Wichita eagle., 1886-09-28
aaila gaale
THE PROFESSOR.

the o'clock train. My mothers diamond
has been stolen. Don't bring detective
well try it ourselves first. Telegraph if you
can come. Yours in haste, H. CARGILL.
Ny friend Harold was waiting for me when
Ireachcd the little station about o'clock in
the evening, and Oh the drive home l learned
few more particulars The robbery had
taken place, as far as could be judged, either
during the night before last or on the preced-
ing day The house and the effects Of the
servants had been searched without avail,
and Harold had only waited my arrival be-
fore taking further steps. We TALKED the
matter over ct great length, both on our way
home and after dinner. That one of the ser
wants was guilty seemed to me quite evident,
but could convince neither of the others on
this point.
Mrs Cargill left us soon to our wine, and
continued my endeavors without avail to
prove to Harold that strict measures should
at once be taken with all the servants. He
contcnded that a thorough search had already
been made.
.,iy dear fellow" said at length, 'you
should have allowed me to usc my discretion
in he matter, and l would have brought you
down French detective or two"
Sand what would your detectives have
done! Made up a nice story, duplicating one
or all of the servants, and probably the gar
dener as an outdoor agent, but not found the
diamond Now where is the use Of investisa-
tions unless we recover the diamondw
A happy thought struck me as he spoke.
IF your object Harold, is entirely the recov
cry Of the diamond, and not the punishment
of the thief, have suggestion to make, and
it may be, after all, that if we discover the
stone first we may learn moro afterward Let
us have down this great mesmerist and
thought-reader, who is making such small
commotion just now. Wen tax him Gf he'll
come to conduct US TO the stone. 1t is prob
ably still in the house; tho robbery was dis
covered SO very quickly that even with an
outside agency in the person of the gardener,
whom grant you don't like, it is unlikely
this stone can have got SO far as the village
yet"
On this suggestion (,nade half in jest, half
in earnesD we eventually decided TO act. The
robbery had been discovered tho morning be-
fore, and the servants had since then been
pretty closely watched, so that, after a fur
thcr talk, which, it is needless to say, went
over and over the same ground at least score
of times, each of us attempting to prove 10
himself and to the other that detective work
was what Providence had severally meant us
for, wo camo to the determination that We
would ask the great thouZhtreader, Profes-
sor Landley, to come to our assistance.
The greatest secrecy, OF course, was neces-
sary. Not even Mrs. Cargill should know at
first who our visitor really was, for our only
hope of success lay in the chance that il one
OF tho servants was the thief tho stone might
bc still hidden in tho house, or perhaps buried
in tho ground outside, till it could with
greater safety be removed when the matter
had had time to be partly forgotten
went to town early next morning, and
called at once upon the learned professor. He
was aout, !" but was to le in again very soon.
. strolleu about the neighborhood some time
so as not to miss him, having shrewd sus-
picion that he had not yet made his appear
ance at breakfast. Sure enough found HIM
at q little before noon eating in lanSuld
manner the remains of fowl that had done
duty before and drinking small beer. Know
ing little of professional men, however,
recognized tho exigencies OF the case, and,
after the usual civilitieS, explained the reason
of nv call. He was a tall man, rather thin,
with weak eyes, but sufficiently gentlemanly
to pass muster, both in dress and manner.
Rather to rly surprise he readily agreed to
accompany me and postpone for few days
tho Driyate engagements which he had on
hand at the time; but III the course OF our
ioprnev down Gor we returned that night
the reason of his compliance came out. lie
wished to include the robbery in his adver-
tisenaents. and all that could say to the CON
trary would not convince him that ny friend
would scarcely care for his name to be mixed
up in the matter. After considerable DIS
cussion we thought it best to inform Mrs.
Cargill later in the evening WHO and what
our visitor really was
The professor explained 10 us that, as Mrs.
Cargili knew the diamond and had worn it
so long, she was the one who, with her hand
in his, could best communicate to him where
to lead her "If," said he, 1.-The day is clear
and bright, l shall lead you tomorrow to the
spot, Mrs. Cargill, provided you have sufii-
cient strength OF mind to keep your ideas
fixed entirely upon the stone. You must keep
it viyidly before your minds eye, and shaI
lead YOU to it, if il is in the house CT
grounds"
Nothing had occurred in the household since
my departure in the morning and the robber
lwhoeyer lie was must now, we judged, be
beginning to feel somewhat easier in mind :;
80 in case OF his deeming it necessary to alter
the probable hiding place Of the stone, we
teter;ained upon immediate action, deciding
% commence next morning at daybreall, be-
fore the world would be properly awake. The
professor did not much appreciate the idea OF
such an early start, but we succeeded in over
coming his scruples, and it was arranged be-
fore we parted for bed that we should all
meet in the dining room at 3 o'clock next
morning.
Mrs. Cargill was down before me, and
Harold shortly after. OF course, VIC were all
before the time, and to wait in dumb silence
(even with the prospect of most interesting
experiment. for twenty minutes in the cold
dawn was anything but lively. At length
the professor appeared, looking. We wert
glad to see, equal to his business. We had
left tho front door ajar in case Of need, as i
was our impression $50 thorough search
having already been made inside, that thu
object Of our quest must be wl.LoGt th'
house. 1t was rather eerie Work for Us all
except the professor, who was equal TO tn
occasion and seemed to scent the battle, so t.
speak, in the shape of some far-of diamond
which he had never seen.
AT 3:l2. then, Mrs. Cargill took the pro
fessor's hand, he having been prcviousl.
blirdfolded-"Not," he said, that such I
thing was necessary, but it calmed his powe
of thought 10 some extenN Harold and
retired a few steps, and the silence for sev
eral minutes was deathlike At Last the pro
fessor made step, another, and then to u
onlookers it seemed as if certainty had re
placed doubt. He went straight to the door
Mrs Cargill following and we, toe, ,discreetly)
down the avenue to the first turning, an
then bang against the fence in a most dis
turbing manner This little incident scenes
to have upset his train of thought, and it wa
some minutes before be seemed to grasp tn