ides, he has his child with him."

Mr. Neuilly started up and paced the room for some time, much agitated.
Finally he stopped and said:

"You say he has the child with him?"

"Yes. Here is her likeness." He handed Mr. Neuilly the photograph made
by Lucette.

Mr. Neuilly looked at it, muttered "very like! very like!" then remained
silent for some moments; finally he said:

"And you think he murdered this woman, Montalbon?"

"I do."

"It would be terrible to hang that child's father. What dishonor! What
dishonor! But Justice is Justice!" He seemed to be talking rather to
himself than to Mr. Barnes. Suddenly he turned and said:

"I cannot tell you the name for which you ask. But I will go with you to
New York, and if this story of yours is true, I will move heaven and
earth to see justice done. That villain must not ruin another young
life."

"Good," exclaimed the detective, delighted with the result of his visit.

"One more point, Mr. Neuilly. What do you know of the existence of
another Mr. Leroy Mitchel?"

"I never met him, though I knew of him. There was a mystery about that,
which I never could unravel. I think that he loved this same girl. At
any rate shortly after she died, he lost his reason, and is now in an
insane asylum. Of course he cannot help us."

Mr. Barnes, after arranging where to meet Mr. Neuilly, returned to the
St. Charles to make his own preparations for going north. Up in his room
he found Chambers awaiting him.

"Well," said the detective, "what have you learned?"

"Nothing that will please you, I am sorry to say. Only I have found the
other Mitchel. He is a lunatic, in an asylum out in the suburbs. But the
fellow up north is your man sure. This one, they say, went crazy because
his sweetheart gave him the mitten."

"Did you find out the woman's name?"

"I could not do that. It seems as carefully hidden as though it was a
state secret. That gives you an insight into what the Creole pride is."

"Very well. I think you have worked for me faithfully. Here is a hundred
dollar bill. Will that satisfy you?"

"Perfectly. I wish you luck."

An hour later a telegram was handed to Mr. Barnes, which read:

"Have found the child.
(Signed) Lucette."

In the afternoon Mr. Barnes started for New York accompanied by Mr.
Neuilly. That same night Mr. Robert Leroy Mitchel received a telegram
which read:

"Barnes off for New York. Has old Neui