Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-03-04
AN ARTIST IN CRIME
BY RoDRIGUEs oTToLENGUI.


"ASA
Fisher played with me. They may have
concluded that I am card sharper l
wish to dispel that idea"
Naturally. But now tell me about
Fisher. What has this to do with himi"
GAS you know, I did not design to
attend the festival You went to Phila-
delphia, were taken i'll and sent me q
letter asking me to take your place and
wear your dress, which I was to obtain
by presenting your note to the costumer.
I did this. fully intending to carry out
your wishes.
"Tben how was it that Fisher wore
my costume?"
81 was coming to that. Just before
leaving for the affair who should call
here but the costumer, who informed
me that man had been to his place and
had catechised him about me, explain
ing that he was q detective hunting
down a celebrated criminal. BE showed
the fellow your note. Afterward he re-
gretted having done so and came to
notify me, as he expressed it, so that !
might not get into any trouble. saw
at once that this meant that Barnes
would be at the festival. or at any rate
one of his man. "
"You were right in that He was
there"
eyes, but was not sure Of it til!
after the robbery, when all unmasked.
He wore one of the Forty Thieves dom.
mos, and failed to see through the dis.
guise. With the knowledge thus obtain.
ed determined to have some amuse
ment at the expense Of the great detect
i've, and decided to wear one Of the
dominos instead of your dress. 1t was
essential, however, that some one should
| impersonate Ali Baba in order that the
tableaus might not be interrupted.
Fisher was the only man I could ask tc
assume the role. He acquiesced, anc
that is all there was to that. have not
taken him up again, assure you.
every good. That is satisfactory. You
must pardon my questioning; but, after
all, I did not understand and had a
right to do So Tell me, were you near
when the robbery occurred? Did you see
it done?'
81 must have been near, but did not
see it. was awaiting to kiss the hand
of the Scheherezade when Mr.. Barnes sud-
denly cried out that robbery had been
committed and ordered masks off. l
slipped out of my domino and went to
him as soon as the lights were on. !"
"You might have suggested to him tc
search everybody, as he did on the
train.
"By George, that is just what I did,
but be declined. 1 guess that train ex-
perience made him dubious as to the
value of that sort Of thing"
At this both men laughed heartily, az
though enjoying the discontinue Of the
detective.
"It seems" said Mr.. Mitchell, "that
Barnes suspected that the ruby was to
be stolen and Informed Mr.. Rawlston
early in the evening that there would
be thieves in the audience.
"Did he indeed? Too bad that, with
all his shrewdness, he was not able to
catch the thief or thieves rather, eh?"
Once more they both laughed. Then
Mr.. Mitchell suggested that they should
90 to the club, and thither they went.
Upon entering the doorkepeer informed
Mr.. Mitchell that Mr.. Randolph was in
the parlor and desired to see him. He
and Mr.. Thauret therefore went into the
great reception room. Mr.. Randolph
arose as they appeared.
"Good evening, Randolph" said Mr..
Mitchell. "You wish to see me?"
"Oh, nothing special. came in to
dine here and told the doorman to send
you to me in case you should turn up.
wanted company, that is ALL "
"Don't like to eat alone, eh?"
"That is it. Eating is nuisance,
made tolerable only by good companion
ship. Mr.. Thauret, shall I have place
set for you also?"
eff you desire, Ishall be most happy, /"
said Mr. Thauret.
every WE'LL" said Mr.. Randolph. 81
will attend to it. I have some letters to
write now, if you will excuse me. Meet
me promptly at in the private dining
room.
Mr.. Randolph left the apartment and
went to the floor above. Here he joined
Mr.. Barnes, who was awaiting him.
"Well," said the detective, "can you
manage it?''
Everything is arranged. Mitchell is
here, and he has brought Thauret with
him. don't understand the intimacy
that has sprung up between those two,
but that is not to the point. They will
dine with me in our private dining
room. I shall arrange that our meal
shall be served at table Immediately
next to the large portiere that separates
the private dining room from the main
saloon. shall also order a dinner for
you at table just on the other side Of
the curtain. If you have good ears, you
should hear all that passes with little
difficulty"
"I am satisfied with your arrange
ment and shall undoubtedly be able to
hear at least the greater part of what
occurs.
Every we'll. Now go to the library,
and at the farther end, hidden behind a
newspaper file, you will be safe from
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