The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-07-20

swered Murdoch, quickly. HE is the
author of every crime whose history
remains forever unwritten."
And are these really so numerous.?"
Let us see how the case stands in
one single class of cfi1ne-say, for in
stance, murder. Whenever the solu-
ton of sensational murder mystery
is effected 10y the detectives, or 10y their
allies. the gentlemen of the press. like
our friend Mr. Sturgis, we, the gullible
public, vociferously applaud the
achievements of these guardians of
the public safety, and forthwith pro-
coed to award them niche in the tenn
pie of Fame. So far, so good. But
what of the dark mysteries which re-
main forever rnsolved? What OF the
numerous crimes of which no one ever
even knows?"
"Oh! come now, DOCTOR" laughed
Sprague. isn't it rather paradoXical to
base your argument on the assumption
of crimes of whose very existence you
admit you have no knowledge?"
Murdoch smiled grimly as he replied:
Go to the morgue Of any large city,
where the unrecognized dead are ex-
posed for Identification. Aside from the
morbid crowd which is drawn to such a
place by uncanny curiosity, you will
find that each corpse is anNiously
scanned by numbers of people. each Of
whom is seeking a missing friead or
relative. At the most each body can
furnish the key to only one mystery.
Then what of the scores, ay, the hum
dreds Of others?"
After a short pause. he continued:
mo; murder will not out-at least
not when the criminal is what might
call a professional. man OF genius In
his vocation, educated, intelligent, dis
passionate. scientific. Fortunately for
the reputation of Tie detective, anna
teur and professional, the genius in the
criminal line is necessarily of "A modest
and retiring disposition. He cannot
call the public attention 10 his ingenu.
ity and skill; he cannot puff his achieve
ments ia the daily press. Not only are
his masterpieces unsigned, but they re-
main forever unheard Of. The detec.
tive is known ouly by his successes;
the criminals reputation is based sole
ly upon his failures"
DR.. Murdoch delivered this parting
shot with the cool deliberateness which
was characteristic of the man. The in
solent irony of his words was empha-
sized by the calmness of his bearing.
- say, doctor" laughed Sprague,
you have missed your vocation. You
should have adopted the profession of
scientific criminal yourself. You seem
to possess the theory of the science as
IL is, and a little experience would no
doubt have made you an adept in the
practice as we'll"
A look of mild amusement passed
over Murdock's countenance.
perhaps you are right. Mr.. Sprague.
At any rate, think may affirm, with
out overweening conceit, that if had
followed the course you suggest, ]
could have prepared for your friend
Mr.. Sturgis some pretty little problems
on which to sharpen his wits. feel
that could have been an artist as we'll
as scientist in that line"
"You might console yourself by writ
ing on interesting and valuable book,
under some such title as Hints TO the
Young Criminal or Crime as Fine
Art At all events, your criminals of
genius have stanch advocate in YOU.
But what on earlh have the detectives
done to you to call forth this whole
sale vitueration?"
Nothing. But, as disinterested OBJ
server, like to see fair play. If am
mistaken IN my estimation of the mod
ern detective, | am open 10 conviction.
l have $1,000 to wager against 500 that
can pick up any daily paper and from
its columns select an unsolved riddle,
to which no detective on the face of the
earth can give the answer Have any
taker, gentlemen"
As he spoke, his eyes met Sturgis' and
suddenly seemed 10 flash with an earn
est defiance, which instantly melted in
to the calm, cynical smile of the man
of the world
Done" said Sturgis, quietly.
"Nery well, Mr.. Sturgis," observed
DR.. Murdoch, indifrerently II shall
contine myself to the columns of your
own newspaper for the selection of the
problem upon which you are to work.
and" Le added, with a supercilious
smile, you are at liberty to fix the
limit of time in which the wager must
ba GapfIoJ