Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-02-26
nm ARTIST IN CRIME,
BY RoDRIGUEs oTToLENGUI.
Author f"A Conflict Of Evidence,''
Copyright, 1895, by G. P. Putnam's Sons.
CHAPTER K.
ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES

After reading the foregoing MIR.
Barnes carefully locked his diary in his
cabinet and Immediately after left the
house on his way to New York. Reach.
ing there, he proceeded up town, finally
ringing the doorbell Of the Van Rawl-
ston mansion. he requested to see the
master of the house upon urgent bust
ness, and that gentleman soon presented
himself.
"Mr. Van Rawlston," said Mr..
Barnes, II am detective. May have
a few moments Of strictly private con-
versation with you?''
Certainly, was the reply. "Step
into my study. We will be entirely safe
from prying ears there" A moment
later the two men were seated in COM
Portable leather chairs facing each other.
"Mr. Van Rawlston," began the de-
tective, ''to explain my purpose at once
! have only to say that ]. desire your
permission to attend the masquerade
which will be held here tonight. I am
aware that this must seem an odd re
quest, but I make it entirely in your
own interests +"
eff You will explain more fully, sir,
mIy be quite willing to grant your re-
quest" said the other.
"You should know that masquerade
is dangerous kind of entertainment
At such affairs large robberies have often
been committed-the thieves operating
boldly and escaping through the aid of
their disguises. I have good reason for
believing that such crime is contem-
plated tonight.
my dear sir, impossiblel Why, no
one will be admitted save those with
whom we are well acquainted. Tickets
have been issued by the society which
gives the festival, and every one must
unmask before being allowed to enter.
Therefore, while am grateful to you
for your warning, I hardly think that /
need your services. "
''Mr. Van Rawlston, ! regret to'say
that you are mistaken. In the first place
your close scrutiny Of all who enter will
probably be relaxed as the night wears
ON. Again, there are ways of getting in
unperceived, and once within the thief
would be unsuspected. But this is no
guesswork on my part. do not think,
I know, that unless am here to prevent
it robbery will be committed. Indeed
I may even fail to prevent it. ="
"Why, sir, you speak as though you
know the person who is to play the Grim
inal."
II do. For several weeks my men
have been watching certain suspicious
parties. From data furnished by my
spies am sure that plans have been
perfected by which one or more of your
guests will be robbed during the prog
ress Of the entertainment.
"Still it seems incredible. As have
said. no one will be able to enter with.
out our knowledge"
"Of course cannot intrude upon you,
Mr.. Van Rawlston, but if you are
obliged to appeal to the police tomorrow
for the recovery Of stolen property you
alone will be to blame if the thief shall
have had several hours the start Of us.
have warned you. That is the best can
do wish you good morning" Mr..
Barnes rose to go, but MIR. Van Rawl.
ston stopped him.
Zone moment" said he. "If you are
so sure that there is scheme Of robbery
afoot, of course I must not be so rash az
to refuse your aid. What do You advise?
We could postpone the festival.
"By no means. The course to pursue
is to keep what I have told you strictly
secret-in fact, if possible, dismiss it
entirely from your mind, so that by
your behavior the thief may not know
that suspicious have been aroused. Dc
as I requested at first, and as I know
my man I will be able to keep an eye
upon him should he be present.
II suppose it must be as you say. But
you must be in costume. l have it'll The
committee have ordered some costumes
which they will give to those who come
unprovided. You may have one of
those.
"What costume shall I ask for?'
"Oh, they are all alike They are the
Forty Thieves"
"The Forty Thieves?" Mr.. Barnes
was surprised. "Is not that an odd cos
tume?'
"Oh, mol 1t was Mr.. Mitchel's idea
he is the chairman of the committee.
He argued that rather than provide a
lot of meaningless dominos the strag
glers, who will be chiefly invited guests
who are not members of the society.
may be thus garbed and still fall into
the scheme Of the evening, which
is that every one shall play the part
of some character Of the Arabian
Nights. "
every we'll. Mr.. Van Rawlston, fol
once the detective will don the garb of a
thief. After all, you know the adage.
1t takes thief to catch thief. -
Every good, Mr.. Barnes-I believe
that is the name on our card? Yes.
Well, come tonight early, and you shall
be fitted out. Later, if you should wish
to speak to me, l shall be dressed as the
sultan, character about as foreign to
my true self as yours will be to you. "
Mr.. Barnes left the house thoroughly
satisfied with the result of his visit In
L L L.