Waterbury Democrat., 1900-11-20
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THE STURGIS WAGER !;
A DEFECTIVE STORY.
By EDGAR MORE ETTE.

'OOISClence!' reJCrteQ MuTQOck, calmly; "the word is euphemism. Man gives the name of conscience to his fear of discovery and punishment. There is no such thing as conscience in the criminal who has absolute conf- dence in his power to escape detec- tion."
 But where is the man who can have that superb confidence in himself?" asked Sprague.
 His name is probably legion" an- swered Murdoclz, 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 cri1ne-say, for in stance, murder. Whenever the solu- ton of a sensational murder mystery is effected by the detectives, or by their allies, the gentlemen of the press, like our friend MT. Sturgis, we, the gullible, public, vociferously applaud the achievements of these guardians of the public safety, and forthwith pro- ceed to award them a niche in the tenn pie of Fame. So far, so good. But what of the dark mysteries which re- man 1OfcNCT uIISGIFSu! " Ildo oL elio numerous crimes of which no one ever even lInows?"
 "Oh! come now, .doctor," laughed Sprague, isn't it rather paradoNical to base your argument on the assumption of crimes of whose very existence you admit you have no lsnoWledge?"
 Murdocil smiled s, rimly as he replied:
 GO to the morgue of any large city, where the unrecoPnized dead are eN- posed for identification. Aside from the morbid crowd which is drawn to such place by uncanny curiosity, you will find that each corpse is anNiously scanned by numbers of people, each of whom is seeking a missing friend or relative. At the most each body can furnish the key to only one mystery. Then what of the scores, ay, the hun Greds of others?"
 After short pause, he continued:
 "No; murder will not out-at least not when the criminal is what T might call professional, a man of genius in his vocation, educated, intelligent, dis passionate, scientific. Fortunately for the reputation of the detective, ama- teur and professional, the genius in the  and retiring disposition. He cannot call the public attention to his ingenu- ity and skill; he cannot puff his achieve ments in the daily press. Not only are his masterpieces unsigned, but they re- main forever unheard of. The detec- tive is known only by his successes; the criminals reputation is based sole ly upon his failures.'
 Dr. Murdock 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 cal1rness of his bearing.
 T 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 it is, and 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, MT. Sprag que. At any rate, think may affirm, with cut overweening conceit, that if 1 had followed the course you suggest, I Soulu HdNc pIcpSiIed LOT our 1Ileuu Mir. Sturgis some pretty little problems on which to sharpen his wits. l feel that I could have been an artist as well as a scientist in that line"
 You might console yourself by writ ing an interesting and valuable book, under some such title as Hints to the Young Criminal or Crime as a Fine Art At all events, your criminals of genius have a stanch advocate in you. But what on earth have the detectives done to you to call forth this whole sale vitucration 9"
 Nothing. But, as a disinterested ob- server, like to see fair play. If I am mistaken in my estimation of the mod ern detective, l am open to conviction l have $5,C00 to wager against $1UO that l 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 takcr, gentlemen?'
 As he spoke, his eyes met Sturgis' and suddenly seemed to flash with an earn est defiance, which instantly melted in to the calm, cynical smile of the man of the world. +5s~n La,
 Dohc, Sdlu oeuISlS, QuleLIy.
 ''Nery well, MT. Sturgis," observed Dr. Murdoclz, indifferently. q shall confine myself to the columns of your own newspaper for the selection of the problem upon which you are to work.
 "And," he added, with q supercilious smile, 'you are at liberty to fix the limit of time in which the wager must be decided"
 Hear! hear!" exclaimed a young broker. "This is becoming interesting, and promises some sport for those of us who are giddy enough to enjoy stalk ing something cn this novel contest l, for one, am willing to lay reasonable odds on the side of law and order, as represented by the enlightened press, in the person of our clever friend Stur- gis. Come, Chadwick, will two to ona against the scientific criminal tempt you to champion the cause of that ap- parentiy unappreciated jndividual?"
 "Nery well, Fred" answered the man addressed; "Ill take you for a hun ircd.''
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