n from the
carpet whilst fresh, and also from the dog's mouth.' That is what he
told his friend he would do if bitten whilst committing a crime. In this
instance the 'stain on the carpet' was too much for him, but he washed
it from himself. Can it be that a man lives who, contemplating a deed of
this character, would make a wager that he would not be detected. Bah.
It is impossible." Thus thought Mr. Barnes as he studied the evidence
before him. He next turned to the woman's clothing which lay on a chair.
He rummaged through the pocket, but found nothing. In handling the
petticoat he noticed that a piece had been cut from the band. Examining
the other garments he soon saw that the same had been done to them all.
Like a flash an idea struck him. Going over to the bed he searched for
some mark on the garments which were on the corpse. He could find none
until he lifted the body up and turned it over, when he found that a
piece had been cut from the night-dress.

"That accounts for the blood by the door," thought Mr. Barnes. "He took
her out of the bed to get her nearer to the light, so that he could
find the initials marked on the clothing. Whilst she lay by the door the
blood flowed and accumulated. Then he put her back in bed so that he
would not need to step over her in walking about the room. What a
calculating villain. There is one significant fact here. Her name cannot
have been Rose Mitchel, or there would have been no reason for
destroying these marks, since she had given that name to several."

Mr. Barnes next brushed the charred ashes from the grate upon a
newspaper, and carried them to the window in the front room. His
examination satisfied him of two things; the murderer had burned the
bits of cloth cut from the various garments, and also a number of
letters. That the fellow was studiously careful was plain from the fact
that the burning had been thoroughly done; nothing had escaped the flame
save two buttons with a bit of cloth attached, and various corners of
envelopes. With disgust Mr. Barnes threw the ashes back where he had
found them.

Next he paid his attention to the cabinet desk which stood open. He
pulled out all the drawers, and peered into every nook and cranny, but
his search was fruitless. He found nothing but blank paper and
envelopes, and these of common kind.

Once more returning to the room where the corpse lay, he noticed a trunk
from which protruded a part of a garment. Raising the lid