Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-06-28
Copyright, 1899, by the Author.

"There he is over there-the man
with spectacles and gray hair.
"Who is he?'
Professor Gilman. the famous as
tronomer; also famous detective. He's
worked up several cases that profession
al detectives had given up. Didn't you
ever hear of him2"
mo, don't think so."
"Well, that's funny. But you will
hear about him if he stays here long.
He's one of the fellows that other people
talk about. w
This conversation, uttered in low
tones, passed between two young men
medical students of Rusk college-in
the dining room of Mrs. Boars boarding
house in Somerset street.
At the table with the professor sal
two women. mother and daughter
They were friends of Professor Gilman,
and it was through them that he had
come to Mrs Boal's s to board during his
stay in the city. He found 1t cheaper
than staying at a hotel and likewise
more agreeable
II expect to be here about six weeks,
Mrs. Maxwell. the professor was say
ing in answer to question from the
elder lady. II had hoped to finish my
work here inside month, but Professor
Loomis tells me it cannot be accomplish
ed in that time. So you will have to en-
dure me six weeks longer, probably.
And one of the professor characteristic
wintry smiles fitted across his face and
was gone.
"I'm sure we shall be delighted to
have you here 80 long-the longer the
better" said the younger woman, a
bright looking girl Of 30. II want to
ask you lots of questions about astron-
omy-nebula, double stars, sun spots
and all those things 1t must be awful
ly fascinating to know all about the
universe. One likes to know about his
next door neighbors. but to know all
about neighbor billions and billions of
miles away must be great deal nicer. y
Again the professor smiled. and this
time the smile was not quite 80 wintry.
There was look on the girls face
sometimes that reminded him Of a girl
he had known 80 years ago.
II shall be very glad, Miss Josephine,
to answer your questions l can,
he said ''There are few stray facts
in odd corners of the universe that
thus far have escaped me. l don't quite
know it all, but what l do know shall
be at your service" The professor felt
quite gallant when he said this and al
most young once more.
81 want you to tell me, too, how you
ever solve those deep mysteries. We've
heard so much about your abilities as a
detective. There was gentleman here
from New York one time who got to
talking about you, and he said that one
of the police inspectors there told him
there wasn't detective in the service
who could equal you.
"You mustn't tell Professor Gilman
such things. 1t will make him vain. y
said the older woman.
"No," said the professor, lit doesn' t
make me vain to hear about my abill-
ties as q detective. I'm not proud of
them. In fact, while there's really no
reason why I should I always feel a
little ashamed when am referred to
as detective.
"You see, it all started from that un-
fortunate affair at the university, when
one of the attendants at the observatory
was killed under suspicious circum-
stances. An ingenious detective reasoned
out theory involving falling meteor
ite as the instrument that caused the
mans death. and I. reasoning a little
beyond him, bit upon the true theory,
showing that the man was murdered
after all, though not at all In the man
ner the police authorities had conJec-
tured
"My work on the case got noised
abroad in police and detective circles,
and soon after, and again for personal
reasons, was induced to undertake the
solution of another mans mysterious
death. was fortunate enough in this
case to build up theory that seemed
to fit the circumstances and dissipate
its mysterious aspects. Then l engaged
myself in one or two other cases out Of
mere love of solving perplexing prob
lems Out of all this, quite without
generalization on my part and, in fact,
rather to my distaste, grew up consid-
cradle reputation as detective.
"Among my astronomical colleagues
have been bantered not little on ac-
count of my work in detecting crime
and one of the astronomical journals
which, by the way, differs with me in
it's views very materially on questions
pertaining to the science-is in the
habit of referring to me as the detect
i've astronomer
$50 am not really proud of my rep
utation as a detective. My fame as an
astronomer-sucha as have-does very
well for modest man like me. l have
no ambition to shine among detectives
and dim the fame Of good men in that
profession with my overpowering bril-
liancy."
This was on Friday, and the fol-
lowing Sunday the professor dined out
with his friend, Professor Loomis
Professor Gilman returned to Mrs
Boal's about o'clock Josephine Max,
well was sitting out on the porch steps
when he arrived.
"Oh, Professor GilmanT she said.
Don't you want to take walk with
me9 I've been sitting still ever since
dinner and haven't known what to dc
with myself Will you go?"
~ shall be charmed to, Miss Joseph