which is unclaimed?"

The man jumped to his feet as though shot, and stood staring at the
detective. He gave a long, low whistle, and a keen, tricky gleam came
into his eye, which Mr. Barnes noted. At length he spoke:

"Are you giving me this straight?"

"I am telling you the truth. The woman is dead, and that amount of
property is where I can get it for the man who can prove that he is
entitled to it."

"And who would that be?" He waited eagerly for the reply, and Mr. Barnes
saw that he was playing trump cards.

"Why, Mr. Mitchel, that is what I am down here for. You see, I thought
the party would be willing to pay me a good commission for proving him
the heir, and that is why I am hunting him up. I started out with the
idea that I might find her husband. He would have a claim."

"I see." Saying which, he sat down and seemed lost in thought. The
detective deemed it well to wait for him to speak again, which he did.

"See here," he exclaimed; "how much do you want for getting this money
for me?"

"I cannot get it at all unless you are the woman's husband," replied the
detective.

"Well I am her husband. Didn't I tell you I lived with her till she
broke me?"

"Yes, but are you legally married to her?"

"Why, to be sure. Don't I tell you I am her husband?"

"Then, in the name of the law, I arrest you," said Mr. Barnes, suddenly
rising and standing over the man.

"Arrest me," said the fellow, jumping up, pale with fright. "What for?"

"Rose Mitchel has been murdered, and the man who killed her has
confessed that he was hired to do it by you."

"He is a blasted liar."

"I hope so for your sake. But as you admit that you are her husband, you
are the man we are looking for. I'll have to take you to New York."

"But, I say," said the fellow, now thoroughly alarmed, "there is a big
mistake here. I've been lying to you; I'm not the woman's husband, and
my name is not Mitchel."

"That won't do, my man. I had you pointed out to me by Sefton, the
detective here."

"But he is the very man that hired me to pass off as Mitchel to you."

Mr. Barnes chuckled as he found his ruse successful. He had suspected
all along that the New Orleans detective was trying to lead him off on a
wrong scent, and now thought he saw a chance to turn the tables upon him
and get some valuable information.

"That is a very thin story," said he, "but if you will tell me all you
know, perhaps I may believe you."

"You bet I'll give