nes the detective?" asked the conductor. Mr. Barnes
assented.

"Then I wish to place in your hands officially a most mysterious case.
We took on a lady last night at Boston, who had a ticket to South
Norwalk. As we were approaching that point a short time ago she was
notified by the porter. She arose and dressed preparatory to leaving the
train. A few minutes later I was hurriedly summoned, when the woman,
between hysterical sobs, informed me that she had been robbed."

"Of much?"

"She claims to miss a satchel containing a hundred thousand dollars, in
jewelry."

"You have stated that adroitly. She claims to miss! What evidence have
you that she has met with any loss at all?"

"Of course we cannot tell about the jewelry, but she did have a satchel,
which is now missing. The porter remembers it, and we have searched
thoroughly with no success."

"We have stopped at New Haven and at Bridgeport. How many persons have
left the train?"

"No one has left the sleepers."

"When you say that no one has left the sleepers, I suppose you mean you
saw no one leave?"

"No! I mean just what I said. I have sent the porters through the
coaches and they report that all our passengers are in their berths. But
here we come to a point. If no one has left the train, then the thief
must be aboard?"

"Certainly!"

"The woman when she discovered her loss concluded to remain aboard and
go on to New York. All the other passengers, save one, are booked for
New York. That one is a man, and he is now dressing, as his destination
is Stamford. If he leaves he may take the jewels with him, yet what am I
to do?"

"State the facts of the case to him. If he is innocent he will willingly
submit to being searched. If, however, he refuses,--well we can be
guided by circumstances. Call him in here now."

A few minutes later a foreign and distinctly French-appearing man
entered. In speech he disclosed his origin, but the accent was slight.
He was of fine appearance, dignified and gentlemanly.

Mr. Barnes sat at the window looking out. The conductor with
considerable hesitancy explained the case concluding with:

"You see, my dear sir, this is an awkward business, but we are so sure
that the thief is still aboard, that----"

"That you hesitate to allow me to leave the train, eh, Monsieur, is it
not so? Yet why should there be any trouble? An honest man must never be
hurt in his feelings when he is asked to assist the law, even though
for