Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-12-21

Miss Lyme, percelvlng that Alice was VeHea
with me, and wishing, think, to show that
she did not share the feeling, called me over
to look at some prints and photographs which
she was examining.
s.Alice," said Miss Lyme, at length, ''did
You show Mr.. Lestrange the sketch you found
in that book 20
''No," said Alice "F forgot it. You will
find it in that volume of the "Stones of Ven
ice" on my table, Richard. 1t really beau
tiful sketch. wonder how it came to be for
gotten in the book.''
brought the book to Dora Lyme, who turn
ed over the leaves until she found the drawing,
which she put into my hands. The moment
saw it uttered an exclamation of surprise,
which brought my cousin at once to my side.
1t was spirited water-colored sketch of
mans head-a dark, foreign-looking face sur
mounted by a red cap. 1t was, however, neltll-
er the skill of the artist nor the picturesque
beauty of the model that attracted my atten-
tion {; it was in the fact that in the somewhat
peculiar features of the latter l recognized
those of my client, Luigi Bernini.
'sWhat an odd coincidence ~ said Alice,
when had explained. 81 wonder who could
have taken the sketch-some one who knows
how to handle brush," she added, looking
critically at it. "See, here are initials and a
date, but they are so faint that cannot make
them out"
s'Let me try" said Dora II have good
sight" She took the sketch over to the lamp
and scrutinized it closely. "W. NJ. D., but |
cannot make out the date. Stay, 1 have it.
May 10th, 1S-
''May 10-why, that was the very day of the
robbery" said Then the full significance
of this date flashed suddenly upon me and !
absolutely turned giddy. "Tle alibi ~ |
gasped-''If we could find the man who did
that sketch, we might succeed in proving the
alibi'' Dora Lyme grasped my meaning with
ready Quickness.
!"Morrison's library that book came from,
was it not, Alice They ought to be able to
tell you there who had it on, or Immediately
after, the 10th of May. -,
And the person, whoever she or ne IS, VIII
have to be hunted up,'' I said, ''and there's
so little time. This is Monday and the trial is
fixed for Wednesday,. l suppose Morrlson's IS
closed by this, Alice 20
"Indeed it is,'' she answered. "You would
find no one there now but a caretaker You
must just wait patiently until tomorrow,
Richard.''
had perforce to wait as to the patience
with which | did so, the less said the better.
The following morning found me at Nor
rson's library. On explaining my business,
I was referred to the clerk in charge of the
library department, from whom l totally fail
ed to obtain the required information. The
young man who usually attended to that part
of the business was away; could call next
week."
intimated with what appeared to me, at
the time, most praiSewOrthy self-control, that
next week would not do, giving partial expla-
although apparently willing to help me, pro-
foccn6 him cn1f nuitp IOob1p tn do so
"You see, sir" he said, ''if you wanted to
know what book any subscriber had out at a
given time could probably tell you, but as
for ascertaining the whereabouts of special
book-it's all impossibiity. If you like to
look over our entries for yourself, you are
welcome to do So"
Iaccepted this offer, and spent good part
of the day in turning over the blotted pages
wherein were inscribed the names and course
of reading of Morrison's. And an unprotita-
ble mornings work it was. The record in all
appearances imperfectly kept, and failed to
trace the second volume of the "StOnes of
Venice' through period longer than three
weeks, during which time it had twice changed
hands.
Some hours more were spent in hunting up
the persons in whose possession it had been
for that length of time, neither of whom could
give any information concerning the sketch.
An application to Bernin himself was equally
fruitless. He remembered that lady and
gentleman whom he had met during his wan
derings had asked him to sit to them, but he
did not know who they were, nor could he
even make it clear where the incident had
occurred
I returned home at dinner-time, tired and
bafied, to report my failure to Alice and her
husband, from whom | received much SYM
mn Inv lltp pCt Df q
had given up hope, and was endeavoring to
dismiss the subject from my thoughts, when
late in the eveing the hall door-bell sounded
and a message came up that a person wanted
to speak to Mr.. Lestrange. Going down L
found bright-looking boy, one of the shop
assistants at Mr.. Morrison's, who had been
for short time aiding in my investigation of
the entries.
- think have what you want, sir, " he said,
as l entered the room. ut was in my mind
all that day that had given out the book to
some one, couldn't think who, and chance
word that heard this evening brought it all
back to me Ikea flash. twas to Mrs. French,
of Redcourt, that gave it, and it must have
been on the Bird or 4th of May. Here is the
lady's name and address, sir;' and he handed
me slip of paper on which was written Mrs.
French, Redcourt, Kicarran.' 1t was in Kill
carran or the neighborhood that, according to
Bernini's own statement, he had spent the
day of the robbery.
Thanking and dismissing the lad, return
ed to the drawing-roOm with my prize. The
next step was to communicate with Mrs.
French. Kilcarran was fully fifteen miles
from Carrigarvan, and the trial was to begin
the following morning.
'Hand me over that railway guide. DICK, y
said Alice's husband. 81 thought SOHO train
hof fa, for
! to drive to kilcarran the first thing in the
morning-the mare can easily do it in two
hours-and if find that any one there can
give evidence worth having, III bring them
back with me, and have them in court before
the case for the defense opens"
The trial began next morning, proceeding at
an unusually rapid rate. 1t seemed to me
| that the learned counsel for the prosecution
| had never before put forth his wisdom and
| legal knowledge in 80 condensed aform. The
/ cross-eXamination of the witnesses was OF
course in my hands, and did my best to make
it as tedious as possible, totally failing, how
er, in my attempts to confuse them or cause
them to contradict themselves. My only hope
! lay in the unknown witness, and of him there
were no tidings. The case for the prosecu
tion closed and the court adjourned for lunch
| | was standing in the barrOom, thinking ovel
my speech for the defense, and mentally rear
ranging nv sentences after the manner of the
! most prosy member of the circuit, when note
was handed to me ''All right--the witness
is in the sheriff's room."
! Going into the sheriff's room l found my
cousin, accompanied by a strange lady and
gentleman.
This is the prisoners COUNSEL" said the
former, as | entered. "Allow me to introduce
Mr.. Lestrange-Miss Darcy, Mr.. French