membered a man who did act strangely. It seems that this man
came into the hotel at about noon on the third, registered, asked that
his satchel should be placed in the safe, went out and had not returned
since. The reporter at once guessed that this was the missing satchel,
and so stating, the chief of police was sent for, and in his presence it
was opened. In it was found a red Russia leather case containing unset
jewels of such size and lustre that one can well believe that they are
worth a hundred thousand dollars as claimed. That these are the missing
gems is plainly indicated by the fact that the jewel-case has the name
of MITCHEL stamped upon it. Unfortunately there was nothing about the
satchel, or in it, which gives any clue to the thief himself. The clerk,
however, remembers him distinctly, and from his description the
detectives hope soon to have him under lock and key."

"What have you to say to that, Mitchel?"

"Why, it is just that kind of thing that made me give up reading the
newspapers. A sensational description of a mysterious robbery and
murder. Yet if one reads the papers he must submit to that almost every
day."

"Do you mean that this particular case has no interest to you?"

"Why should it interest me? Because I happened to be on the train and
was compelled to submit to being searched by an order from a blundering
detective?"

"There is more reason than that for attracting your attention. Any man
with a grain of sense, and with the knowledge of your wager, must see
your hand in this?"

"In which, the robbery, or the murder?"

"My God, I don't know. You and I have been the best of friends ever
since we first met. I have stood by you and believed in you in spite of
all that your enemies have said against you. But now----"

"Well?"

"Well, I don't know what to think. You bet me that you would commit a
crime. In a few hours there is a robbery, and a little later a woman is
killed in the very house where the Remsens lived. It is known,--there is
another account in another paper here--it is known that you were in that
house for an hour, after 11:30 at night, and that whilst you were there
a woman was heard to scream from that apartment where the corpse was
found. Then here they find the jewels, and the case had your name on
it."

"The woman's name you mean. The paper made that deduction I think."

"That is true. I did not think of that. Of course it was her name, but
don't you see I am all