Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-02-21

movements implied youth. His deep
black eyes seemed to look through one
and to see everything at once. they were
eyes well calculated to confuse and
abash a guilty man. while an innocent
person could not fail to read reassur-
ing penetration and wisdom, together
with stern and resolute friendliness
in their wondrous depths.
| You wanted a detective?"
II did; I sent for the best man."
| Exactly. l am here! I am at youl
service"
Your name Is Prier?"
az. B. Prier."
You are ready for business?"
"I am. I'll be blamed If don't hang
somebody"
| Donald Barron smiled.
II think this is scarcely Il hanging
matter" he said. my safe has been
robbed, that Is all.-Serious enough, OF
course, but not serious enough for
hanging"
Excuse me-" said Prier, my Ian
guage was only figuratlve. It's n form
OF speaking have"
Donald Barron smiled again and
bowed.
Safe robbed?" said Prier. "Tools
left? Let me see them"
NO tools were left. In fact, I think
none were used. The bank seems to
have been entered by some one who
didn't need TOOLS"
Bank? Safe in bank? Let's have q
look at the bank"
The two men walked down to the
bank building together.
| II studied architecture once" he said.
Beautiful subject-beautiful. This is
a fine building"
Mr.. Barron made no answer, but pro-
ceeded to unlock the door Prier watch
ed him as intently as though locks and
keys were entirely new to his exper-
fence.
Once inside, Mr. Prier helped Mr.
Barron close the blinds and draw the
curtains so that they should be free
| from observation. He helped him light
up the room. Then he went to work.
He measured more than q hundred
different distances, Barron watching
him in utter bewilderment. The dis
tances from the door to the counter.
from the counter to the safe, from the
window to the stove, and so on.
Then he examined everything he
could find: picked up the inkstands, the
paper weights. the blotters; peered
into the money drawers; opened the
stove and looked in; looked at the
doors. at the windows, at the walls, at
the floor and the ceiling. Then he
drew a chair up to the stove in which
Barron had made fire, and sat dc wn.
well said Barron.
Well" said Prier, in an exceedingly
puzzled tone, this seems the most or
derly place I've ever seen for bank
that has been robbed confess I'm a
little at a loss, and I never made a
failure yet I'll be blamed If / By
the-wtsy, speaking of hanging, I have
had ITO very similar jobs to this in my
experience, and 1 did hang a man in
each case"
You did hang a man."
"J'iguratively, Of course. 1 traced
out the guilty one in each case, con-
uected him conclusively with murder,
and the authorities did the rest"
Il see"
ooh, no, you don't. You don't see
anything more regarding those cases
than l do regarding this; and that"
rubbing his face with huge red silk
handkerchief, and speaking with hap
py briskness-"is nothing at all. I'll
tell you all about them some time" he
continued "some time when / am at
leisure-I am very busy now. Will you
be kind enough to give me look into
that safe? Thank you" he remarked,
when Mr.. Barron had complied with his
request and unlocked the safe for him
thank you Don't let me forget to tell
you those stories the very first time l
have a half-hour to spare"
Prier examined the safe, outside and
| in.
What was the money in?" he asked.
In a tin box"
In what part of the safe?'
Mr.. Barron showed him.
How much was there?"
1.-TWO hundred thousand dollars
Prier whistled softly to himself, and
looked q little nervous. He conquered
his feelings, however, and came and sat
down by the stove again.
Were you ever hanged?" he asked,
with smile.
Ever hanged?" cried Barron, in as
tonishment.
That's what l asked. l was once; a
mere accident, of course, but it came
near being the end Of me. I've always
felt Il little sorry, since then, when 1t
was necessary to send a fellow being
to the gallows. But you ought to try
it: the experience is worth all the suf-
fering, provided, of course, that you are
not kept in state Of suspense too
long"
Mr.. Barron said nothing. He looked
closely at Mr.. Prier. But that gentle
man had taken a cigar from his pocket
and lighted 1t, and appeared entirely
engrossed with the pleasure of smok-
ing, and oblivious Of the scrutiny to
which he was being subjected.
Il suppose you've no objection to my
looking over the books of your busi-
ness?" said Prier, suddenly. throwing
away his cigar and getting briskly on
to his feet.
THAT would be a little irregular,
wouldn't it?" asked Mr.. Barron.
Certainly. and if you object
Il don't object. Do anything you
wish. Do anything in the world which
will help get my money back, and l
shall approve it ALL"
"Eh? HIM" said Prier, and pro-
ceeded to bury himself, figuratively
Of nOno11 R9r-