The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-07-30
THE TEST CASE.

mind at this moment-you might fail
altogether"
Really" said Mr.. Hayvers, "that
was an objection I 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," he said;
'you couldn't do it,"
"Try us. What we can't do in that
way could be written OF threepenny
bit"
At last Mr.. Morton was persuaded
to put his case: "This morning l sent
my clerk to my bank in Lombard
street. In his absence I had out on
the table in my Office tray containing
20 opals. One of these was curious
of no particular size, but of an even
green color, looking to the uninitiated
almost like an emerald. | happened
to go into the strong room for min
ute. I was not there more than
minute, and I heard no sound in this
room to make me suspicious, yet when
l returned the green opal was gone.
"The other 10 remained intact. Of
course you see what happened. The
thief, whoever he or she was came in
from the street and into my clerks Of
flee, probably with some pretext ready
if the clerk had been there and really
intending to examine the place with o
view to burglary. Finding the clerks
room empty he peeredin mine. That
was empty, and the opals were on the
table. 1t was the work of moment
to snatch that opal and get out into
| the street again. I want that opal
back-but I am perfectly certain no
one will ever get it for me-"
SIS that your difficult case?" said
Mr.. Hayvers, smiling. ut is the
merest child's play. You may con-
slider 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 trifing 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 DOWN."
81 hadn't thought Of that" said
Morton, rather humbly.
every natural. But in our profess
sion we have to think of such things,
and we do think of them"
81 felt so sure that the case was des-
perate," Morton owned, "that 1 had
quite decided not to apply to the po-
lice"
"Well," said Mr.. Hayvers, genially,
''they might have found it for you.
They're very painstaking I'm by no
means one of those who sheer 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. Butte come to bust
ness"-here Mr.. Hayvers produced
his pocketbook--'let me take down
the particulars. %
Morton had no note of the size and
weight of the opal. However, he
made a rough sketch and gave Mr..
Hayvers the weight approximately
and a minute description; he also
handed him piece of tinted glass to
guide him as to the color. "That will
do perfectly, said Hayvers. 81 should
know the stone now if I saw it," He
obtained also great deal of informa-
ton about the clerk; Mr.. Hayvers
seemed particularly curious about the
clerk.
CHOW, then," said Hayvers, "we
will begin with little precautionary
measure. A man will come from us
this afternoon, ostensibly to examine
the electric lighting, in reality to make
sure that the stone is not still in the
office"
Mr.. Morton objected. "My clerk
knows something Of the electric bust
ness; he will find out that your mans
SHAM"
"But our man won't be sham. He
will really be practical electrician.
We have assistants in all trades and
all ranks OF life. / may tell you, Mr..
Morton, confdentially, that we have
two duchesses in our pay at this mo-
ment."
When Mr.. Hayvers had gone, Nor
ton touched his bell, and his clerk,
II MI