Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-10-16
UNRAYELING A CIPHER.
4 Detectives Story About a Personal Adj
YertiSement.

There it was, in italics, half way down
the Personal column of the Herald,
conspicuous only for It's singular and
most aggravating combination Of letters
and figures, the sole clue to the where
abouts of the gem had been after tor
over = week, scarcely resting, eating or
sleeping in my anxiety to secure the
reward offered in a heavy burglary case
and something else.
That something else" All! my heart
sank within ne as [ flung aside the en-
igmatical puzzle before me; and leaning
back in my chair gave myself up to the
gloomy reveries Of the past. Edna
Dayton-how / loved her? How fair
and beautiful as a summers idyl had
been the week in which | had met her,
had loved her, and had been told that
my affection was returned! How well
remember the bitter parting-a hope
less one, it seemed to me-when [
learned nv fate from her fathers lips.
and passed down the brown stone steps
OF the Dayton mansion, wondering II
the inclination of moneyed men toward
stone residences was not caused by the
existence of a similar hard material IL
that part Of the human anatomy known
as the heart.
I was d poor man, he said, and the
profession Of a detective was a preca-
rious one. His daughter loved me; he
could not deny that-but she was his
only child, and her wealth aud position
demanded a match with some social
equal. He would not break her heart
by absolutely refusing to sanction our
engagement; but if within a year could
secure a fortune Of $4,000 and a lucra-
tive business. and Edna was still of the
same mind-well. he would consider 1t.
Twenty-Five thousand dollars. i grew
sick at the thought Of the condition I'M
posed. upon which | was to purchase
my future happiness. In the reception
of meagre salary and utterly unknown,
where was j to raise this amount? And
what business capacity had L, the son
Of parents who had given me every
luxury, and neglected a practical educa
ton, until a crash came that left us
homeless ana in penury?
Day and night for over a month [
brooded ever my sorrows, and then one
day | was aroused into renewed life by
the reception of formal but courteous
note from Mr.. Dayton, requesting my
immediate attendance at the mansion.
Ny feet flew as I fastened to the
house of my loved Edna What did it
mean? Had he relented? Was Edna
sick, or did business await me at the
pleasure Of my. hard-hearted censor?
[ was ushered into the library, where /
found the old gentleman in an intense
state of excitement pacing the floor, the
window broken IN, papers and boxes
scattered about the apartment, and a
safe III the corner broken open.sg 'e'.'
[ stared at him in amazement. EFa
You seem agitated, Mr.. Dayton" [
ventured to suggest. 40 - = i
"Agitatedi agitated, sir! [ am wild.
Late last night, or early this morning,
burglars entered this apartment by
means Of Yonder window and broke
open the safe When I came down
this morning Ifound affairs as they are
now, and nearly 100000 IN money,
bonds and jewelry gone" &i1}--.-
I stared nuteiy. The immensely of
the robbery petrifed me. -
No" he Numbered, coming to a
full stop. II have no confidence in
police force which fails to protect
house from such an Naudacious burglary
and expects one-half of the booty for
It's RETURN Here. is $ the. room, and
yonder is aSlist of. the stolen property.
I believe you are honest, and I leave
the entire affair III your own hands.
Call upon me for whatever money you
require IN an attempt to recover the
property or ctoTdeteet the thieves. If
you succeed within a month [ viii pay
you thirty thousand dollars, If you
fail I will pay&sourA expenses fofRthe
month and place the case in other
hands. Are you satisfied q" As al
gasped spasmodically. Thirty
thousand dollars. A .fortume-more
than the price Of my happiness!!A And
then the pride Of my profession came
to my aid, and told him that should
succeed. --.....-- .-.-.-
] examined the apartment. The,
burglary had been effected very simply,
Edward, the footman-a
tall, lank specimen Of humanity-had
heard a noise In. the night in the
library, but had paid no attention to it,
as Nh. Dayton was IN the habit of
writing very late, and he thought it was
his employer.
What puzzled me most was the
means Of entrance and egress adopted
by the burglar or burglars. The library
was fully fifteen feet from the ground,
had q bay-window, and except the
broken pane of glass, there. was not the
slightest sign to show how the window
had been gained. A ladder would have
done it, but no marks Of q ladder, no
signs Of footsteps, exhibited themselves
IN the damp ground, wet from recent
rains. -srrsi 90.
/ was sorely puzzled. I examined
the servants one by one, but could find
no clue to justify the slightest suspicion
of completely on their part. The work
had evidently been done by scientific
burglars, and they had worked at their
leisure. r.go.e,. 5r
l inquired into the antecedents of
Edward, the footman; but Mr.. DAYTON
2VpTrpd that he would allow ,,o,c,,c