Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-12-06

UNRAVELING A CIPHER.

"Ozib-Nepy 40 hza,1,o@b mrtsy ag. 1877
UriU hgiOUy."
There it was, in italic, half way down
the personal column, conspicuous only
for its singular and most aggravatng
combination Of letters and figures, the
sole clue to the whereabouts of the gem
| had been after for over a week scarcely
resting, sleeping or eating in my anxiety
to secure the reward offered in heavy
burglary case-and something else.
That something else" Ali my
heart sank within me as | flung aside
the enigmatical 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
hopeless one it seemed to me-wben
learned my fate from her fathers lips
and passed down the brown stone steps
of the Dayton mansion, wondering if the
inclination of moneyed men towards
stone residences was not caused by the
existence of a similar hard material in
that part Of the human anatomy known
as the heart.
was poor man he said, and the
profession of detective was a precari-
Gus one. His daughter loved me; he
could not deny that, but she was his
only child and her wealth and position
demanded match with some social
equal. He would not break her heart
by absolutely refusing to sanction our
engagement, but if within year
could secure a fortune of twenty five
thousand dollars and lucrative business
Edna was still of the same mind-and
well, he would consider it.
Twenty-Five thousand dollars grew
sick at the thought of the condition i'm
posed, upon which I was to purchase
future happiness. In the reception Of n
meagre salary and utterly unknown
where | was to raise this amount? And
what business capacity had l. the son Of
parents who had given me every luxury
and neglected practical education, until
a crash came that left us homeless and
in penury?
Day and night for over a month l
brooded over my sorrows, and when one
day ] was aroused into renewed life by
reception Of formal but courteous note
from Mr.. Dayton, requesting my imme-
date attendance at the mansion.
My feet winged as / 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-hcartcd censor?
was usbered 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 n safe
in the corner broken open.
| stared at him in amazoment.
"You seem agitated, Mr.. Dayton"
ventured to suggest
"Agitated (! agitated. sir I am wild.
Late last night. or early this morning.
burglars entered this apartment by |
means Of yoDder window and broke open !
The safe. When | came down this
morning ] found affairs as they are now,
md nearly one hundred thousand dollars |
n money, bonds and jewslry gone.
/ stared mutely. Tho immcnsity Of |
he robbery pctritied me.
"No," be Numbered, coming 10 full |
top. 81 have no confidence in a police /
orce which fails 10 protect a house from
Ioch an audacious burglary and expects .
,ne-half Of the booty for its return. /
here is the room aud yondcr is list Of !