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

conversation, while smith drank
whisky and coda at the strangers
expense. In q burst OF confidence
the stranger owned that he was a
collector of precious stones, had Just
bought a couple and would like
Smith to locs at them Smith ;ouh-
ed and said Good nighti" and in
continently went up the great
wheel.
On the following day, while Smith
was at Morton's Office, q fair haired
stranger called at Smiths lodgings
to correct the gas meter. "'E did
a deal of pokin about" said Che
landlady. "Ahi" said Smith.
Then O. week elapsed, during which
the workings of Mr. Roynal's agents
were wrapped in darkness. At the
end Of that time Mr.. Hayvers called
for a list of Morton's customers, Ia
dies especially, who wore i'll the
habit Of buying opais.
"You have a clew9" asked Nor
ton.
I'VE r drawing the nets closer.
Patience for q day or two" And
MIR. Hayvers, who seemed very busy.
left hurriedly.
MIR. Morton exercised patience for
a day or two. A month passed with
out any news of the green opal.
Ones patience cannot last forever.
and Morton wrote a short, sharp let
ter to Roynal, ordering him to re-
linquish the case, saying that he
would hand it on to the police and
greatly regretting TINT he had not
done 30 at first. The letter prompt
ly produced an apologize reply. The
case had suddenly developed fea-
lures Of exceptional difficulty, but
Mr.. Roynal was now giving it his
personal attention, and il had so far
progressed that a satisfactory ter
mination could be guaranteed in "a
| hours.
Early ON the following morning
Morton received a telegram: Opal
recovered. Please call at your con.
%venience. Roynal." Morton found
it oonvenient to call at once and was
shown into Roynal's private room.
Your case was the most difficult
/ have had to deal with for three
years." said MI. Koynal, Though
the difficulty did not lie in the direc-
ton you imagined. You cannot
prosecute, and l will not give you
the name of the thief. But you
wanted your opal, and here it u.s."
IF you don't tell me how you got
it, / don't see how I'm to be quito
sure it's mine"
1T answers your description, and
but wait a minute" Roynal wrote
hastily on 81 sheet cf note papsr and
handed it to Morton. There is my
Guarantee that il your legal claim
to that stone is disputed l will pay
you ESQ. Is that satisfactory"
Morton put the opal in his waist.
coat pocket with the guarantee.
1T is very kind of you," he eaid.
II have had your bill made out"
Roynal went on, land I have also
had it receipted. 1 take this as a
test ase and make no charge"
1T is indeed good OF you," said
Morton.
"All l ashland expects that
you will employ US regularly in the
future"
And then over Morton's fat and
usually solemn face there came ali
unholy grin.
ii shall never employ you again,
Mr.. Roynal, because you have fail
ed in this case. The story which ]
told your Mr. Hayvers was a fabri-
cation from beginning to end.
have never had an opal stolen. The
whole thing was al effort Of the
imagination. a test for you. and you
have failed"
II could never have believed
said MIR. Roynal warmly, THAT you
could have acted in such bad faith"
Mr.. Roynal, of what use to mo
would a private detective be who
failed to suspect where suspicion
was justified7 And what am I to
think of q private detective who I'M !
dertakes to find a certain stone, fails
and procures a substitute which he
attempts to palm off on his clients
1t must have cost you much time
and money to find an opal exactly
answering to that descripti
You will return that stone at
once," Mr.. Roynal said sharply.
Il think not. Ihave your guar
eHssee & my pocket. Goud morning,
Mr. Royna!." Boston Guardian
and Lincolnshire (England) Indo-
pendent.
ComSoFsing..
Me- C,,IIo~ A. ;.Ax..