Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-03-20
Copyright, 1895, by g. P. Putnam's Sons.
CHAPTER XVII

The 1st of January arrived, and Mr..
Mitchell had heard nothing from Mr..
Barnes. Inquiry at his Office was met
by the simple statement that 1.-THE chfef
is out of town" When he would be
back or where communication would
reach him could not be learned. A few
days before, however, q formal engraved
invitation to the dinner party had been
mailed TO his home address. Mr..
Mitchell was annoyed at not having any
notification Of whether or not the detect
i've would be present. However, he was
compelled to 90 ahead and depend upon
the slight chance that at the last mo-
ment be would appear upon the scene
He hoped that this would occur, as 9th
erwise his scheme for the evening would
be incomplete.
The dinner was to be served at 10
O'Clock that night at Delmonico's,
where private roomhad been engaged
Il lacked ten minutes Of the hour for
sitting down, and all the guests had ar.
rived except Mr. Barnes. These were
Mr.. Van Rawlston, Mr.. Randolph, Mr.
Fisher. Mr.. Nsuilly. who had decided
20 spend the winter in New York; Mr..
Thauret, and several other gentlemen.
i. It lacked barely half 1ninuto Of 10
when Mr.. Barnes was announced and
entered in handsome evening dress. Mr.
Mitchel's face wolt a look OF triumph
as he saw him, and he hurried forward
to receive him. Every one present un-
Sierstood why the detective was invited,
for it was by this time we'll known that
b wager was to be decided at 10 O'Clock.
After the exchange of greetings Mr..
Mitchell gave the walters the order to
open the doors OF the dining room, and
in the moments interval managed to
get q word with the detective. 49,.
"Ten me quickly, have you succeed
ed?''
eyes, thoroughly"
"Goodl Write the mans name ON
card, and I will give you one upon
which I have written the name Of my
man."
Mr.. Barnes did so Then they ex-
changed cards, glanced at them and
grasped each others hands significantly.
The cards bore the same name With
the others they went into the dining
room. Mr.. Thauret found himself seat
ed next to Mr.. Barnes, while on the
other side of the detective sat Mr.. Fish
er.
It need scarcely be said that the din
ner was enjoyable and enjoyed, though
it must be admitted that all awaited
anxiously the hour Of 10. It will be as
we'll perhaps, therefore, to come imme-
diately to the denouement, for which
all were assembled. The last course had
been served, and coffee and nuts were
on the table, when the clock chimed the
hour for which all were anxious.
Promptly at the first stroke Mr.. Mitchell
arose. There was silence till 10 was
tolled, and then he began:
"Gentlemen, you have all kindly ac-
cepted my invitation to see me win
rash wager made IS months ago. It Is
odd perhaps that I should have won
for announce that have won-when
we remember that the time was Is
months, which number, as we all
know, superstitious persons are inclined
to connect with misfortune. To show,
however, that I do not harbor such
childish ideas, purposely made the
time of that length, and tonight at the
decisive moment we are 49," Here he
paused a moment. and one might have
noticed that several persons quickly
counted those present to test the fact.
Continuing, he said: "The superstition
in connection with IS at dinner is a
we'll defined one, and the supposition is
that one of the number will die within
the year. / offer as toast, therefore,
Long life 20 all present-who deserve
it," The last clause, after slight hesi-
tation, made decided effect. However,
the toast was drunk in silence.
"As some present may not entirely
understand what my wager was I must
explain that Is months ago tonight !
was in a Pullman sleeper with my
friend, Mr.. Randolph. Mr.. Barnes here
had just accomplished neat capture Of
the criminal Pettingill, who has since
been convicted. The papers were prais-
ing him, and Mr.. Randolph did SO to
me in glowing terms. ventured the
assertion that detectives run down their
prey largely because the criminal class
lack intelligence sufficient to compete
with their more skilled adversaries. /
offered to wager that I could commit a
crime within month and not be de-
tected within year thereafter. The
amount was to be $1,000 and was ac-
cepted by Mr.. Randolph. I stipulated
for conviction, though had I been ar
rested within the stated period and con-
victed afterward / should have consid-
cred that had lost the wager. That is
why I awaited the arrival Of Mr.. Barnes
so anxiously. had not seen him for
some time, and it was possible that at
the last moment he might be prepared
to arrest me upon evidence that would
later convict me. However, gentlemen,
have escaped both arrest and convic-
tion, yet I committed the crime as
wagered."
"You must prove that" said Mr..
Randolph, land, according to our agree
ment, it must have been crime which
was much talked about.
L f..s1 1.,& Vf,l.r m