chel. Suppose the thief had
stolen the satchel and thrown it from the window. Missing that, the
woman would have naturally concluded that the jewels were gone, would
she not? Very well. The thief might have hidden the jewels in her own
pocket whilst she slept." Mr. Barnes had hoped much from this
proposition, but it was a distinct failure. Either that was not the
thief's method, or else Mr. Mitchel and Mr. Thauret were both innocent.
Both smiled incredulously. The former spoke:

"That is too far-fetched, Mr. Barnes. How do you suppose that he would
regain possession of the gems?"

"By murdering the woman," answered the detective. Again he failed, for
neither of the men winced. Mr. Barnes was foiled for the moment, but not
entirely discouraged. The start which both men had made, when he
suggested that the stolen property had been hidden off the train, still
remained to be explained.

"Come! Come! Mr. Barnes," said Mr. Mitchel patting his shoulder
familiarly, "don't let this case upset you so. When you go so far for a
theory, you do not show the skill which you displayed in tracking
Pettingill. Why even I can get you a better one than that."

"You must not think me quite a fool, Mr. Mitchel. If my theory seems
preposterous, it does not follow that it is the only one at my command.
We detectives must look at these cases from all lights. I will wager
that I can tell you what your theory is?"

"Good! I am glad New York has such a clever man to defend her. I accept
your wager. Here, I will write my idea on a bit of paper. If you guess
it I owe you an invitation to a good dinner." Mr. Mitchel wrote a few
lines on the back of an envelope and handed it to Dora.

"You think," said Mr. Barnes, "that the thief might have simply handed
the satchel and jewelry to a confederate at a station decided upon in
advance."

"Bravo! Mr. Barnes," said Dora, "You _are_ a great detective. You have
won your wager. That is what is written here."

"I owe you a dinner Mr. Barnes, and it shall be a good one," said Mr.
Mitchel.

"Would Mr. Barnes like to win another?" asked the Frenchman with slow
distinctness.

"I would," said the detective sharply.

"Then I will wager with you, that if you ever clear up the mystery, you
will be obliged to admit that none of the theories advanced is the
correct one."

"I cannot accept that bet," said Mr. Barnes slowly, "because I am sure
that we have not mentioned the true method adopted."

"Ah! You