The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1873-01-17

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inally acting as jockey for Gilbert Stu
art, but was in reality his confederate in
schemes of robbery, and, rs the sequel
will show, of murder. These two friends
were closeted together for long while,
and time showed the result of their con-
ference, though I would not spoil my
story by revealing too soon their nefari-
GUS designs.
OF course You remember the excite
ment in the uptown circles when the
news of Cecil Stuart's murder was cir
cualted, and the establishment of every
one when it was known that his body
had been found in the coal cellar of
Roger Lyons brown-stone palace. As
constituent was increased manifold by
the intelligence that Roger Lyon had
been arrested and charged with the crime
of murder.
Although but few were intimately ac-
ouainted with Cecil Stuart, and scarce
ly large circle barely knew him as
very eccentric man, yet the crime being
committed at the very door of their
mansion made it seem the most startling
one in the records of our city; and as
there were many influential personages
who loved Roger Lyon better than all
their friends besides, and many poor
washerwoman who blessed the day that
he saved her bit of ground from the
auctioneer's hammer-to have him, the
peoples favorite, charged with such n
deed, seemed to be IN outrage upon all
classes of our citizens.
well remember when Lansing, Lyons
lawyer, called upon me and begged me
to try my best to clear UP the mystery.
At this time had been in the detective
force nearly four years, and of course,
knew the ropes pretty well. But for
month 1 confess that at times I was
nearly baffled.
But I will come directly to my story.
As first step, / went to the cellar where
the body was found, and, as had or
dered it to be left there after the inquest
till could examine everything myself,
it still remained there. Being something
of doctor, naturally examined the
wounds, and was satisfied they would not
cause instant death. But did not rely
upon my own medical skill in this, but
sent for physician. He came-a sharp
fellow named Denning-and probed the
wounds. One Of them went close to the
heart, the other two were in the lungs,
evidently intended to cause hemorrhage,
which had followed, but not sufficient to
cause death Immediately.
Roger Lyons knife, with which thed
had been committed, silver-mounted
affair, lay near the wall.
The doctor soon finished his work, and
giving me look that I interpreted in
stantly, went out, taking Lansing with
him, to whom he communicated the re-
suit of his examinations. When they
had gone walked over to the wall and
picked up the knife AS soon as
stopped over to do this / saw some marks
on the wall that appeared to have been
made by sharp instrument of some
kind While / was examining these
Gilbert Stuart and Albert Firftone en-
tered. was about to call their atten-
ton to the marks when sudden thought
caused me to close my mouth upon the
words that we're almost on my tongues
end.
After obtaining permission they took
the body to his late residence.
As soon as they were gone, again ex-
amined the marks, and found they we're
a combination of letters and figures ar
ranged like this:
S-1225-D
I copied them on paper, and then,
taking the knife with me, went to my
Office downtown, to study out, if posi-
BILE, the cipher / had discovered. had
no doubt that it was made by Cecil,
probably after he had been stabbed; and
1 was convinced that the cause of its be-
ing in cipher was, that no one would be
apt to notice it enough to obliterate it.
But by what means could I obtain a key
was now the puzzle.
Acting according to suggestion of
Lansing, went to the library, and for O
week rummaged it's shelves for any
work that mentioned cipher writing. I
continued bringing home books until
my den looked more like a reading-room
than detectives Office, while in their
midst sat Lansing, searching every page,