but I would have the excitement and the satisfaction for
which I had wished. One thing threatened to upset my plans. Mr. Barnes
by an odd chance came aboard the same coach, was given the section next
to ours, and overheard our conversation. This of course I could not have
counted upon."

"You did take it into your account though," interrupted Mr. Barnes.

"You mean that I refused to tell Mr. Randolph what I meant to do, saying
that I might be overheard, and that I might even be talking for the
benefit of a listening detective? True, but I had no idea that this was
so. It was merely extreme precaution, and only shows that we can never
be too cautious in an endeavor to keep a secret. Later, however, I heard
you get up, and peeping through the curtains, I saw you sitting up, or
rather lying in a berth opposite, with the curtains drawn. I at once
supposed that you must be a detective. My companion was soon asleep, but
with a hundred thousand dollars worth of jewels in the balance, I could
not sleep. I was busy wondering what I should do. I think though that I
must have dozed, for I know that I was startled to discover suddenly
that we were not moving. I looked out of our section window--fortunately
I was next to it--and found that we had run into the depot at New Haven.
Like a flash it came to me that the thief might leave the train here. I
was about to get up, when to my astonishment I noticed a man sneaking
along by the side of the train. I was on the side opposite to that from
which the passengers would alight, and the suspicious actions of the man
forced me to watch him. He passed so close to me that I could have
touched him had my window been open, and as he did so the light of an
electric lamp disclosed the fact that he had my satchel. The thief had
been robbed already. The man approached a coal-bin, and stooping, shoved
the satchel behind it. Then he returned to the train and came aboard. I
said to myself 'That fellow is an artist. He will remain on board till
the robbery is discovered, if necessary, and even allow himself to be
searched. Then he will quietly come back and get the satchel and
jewels.' Thus it was my cue to act quickly. But if I left the train I
knew that the detective would see me. I therefore gently raised the
sash, and deftly let myself to the ground out of the window. I quickly
took the satchel, ran to the end of the depot, and found a place where I
could shove it far under the platform. Then I cl