Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-07-22
THE TEST CASE.

Nueh We lhhe up siHbit ulnCult
case for member Of the aristocracy
our terms are very high. When we
work regularly for man of business
much OF the work being the merest
routine-our charges are very moder-
ate, exceptionally moderate.
"My second objection is that am
by no means sure that you can take
care of me as well as / can take care
of myself. You might bungle. In a
case Of real difllculty--I've one on my
mind at this moment-you might fail
altogether"
"Really," said Mr.. Hayvers, "that
was an objection l 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 II
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.
ITS not fair on you," he said;
you couldn't do it,"
"Try us. What we can't do in that
way could be written on a threepenny
bit"
At last Mr.. Morton was persuaded
to put his case; "This morning I sent
my clerk to my bank in Lombard
street. In his absence 1 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. l was not there more than a
minute, and 1 heard no sound in this
room to make me suspicious, yet when
I returned the green opal was gone.
"The other - 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
II the clerk had been there and really
intending TO examine the place with a
view to burglary. Finding the clerks
room empty he peeredinto mine. That
was empty. and the opals were on the
table. II was the work OF 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 II for me-"
us that your difficult case?" said
Mr.. Hayvers, smiling. at 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
q comparatively triaing 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
ust 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
rather humbly.
Every natural. But in our profess
ZION we have to think Of such things,
md we do think OF them"
81 felt so sure that the case was des-
,erate," Morton owned, "that I had
lutte decided not to apply to the po-
ice."
"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 sneer at the
,olice detectives. OF course, they
annot get the best talent--thats
,ought up. Mr.. Roynal can very
veil afford to outbid anybody else for
he best men. But TO come to bust |
less"-here Mr.. Hayvers produced
lis pocketbook--"le. me take down
he particulars"
Morton had no note OF the size and
weight Of the opal. However, lie
made a rough sketch and gave Mr..
lawyers the weight approximately
nd a minute descriptions; he also
landed him piece OF tinted glass to
,uide him as TO the color. "That will
10 perfectly, said Hayvers. 81 should
now the stone now il I saw it," He
btained also great deal Of informa.
ion about the clerk; Mr.. Hayvers
eemed particularly curious about the
Jerk.
"Now, them" said Hayvers, I'VE
,ill begin with a little precautionary
ieasure. A man will come from us
his afternoon. ostensibly to examine
he electric lighting, in reality to make
ure that the stone is not still in the
tiice."
Mr.. Morton objected. "My clerk
nows something Of the electric bust.
sss; he will fini on. that your mans
sham"