c-simile, 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
fac-simile 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 you 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 you mean that you did not know it?" asked Mr. Barnes.

"How should I know it?"

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