West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-09-21


burglary had been affected very -implN
apparently. Edward. the footmon-
tall, lank specimen of humanity had
heard noise in the night in the library
but had paid no attention 10 il, as Mr.
Dayton was in the habit of writing
very late, and he thought il was mis- EN-
ployer.
What puzzled me most was the mean,
of entrance and egre-s adopted bv the
burglar or burglars. The library was
FULLY fifteen feet from the ground. had
"A bay window. and, except the broken
pane of glass, there was not the slight
est sign TO show how the window had
Z been gained. \ ladder would have done
II, hut no marks of ladder, no signs Of
footsteps exhibited themselves I'm the
damPground, wet from recent rains
was sorcly puzzled. examined the
servants one by one, but could find no
clue TO justify the slightest suspicion of
completely in the affair ON their part
The work had evidently been done bv
scientific burglars, and they had worked
at their leisure.
inquired into the antecedents of Ed
ward, the footman; but Mr.. DAYTON
averred that he would allow no suspicion
70 rest on so faithful servant TO the
family. | resolved to inquire more about
him, however; but | found nothing
against the man, and temporarily dis
missed him from my mind as having any
connection with the case.
You heard no noise on the night of
the robbery ] inquired of Mr.. Day
ton.
" None. slept unusually sound last
night"
Invent away thoughtfully, for | had
found in the library an empty bottle
which from the scent | knew TO have
contained chloroform. and had noticed
the marks of muddy boots leading from
the apartment while around the win
dow none were 10 be seen. The glass.
too, had been broken by quick blow.
not cut out. Altogether, il was a most
mysterious piece of business.
watched all dives frequented by the
cracksmen OF the city, and worked like
beaver | could not obtain a cue To /
the perpetrators of the daring burglary. I
and, after three days of unremitting
toll, was considering if it would not
be IA well To call in professional assist |
ance, when the advertisement i'm the
Herald, at the head OF this story. at |
tracted my attention. Instiuctively | /
crooked ~ business, and whether il re. 1
ferred to my case or not I resolved 10 as I.
certain its meaning.
went down To the Herah Office that
morning, and, introducing myself at (
tempted to obtain some description of /
the person who had handed in the adj I
vertisemeDt. The clerk 81 ted that il /
had been received by mail, in a letter /
inclosing the amount requisite for its in |
sertion in the paper. Could see the |
original copy? He would see; and
message was sent TO the COMPOSING
room. Luckily, the copy had been pre- |
served. 1t was written in a disguised /.
hand on little scrap Of paper. a ked /.
leave TO retain 1t, and permission being /
granted to me, returned 10 my room at /.
once.
Ipored over the cipher FOR long time. /
and discouraged at my inability TO make |
out one word Of it, was finally about to |
abandon it, when ] CHANGED to look AT /
the reverse side of the paper. There /
were figures and words on il, and ! read /
" L. ;. Bonds sSl0, 600" and other mem /
oranda, indicating that il had been a /
loose wrapper for valuable papers.
ThenI knew that the advertisement !
bore an inportantrelation TO the robbery (
And so until the day upon which the .
story opens was unable to make head or .
tail of the secret enigma.
So wearied was ] that I fell asleep /
with my head upon my desk, and did |
not awaken until noontime. IL is won /
derful how brief repose will clear .
the mind. ! took up the paper with /
renewed energy, and bright idea flashed .
over me.
Simple as il was ] had not thought of .
il before. The entire message was writ /.
ten on the substitution OF letters, based /.
on the reversal Of the alphabet. In
stead Of a, u, the last one, was sub.
stituted instead OF b. y was used-the
alphabet reversed was the key 10 the
solution Of the puzzle
] gave utteraDce 20 q shout Of 10Y, for.
following out the theory it, read
Larry, meet me Saturday night AZ
127 Fire street NED"
And Ned or Edward was the name
of Mr. Dayton's fOOtmaD. ! began 10 see
very large mice. But Fire-street-
there was no such thoroughfare i'm the I.
city, and ] was " flooded again.
Gradually, however, the thought oc-
Cured 70 me on the basis of reversal
and opposites adopted by the sender Of
bhc Aubhotktj why huOuiN not ' UTe
mean water" It's direct reverse?
] dashed down the stairs. and. hailing
cab (for ] did not forget that 10 was
Saturday, and that evening was the 40.
pointed time for the meeting Of the two
burglars, II such they were), J soon had
reached Water-street.
Vacant Number ~ was am empty
lot
paused disappointed, and dismissed
the vehicle, again having recourse to-
the puzzled enigma So near the solu-
ton, and yet doomed ~ be banked at
the last, and
a sudden inspiration Of renewed
energy, and had forged the last link in
the chain Of evidence! There had been
reversal in the order Of numbers from
to 10, as in the letters Of tho alphabet.
and ~ meant 1904
! looked ct my watch three O'Clock.
] went to the nearest local telegraph OF.
tce, and sent the following dipatch 10
chief Of police
Send 70 this Office three efficient men
tu offfzan3g olotbos