The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-07-12


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i'ette4 looked ., ilts watch 1t VIC y
o,clo4k lie concluded definitely INA,
Harness hAa .s.iesl him The door OF the
kitchen opened and the coiOIssl waitsrs
nled ia VIII. the dessert That lipA.ed was
the las; straw 10 break the ba y OF pa
t.ence. The dinner over and the members
deprived of the much vaunted souvenirs.
Potter was hot with anger and rnot,ihca-
ton Why had he cabbled with epa!s at
ALI? Why had be gone 10 the chief In
spector OF customs? No answe came TO
the unspoksn queries, and he gazed down.
the table and mechanically watched the
walters AS they brushed of the cloth into
the little crumb pans before placing the
sweets before the guests.
The caterer, Augustine Smith. pale. and
f1gid. and correct, as a head walter should
be stood at one end of the room and ST.
l III III IIlCIl Nlkkl hS Vim
manding eyes. They moved about the
! room with noiseless steps and In another
moment an Ice cream glace had been
placed before each member of the club.
The candied covering. ball shaped, was in
two parts, pressed together so as to hold
the cream in place. Potter took a spoon,
and, idly pressing 1t in the crevice. pushed
the thing apart. The shell separated and
half of 1t fell on either side, and there on
the plate, in all of it's solitary glory, lay a
beautiful opal. The other guests. noting
the action of the host, quickly followed
his example, and almost in the tw.nkling
of an eye the electric lights were reflect
ing the iridescent rays of thirteen dazzling
opals. There were shouts of approval,
followed by hearty hand clapping on the
part Of the delighted members. They had
been deprived of their ice cream, but they
had a genuine surprise in its place.
Potter seemed stunned. He looked up
and saw the smooth shaven face of the
caterer winter than ever. He looked be-
yond him, and there in the doorway stood
the chief inspector of customs. smiling
and fanked on either side by Clancy and
Forward. Nothing would do but that
Barnes and his friends should meet and
receive the congratulations of the mem
bers. Would the chief and his right and
left bowers have a glass of wine? The
two bowers accepted with grace and po-
likeness. The old man, being abstemious,
declined the wine, but took in lieu thereof
a smoking hot cup of coffee.
After the confusion had subsidized Barnes
asked Potter to come to the library for a
moment. The caterer was there ahead Of
them. with a face as white as chalk. The
old man opened the conversation.
There's no use In prolonging the agony
of trying to make a mystery of this thing"
he said. looking at the caterer while he
spoke. Mr.. Potter, you are entitled to
the whole story. 1t is short. This man,
Augustine Smith, in a moment Of deplor-
able weakness. stole your opals."
"Augustin Smith. our caterer. stole the
TIL culprit hung his head in shame.
Barnes briefly told the story of his in
vestigatton. He recalled the misadven-
lures that had befallen Harmer. the Gus
toms examiners; George West, the con-
fdential clerk. and Mary Martin. the SER
want girl.
IT felt morally certain" he continued,
that the caterer was the culprit and when
I found half a dozen little bits of tissue
paper, such as jewellers and lapidaries use
to wrap around gems. on the back stair
way leading from the library down into
the Kitchen and thence into the dining
room. / was convinced. He had gone up
the back way to the library to look for
something in decorating the table and saw
the box on the desk. Some develish curl
osity impelled him to open the case, and
when he saw these brilliant stones he sue
cumbed to temptation-he became a thief.
Mrs. Potter thought he did not go to the
second story at all. That is because she
was In the reception hall in the front of
the house. He assures me this is the first
time he has ever stolen, and / believe him.
When the question of returning the opals
was discussed he suggested the idea of
placing them in the shells intended for ice
cream. | agreed. and took the liberty to
assure him that there would be no prose
cution. Now you have the whole story.
If his penitence does not him
to your mercy l am satisfied that his in
genuity will appeal to your love of the
original"
1T does" replied Potter. You can fin
ish serving the dinner" he added. turning
to the caterer, and that will end all bust
ness relations between u.s.
AS the host returned to the dining room
he found the members examining the opals
with considerable curiosity. But their en-
thusiasm had subsidized. Some one had been
telling the story of the mishaps of the
customs examiner. the confidential clerk
and the servant girl. OF course they all
laughed, but the ring of sincerity was
lacking in the mirth. There was silence
for some moments. 1t was broken nv Haz-