The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1920-03-06
CHAPTER v.
The Mystery solved7

1The Wvstery SoiNcoG
Two DAYS later Mr.. Snyter sat In
his Office. There was telegram he
fore him.
II ran MS follows:
"Have solved Gunner mystery. Re
turning. "Oakcs."
Mr.. Snyder rang the hell.
"Send Mr.. Oakes To me directly he
arrives" he said.
lie put his feet up on the desk.
tilted his chair back. and frowncd at
the ceiling.
lie was pnIned 20 find that Che chief
emotion with WI. IA the Telegram from
Oakos had affected him was annoy
ancc. The swift solution of such m
apparently lnsolublc problem would re-
fleet the highest crctst ON the agency
and there were picturesque circum-
stances connected with the cusc which
would make Il popular with the news
pnpermcu and lead 10 its being ac-
corded great deal of publicity.
on the whole. no case Of recent
years promised 20 give the agency a
bigger advertisement than this one.
Yet. IN spite of all this Mr. snyder
was annoyed. II was ridiculous and
unproiessIonnl OF him TO be annoyed.
but human nature was too strong FOR
him.
lie realized now how large u part
the desire, TO reduce Cakes self.esteem
had played with him.
Looking nt the thing honestly. he
owned 20 himself that he had had no
expectation that the young man would
come within mile Of a reasonable
solution Of the mystery; and he had
calculated that his failure would prove
Q valuable piece Of education for him.
For the professional was mixed up
with the unprofesslonal In Mr.. Sny-
der's attitude toward his assistant. II
was not only ms a private individual
that he had hoped TO see Oakes reduced
90 humility by failure; he also believed
that failure would make oakes a more
valuable asset 10 the agency.
Oakes had intelligence. That he had
never denied. Mr.. Snyder's grievance
against him was that he had only
about half the intelligence with which
he credited himself.
His aggressive belief In himself Inn
paired his utility as a detective. He
needed breaking In. and Mr.. Snyder
had looked TO this case 20 effect this
end.
And here he was. within ridicu-
lousIy short space Of time. returning
10 the fold. not humble and defeated.
but with flying coiors.
Mr.. Snyder looked forward with ap-
prehensi0n 10 the young mans prob
able demeanor under the intoxicating
influence Of victory.
His apprehensions were well
grounded. He had barely finished the
second Of the series of cigars which,
like mllestOnes. marked the progress
Of his afternoon, when the door opened
and young Mr.. Oakes entered. ram
pant.
Mr.. Snyder could not repress faint
moan al the sight OF him. One glance
WAS enough to tell him that his worst
fears were realized.
Few people In the history Of New
York could have been so pleased with
themselves as Oakes obviously was at
that moment. lie dlffused self-satis-
faction like scent. In some mysteri-
Gus way he seemed TO have grown
bigger.
He was still tense, but his tenseness
now was that Of the leopard returning
from some important Kill. announcing
his magnificence to the rest Of the
jungle.
He sat down before Mr.. Snyder had
time to invite him, and the older man
looked with dismay at this significant
sign Of his increased Importance.
II got your telegram" said Mr..
Snyder.
Oakes nodded.
1T surprised You, ehf'
Mr.. Snyder resented the patroniz-
ing tone Of the question, but he had
resigned himself to be patronized and
gave no sign of resentment.
One of the old mans chief virtues,
which had compensated him for cer-
tain lack Of genius In his makeup,
was his observation-disclosures and his abil-
ity 10 allow nothing to disturb him
seriously. His sense OF humor had
saved him i'm hundred difficult sltua-
tions, and 1t saved him now.