hould have attracted that gentleman's earnest thought. Apparently he
did not notice it. The woman spoke first.

"The conductor has sent me in here to see you. What have you to do with
the case?"

"Nothing!"

"Nothing? Then why----"

"When I say I have nothing to do with the case, I mean simply that it
rests with you whether I shall undertake to restore to you your diamonds
or not. I look after such things for this road, but if the loser does
not wish any action taken by the road, why then we drop the matter. Do
you wish me to make a search for the stolen property?"

"I certainly wish to recover the jewels, as they are very valuable; but
I am not sure that I desire to place the case in the hands of a
detective."

"Who said that I am a detective?"

"Are you not one?"

Mr. Barnes hesitated a moment, but quickly decided on his course.

"I am a detective, connected with a private agency. Therefore I can
undertake to look up the thief without publicity. That is your main
objection to placing the case in my hands is it not?"

"You are shrewd. There are reasons, family reasons, why I do not wish
this loss published to the world. If you can undertake to recover the
jewels and keep this robbery out of the newspapers I would pay you
well."

"I will take the case. Now answer me a few questions. First, your name
and address."

"My name is Rose Mitchel, and I am living temporarily in a furnished
flat at ---- East Thirtieth Street. I have only recently come from New
Orleans, my home, and am looking for suitable apartments."

Mr. Barnes took out his note-book and made a memorandum of the address.

"Married or single?"

"Married; but my husband has been dead for several years."

"Now about these jewels. How did it happen that you were travelling with
so valuable a lot of jewelry?"

"I have not lost jewelry, but jewels. They are unset stones of rare
beauty--diamonds, rubies, pearls, and other precious stones. When my
husband died, he left a large fortune; but there were also large debts
which swallowed up everything save what was due him from one creditor.
This was an Italian nobleman--I need not mention his name--who died
almost at the same time as my husband. The executors communicated with
me, and our correspondence culminated in my accepting these jewels in
payment of the debt. I received them in Boston yesterday, and already I
have lost them. It is too cruel, too cruel." She gripped her hands
together convulsi