The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-04-27

my second objection is that L am
by no means sure that you can take
care of me as we'll as l can take care
Of myself. You might bungle. In
case of real dihiculty-I've one in
mind at this moment-you might
fail altogether.
Greatly, "said Mr.. Hayvers, "that
was an objection had not expected.
In the last ten years we have not
had one failure-not one. It's in all
our advertisements = Mr.. Roynal
never fails. Now, just let me have
that case you've got in your mind,
and if we do not succeed no charge
shall be made at all. just let us
show you what we can do.
Mr.. Morton walked up and down
his room meditating.
cts not fair on you, ne said.
"You couldn' do it. !"
"Try US. What we can't do in
that way could be written on three
penny bit.
At last Mr.. Morton was persuaded
to put his case: "This morning l
sent my clerk to my bank in Lcm-
bard street. In his absence l had
out on the table in my Office tray
containing 90 opals. One of these
was curious-of no particular size,
but of an even green color, looking
to the uninitiated almost like an
emerald. l happened to go into the
strong room for minute. Twas not
there more than a minute, ard /
heard no sound in this room to make
me suspicious. yet when | returned
the green opal was gone.
.sThe other 19 remained intact. OF
course you see what happened. The
thief, whoever he or she was, came
in from the street and into my
clerks Office, probably with some
pretext ready if the clerk had been
there and really intending to exam
inc the place with a view to bur-
glary. Finding the clerks room
empty, he peered into mine That
was empty also, and the opais wore
on the table. It was the work of a
moment to snatch that opal and get
out into the street again. | want
that opal back, but am perfectly
certain no one will ever get it for
me-"
SIS that your difficult casef" said
Mr.. Hayvers. smiling. "It is the
merest child's play. You may con-
sider the opal back in that tray
again. Let me, first of all, dispose
of your own theory. A thief who
was intending to burglarize your
place would not spoil his chances by
first committing a comparatively
trihing theft.
Sudden temptation" suggested
Morton.
"Then he would have taken 20
opals, not one. The fact that the
stone was not an ordinary opal
makes the case easy. The fact that
only just that particular opal was
taken shows that the thief was no
ordinary thief and makes the case
still easier. Don't you see that the
field of inquiry is narrowed downa'
81 hadn't thought of that" said
Morton rather more humbly.
Every natural. but in our profess
sion we have to think of such things,
and we do think of them. ("
II felt 80 sure that the case was
desperate" Morton owned, "that I
had quite decided not to apply to the
police"
WELL" said Mr.. Hayvers genial
ly, "they might have found it for
you. They're very painstaking. I'm
by no means one of those who sneer
at the police detectives. Of course
they cannot get the best talent.
That's bought up. Mr.. Roynal can
very we'll afford to outbid anybody
else for the best men. But to come
to business here Mr.. Hayvers pro-
duced his pocketbook-"let me take
down the particulars. )"
Morton had no note of the size and
weight of the opal. However, he
made rough sketch and gave Mr..
Hayvers the weight, approximately,
and minute description. He also
handed him piece of tinted glass to
guide him as to the color. "That
will do perfectly" said Hayvers.
II should know the stone now if /
saw it." He obtained also great
deal of information about the clerk.
Mr.. Hayvers seemed particularly Gu
rious about the clerk.
Now, then, said Hayvers, 1--WE
will begin with little precaution-
ary measure. A man will come from
us this afternoon, ostensibly to ex-
anime the electric lighting, in real
ity to make sure that tho stone is
not still in the Office. !"
Mr.. Morton objected. my clerk
knows something Of the electric
business. he will find out that your
mans a sham.