The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-12-08
The Episode of the
Seldom Gold Mine.

On our return to London Charles and
Marvilner had a difference of opinion
on the subject of Medhurst.
. Charles maintained that Marvillier
ought TO have known the man with the
cropped hair was Colonel Clay, and
ought never to have recommended him.
Marvillier maintained that Charles had
seen Colonel Clay half dozen times.
at least, TO his own never; and that
my respected brother-in-law had there
fore nobody on earth but himself to
blame if the rogue imposed upon him.
The head detective had known Med
hurst for ten years, he said, as a most
respectable man, and even a ratepay-
er; he had always found him the clev-
crest of spies, as we'll he might be, in
deed, on the familiar -thief-to-
catch-a-thief principle. However. the
upshot of it all was, as usual-nothing.
Aarvillier was sorry to lose the serv-
sces of SO excellent a hand, but he had
Zone the very best he could for Sir
Charles, he declared, and if Sir Charles
was not satisfied, why, he might catch
his Colonel, Clays for himself in fu-
ture.
so l will, Sey," Charles remarked to
me as he walked back from the Office
an the Strand to Piccadilly. Il won't
trust any more to these private detec-
tives. It's my belief they're pack of
thieves themselves, in league with the
rascals they're set to catch, and with
no more sense of honor than a Zulu
diamond hand
Better try the police" I suggested.
by way of being helpful. One must as
sumo an interest in ones employer S
business.
But Charles shook his head
NO. no." he said: I'm sick of all
these fellows. I shall trust in future
TO my own sagacity. We learn by ex-
perience, Sey-and Eve learned thing
or two. One of them is this: It's not
enough to suspect everybody; you
must have no preconceptions. Divest
yourself entirely of every fixed idea if
you wish to cope with rascal of this
caIiber. Don't jump at conclusions.
We should disbeleve everything, as
we'll as distrust everybody. That's the
road to success, and I mean to pursue
it."
So. by the way of pursuing it.,
Charles retired to Seldom.
THE longer the man goes on, the
worse he grows he said TO me one
morning. He's just like a tiger that
has tasted blood. Every successful
haul seems only to make him more
eager for another fully expect now
before long we shall see him down
here"
About three weeks later. sure enough,
my respected connection received a
communication from the abandoned
swindler, with an Austrian stamp and
a Vienna post mark.
MY Dear Vandrift: after so long
and so varied an acquaintance we may
surely drop the absurd fOrmalities of
Sir Charles and 'Coionel.) l write to
ask you a delicate question. Can you
kindly tell me exactly how much I
have received from your various gen.
erous acts during the last three years?
I have mislaid my account book. and.
as this is the season for making the in
come tax return, l am anxious, as an
honest and conscientious citizen, 10 set
down my average profits out of you
for the triennial period.
For reasons which you will simply
understand do not this time give my
private address, in Paris or elsewhere;
but if you will kindly advertise the to-
tai amount, above the signature Peter
Simple in the Agony column of the
Times you will confer a great favor
upon the revenue commissioners, and
also upon your constant friend and
companion. CUTHBERT CLAY.
Practical Socialist"
laying the letter down, Gin a week or
less the man himself viii follow. This
is his cunning way of trying to make
me think he's we'll out of the country
and far away from Seldom. That means
he's meditating another descent. But
he told us too much last time, when he
was Medhurst, the detective. He gave
US some hints about DISCUSSES and their
unmasking that | shall not forget. This
turn / shall be even with him"
On Saturday of that week, in effect,
we were walking along the road that
leads into the village, when we met
gentlemanly looking man. in rough
and happy-gO-lucky brown tweed suit,
who had the air of a tourist. He was
m:ddle-aged and Of medium height; he
wore a small leather wallet suspended
round his shoulder, and he was peering
about at the rocks in a suspicious
manner. Something in his gait at
tracted our attention.
Good morning" he said, looking up
as we passed, and Charles muttered a
somewhat surly, inarticulate Good
morning"
We went on without saying more.
well, that's not Colonel Clay, any
how" said as we got out of earshot.
For he accosted US first, and you may