans unless they kiss and make up. Says someone whom we suspect is high in the councils of the boss, "Ann Arbor republicans must unite with the antis inside the lion." or all the other republicans in the county will unite and nevermore will an Ann Arbor republican be allowed to pluck a plum from the official preserve jar. Well let us see just what that means. Just what in fact would be the great loss Ann Arbor republicans would sustain. The writer has resided in Ann Arbor for the past 15 years. During all that long period Ann Arbor city republicans have held what? Just one office, that of circuit court commissioner, the pettiest and lowest office in the country! Now it seems that we are unworthy of that and judging from the Times informer, even this poor pittance must be snatched away from us unless we reform. There certainly is a crying demand for harmony, and with such a possible deprivation storming us in the face there certainly will be at least a forced truce. Let us have peace, and we would rather not be compelled to fight for it.

A Second Track

Being Laid Between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti.

A second track is being built on the Michigan Central between this city and Ypsilanti. The work between Geddes and Ypsilanti is being done by contractors. Between Ann Arbor and Geddes the company men are doing the work. There are six work trains on this part of the road. When this double track is completed the only break in a double track between Detroit and Chicago, will be between Ann Arbor and Dexter. All the bridges and culverts are built for two tracks so that the work can be quickly completed. Whatever is undertaken by the Michigan Central authorities is done in the most complete and thorough manner. The road is evidently expecting a larger increase of its big traffic. A double track between Ann Arbor and Detroit will enable the road to put on the proposed suburban trains. They will be welcomed by many citizens who do not enjoy the delays often experienced on the trolley road.