The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-12-10
THE CIPHER DISPATCH.


Ie7 Uriv hgiUUg."
1t was, in italic, about half way down
the personal column, conspicuous on
ly for its singular and most aggravating
combination of letters and figures, the
sole clue to the whereabouts of the gem
had been after for over a week, scarce
ly resting, eating or sleeping In my
anxiety to secure the reward offered in
heavy burglary case-and something
else
That something else." All my
heart sank within me as L flung aside |
the enigmatical puzzle before me, and
learning 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 L remember the bitter parting-a
hopeless one it seemed to me-when l
learned my fate from her fathers lips
and passed down the brown stone steps
vi JllS LAY lOn NOhhCllhS IL
the inclination of moneyed men towards
stone residences was not caused by the
existence of similar hard material in
that part of the human anatomy known
as the heart.
was poor man he said, and the pro-
fession of detective was a precarious
one. His daughter loved me; he could
not deny that, but she was his only
child and her wealth and position de-
manded match with some social equal.
He would not break her heart by abso-
lutely refusing to sanction our engage
ment, but if within year 1 could Sc
cure a fortune of twenty-five thousand
dollars and a lucrative business and
Edna was still of the same mind-well,
he would consider it.
Twenty-Five thousand dollarsl / grew
sick at the thought of the condition i'm
posed, upon which L was to purchase
future happiness. In the reception of
a meagre salary and utterly unknown,
where was l to raise this amount? And
what business capacity had 1, the son of
parents who had given me every luxury
and neglected practical education, until
crash came that left us homeless and
in penury?
Day and night for over month 1
brooded over my sorrows, and when 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.
My feet winged as 1 hastened 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 I
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 in the corner broken open.
l stared at him in amazement.
You seem agitated, Mr.. Dayton" L
ventured to suggest.
"Agitated 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 came down this
morning found affairs as they are now,
and nearly one hundred thousand dollars
in money, bonds and jewelry gone.
1 started mutely. The immensity of
the robbery petrified me.
No." he thundered, coming to full
stop. " I have no confidencein police
force which fails to protect a house from
such an audacious burglary and expects
one-half of the booty for its return.
Here is the room and yonder is list of
the stolen property. l believe you are
honest and leave the entire affair in
your own hands. Call upon me for
whatever money you require in an at
tempt to recover the property or to de-
tect the thieves. If you succeed within
month, will pay you thirty thousand
dollars. If you fail will pay your ex-
penses for a month and place the case in
other hands. Are you satisfiedp
1 gasped spasmodically. Thirty thou
sand dollars A fortune-more than the
price of my happiness! And then the
pride of my profession came to my aid,
and told him that should succeed.
I examined the apartment. The
burglary had been effected very simply,
apparently. Edward, the footman-a
tall, lank specimen of humanity-had