Litchfield enquirer., 1864-07-14
A Mystery.
CONCLUDED FROM LAST WEEK. l

the various wards, and in due course came t that of Louise. l thought on first enterip the room that she was asleep but as I advan ced toward the bed, she wearily opened he eyes, and on recognizing me closed them agai with the expression of acute pain. stood b. the bedside listening to her breath, which va short, quick and oppressed, and looking at he changed face, I spoke to her. Again thes sad eyes opened wearily, and this time the, gazed at me as if beseeching me to let the frai soul within escape in peace. She was unabl to speak. made brief jotting of her cast for my superior in office, and meanwhile order ed what remedies considered best for her.
 was certain that she was fast sinking, and tha nothing short of miracle would save her fo more than few days from the clutch of th grim giant Death. I was about to leav' the room, when perceived that she was mak ing great effort to say something to me. placed my ear close to her mouth, but coule hear nothing except an indistinct and painful | l speak just now. She stared af me for mo- ment with wild wondering eyes half-raisna herself from the pillow; then, as if compre- hending all, she sank back exhausted A mo ment more she appeared to gather up all hel strength for the purpose of holding out to me long, thin hand, the flesh so worn that it clung close to the bones, the shapes of which were distinctly visible. Crumpled up in her hand was piece of dirty note paper. I took this, and on opening it out discovered that it was love letter. She made sign to me to read, and as did so her eyes were fixed keenly and anxiously upon my countenance. Her decision was like that of cne watching the de- cision of life or death working in the mind of her judges. This was what I read
 "24th September.
 My DEAR LOUISE :-Please tell your friend that he can Sec me whenever he wishes. l should like my scarf dyed blue. must just do without the other thing: a man must put up with some difficulties, you know. Don't be afraid. I 2hall not groan over it. All wish is, that you would have sense enough to take care of your health, and not do anything that is likely to njure you. I will step over to you in few days, and hope to be able to take you the present which promised the possession of it will please you. When 1 meet misfortune. it will not find me unprepared- even if it should be to night. am at present well Do you know my birthday is the Tues day after next? l shall be twenty seven years {l,,,, n 4pn t1or Meanwhile place yuur trust in your own F. M. "P. S. l send you the curious problem oi which l spoke. Can you make it out?' 7O=68X65-:S -:S3X54=57X4l*45: 2sX
 "ls=24-:-75=79,:, s3Xll3=9O :-l20X 99*lO7
 ::l23=l43Xl33=ll=l52.
 Total, II l52.' read this several times, but could make nothing of it. So shaking my head, laid the note down on the bed beside the sick woman with quick, nervous moment she placed her long bony forefnger on the figures and the words of the letter, then upon the initials and the date, and sank back on the bed.
 Instantly I snatched up the faded piece ol paper, and with heart throbbing violently and confused booming in my head, hurried to my own chamber; on entering which threw myself into an armchair, and pressed uy head with my hands; and felt as if it was about to burst.
 With trembling hands held the note before my eyes whilst I read it again. Instinct, as much as the meaning, action and glance of Louise, convinced me that in this scrap of pa per lay the clue to the mystery of Georges death. The date was that of the day on which his body was found, and the initials were those of Eugene N!
 Hours, long, long hours sat studying that letter. I read it backwards and forwards, again and again, but could make nothing of it. Suddenly, like fash of electric lightning Illuminating dark chamber, the association of the figures with the words of the letter oc- cured to me. According to the numerical signs mixed up with the figures, proceeded to multiply and divide, but the result was more confused than the first position of the figures. I rejected the signs altogether.
 then found that the lowest number II and the highest l52. From the lowest to the highest I ranged the figures in order. I count ed the number of words, beginning with the date, and tried the relative numbers. No re suit. I counted again commencing with "my,' J again with "dear" and again with |" Louise, ? but still no result. felt convinced, however that this was the proper method of solving the riddle, and tried again commencing with "tell. , Word by word counted, figure by figure ] applied and my flesh quivered, my whole be- ing trembed at the dreadful meaning which this apparently unimportant letter now assum' ed.
 At length the whole was made out, and nc doubt rested in my mind as to who was the really guilty party. It was overpoweringly horrible, and sank back in my chair.
 Whether it was inconsistencies or sleer which came over me I know not, but when wakened the first gray streaks of morning W ere softly stealing in through the window. threw