Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-04-24
CHAPTER I.
THE NARRATIVE OF JOHN R. BROWN


am a quiet, middle aged gentleman
who has been jeweler in Maiden lane,
New York, for rising 80 years. I may
be permitted to say that have family
Of whom I am fond, and that my oir-
cumstances are satisfactory. Understand
at the beginning of this story that I am
not the hero, and have only set out to
relate the occurrences that came to my
knowledge, and in which, from the trend
of circumstances, was compelled to act
leading part.
A certain October day, few years
ago, was one Of the most dismal ever
experienced. The downfall of rain was
constant for two days, and when night
closed in the steady drizzle continued.
We had not seen a customer since the
forenoon, and allowed my two clerks
to go home early. There was nothing
for them to do after placing the stock
within the massive safe, and was in
that state Of unrest when was glad to
be freed from seeing their faces
I would have left the store at the
same time but for a call from my old
friend, Carl Wittner, the detective,
who, with the remark that he knew I
would be lonely, walked behind the
counter and back into my private Office,
where I joined him and we lit our ci-
gars.
was glad to see him. Wittner was
an officer of exceptional skill, bright,
intelligent, we'll educated, and I am sure
thoroughly honest. We had been friends
for years, and he knew that he need
never wait for an invitation to visit me.
He was always welcome.
The genuine detective is not man
to tell his secrets or boast of his ex-
ploits, as members of the profession do
in fiction. Nevertheless I am satisfied
that Wittner let me know more Of his
doings than any other person. Hesome-
times appealed to me for counsel in GER
tain matters, but inasmuch as, so far as
I could learn, he generally took an op-
posite course from what I recommended
(and raust confess with good results,
as a ru:e) suspect that he had little
purpose except to compliment me.
We had talked 15 minutes or so upon
nothing 10 particular when the door of
the store opened and a man entered.
"Is it possible that I have custom
err" l remarked, rising and walking for
ward to greet the caller.
was struck by his appearance BE
was tall, elegantly formed and dressed
and evidently foreigner. He set down
his dripping umbrella in the stand, and
then, as he turned, gained a good view
of him.
His hair, eyes, mustache and imperial
were as black as the raven g wing. His
teeth were glistening white and his
complexion as swarthy as Spaniard's,
though was sure he was not native
of Europe. His gloves, silk hat and at
tire were of fashionable make, and dia-
mond of the first water glistened on his
scarf.
Years before I had spent several
weeks in Calcutta, and prompted by
curious whim said:
"Rajah sahib salaam. Ap ka mizay
kaisa hal?''
These words arc Hindoostanee and
mean: "Peace to you, honorable sir.
How is your temper today"
The black eyes flashed, the white
teeth showed behind the jetty mustache,
and he instantly broke forth with lot
of words which I could no more under
stand, except that they were in the
same language employed by me, than 1
could speak Choctaw.
II picked up only few sentences