Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-04-01


"Well, you put it rather unflattering.
ly for yourself. But certainly we used
our brains against one another, and
won."
"Now, then, Mr.. Mitchell, we have
reached the point where I may make q
proposition to you. I have today been
called in to investigate one Of the most
singular cases that have fallen in my
way. It is one in which the usual de-
tective methods would be utterly value
less. The facts were presented to me,
and the solution Of the mystery could
only be reached by analytical deduo-
tion."
"That is to say, by using your
brains?"
Precisely. Now you have admitted
that you consider yourself more expert
in this direction than the ordinary de-
tective. wish to place you for once in
the position Of the detective, and then
see you prove your ability"
"Ah, comprehend You think that
avoiding detection. such as ] did in our
recent affair, is easier than actually fer
reting out criminal?"
II do. Therefore if you care to listen
I will tell you all that I know Of the
case to which I have alluded, and then
give You my solution Of it after you
have expressed your views. We can then
see which Of us is correct, or whether
we reach the same explanation.
MY dear Mr.. Barnes, you could not
come to me with more alluring pro-
posal Ny mind this morning is in a
peculiarly analytical pose, and am al.
ready impatient for you to begin. p"
ATTEND carefully, then, for in these
affairs the smallest details may have
the greatest value. Early this morning
I was summoned by a messenger to go
aboard Of the steam yacht Idler, which
Lay at anchor in the lower bay"
"Why, the Idler belongs to my friend,
Mortimer Gray" said Mr.. Mitchell
"Yes," replied Mr.. Barnes, 81 told
you that your friends are interested I
went Immediately with the man who
had come to my Office, and in due sea-
son I was aboard Of the yacht Mr..
Gray received me politely and took me
to his private room adjoining the cabin.
Here he explained to me that he had
been off on a cruise Of few weeks and
was approaching the harbor last night,
when, in accordance with his plans, q
sumptuous dinner was served, as sort
of farewell feast, the party expecting to
separate today"
"What guests were on the yachtp''
II will tell you everything in order
as the facts were presented to me. Mr..
Gray enumerated the party as follows:
Besides himself and his wife there were
his wife g sister, Mrs. Eugene Cortlandt,
and her husband, Wall street broker.
Also Mr.. Arthur Livingstone and his
sister, and a Mr.. bennett Moore, a
young man supposed to be devoting him
self to Miss Livingstone. "
"That makes seven persons, three Of
whom are women. I ought to say, MIR.
Barnes. that, though Mr.. Gray is club
friend. I am not personally acquainted
with his wife or with the othera So I
have no advantage over you.
II will come at once to the curious
incident which made my presence desir-
able. According to Mr.. Gray's story,
the dinner had progressed as far as the
roast, when suddenly there was slight
Ihock as the yacht touched, and at the
came moment the lamps spluttered and
then went out, leaving the room totally
dark A second later the vessel righted
herself and sped ON, 80 that before any
sort Of panic ensued 1t was evident to
all that the danger had passed The gen.
tlemen begged the ladies to remain seat
cd until the lamps were lighted, and
this the attendants undertook to do,
when they discovered that they had been
dislodged from the brackets which held
them and were 80 broken or bent that
they could not be used It became neo-
sssary, therefore, to get othera Thus the
room was totally dark for several min
utes."
During which time, presume, the
person who planned the affair readily
consummated his design?"
$50 you think that the whole series
Of events was prearranged? Be that as
it may, something did happen in that
dark room. The gentlemen had started
from their seats to assist in reighting
the lamps and then groped their way
back, some of them, however, finding
the wrong places, as was seen when the
fresh lamps were brought. This was con-
sidered good joke, and there was some
laughter, which was suddenly checked
BY an exclamation from Mr.. Gray, who
quickly asked his wife, Where is your
opal?'"
"Her opal?" asked MIR. Mitchell in
tones which showed that his greatest in
terest was now aroused. "Do you mean,
Mr.. Barnes, that she was wearing the
Aztec opal?"
"Ohl You knew the gem?'
II know nearly all jewels Of great
value, but what Of this one?'
"Mrs. Gray and her sister, Mrs. Cort-
landt, had both donned decollete Co.'S
tunes for this occasion, and Mrs. Gray
had worn this Aztec opal as pendant
to thin gold chain which hung around
her neck. At Mr.. Gray's question all
looked toward his wife, and it was noted
that the clasp was open and the opal
missing. Of course it was supposed that
it had merely fallen to the floor, and a
search was Immediately instituted, but
the opal could not be found" "
"That is certainly very significant
fact" said Mr.. Mitchell "But was the
'saarch thoronphf''