t. Now you
ask me what was the original number, and I reply seven. Is that clear?"

"Then the other button has been lost?"

"Not at all. I know where it is."

"Then what do you mean by saying that the set now is only six?"

"Excuse me, Mr. Barnes, if I decline to answer that question. I have
replied now to several since I asked you why you came here this
morning."

"I will tell you," said the detective, playing his trump card, as he
thought. "I have been examining the place where your crime was
committed, and I have found that seventh button!" If Mr. Barnes expected
Mr. Mitchel to recoil with fear, or tremble, or do anything that an
ordinary criminal does when brought face to face with evidence of his
guilt, he must have been disappointed. But it is safe to assume that by
this time so skillful a man as Mr. Barnes did not expect so consummate
an actor as Mr. Mitchel to betray feeling. He did show some interest,
however, for he arose from his chair and, walking up to Mr. Barnes, he
asked simply:

"Have you it with you? May I see it?"

Mr. Barnes hesitated a moment, wondering if he risked losing the button
by handing it to him. He decided to give it to him, and did so.

Mr. Mitchel looked at it closely, as though an expert, and after several
moments of silence, he tossed it carelessly into the air, catching it as
it came down, and then said:

"This would make a pretty situation in a play, Mr. Barnes. Follow me.
Detective discovers crime, and finds curious button. Goes straight to
criminal, and boldly tells him of the fact. Criminal admits that he has
but six buttons out of seven, and asks to see the button found.
Detective foolishly hands it to him. Then criminal smiles blandly, and
says: 'Mr. Detective, now I have seven buttons, and my set is complete
again. What are you going to do about it?'"

"And the detective would reply," said Mr. Barnes, falling into the humor
of the situation: "'Mr. Criminal, I will just take that back by force.'"

"Exactly. You catch the spirit of the stage picture. Then, fight between
two men, applause from the gallery, and victory for either party, as the
author has decided. That is the way it would be done in a play. But in
real life it is different. I simply hand you back your button, thus,"
handing button to Mr. Barnes, and bowing politely, and then remarked:
"Mr. Barnes, you are welcome to that. It is not a part of my set!"

"Not a part of your set?" echoed the detective, dumb