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

If you succeed within a month, will
pay you thirty thousand dollars. IF you
fail | will pay your expenses for month
and place the case in other hands. Arc
you satisfied?
l gasped systematically. Thirty
thousand 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 l should
succeed.
| examined the apartment. The bnr-
glary had been effected very simply, APP
parently. Edward, the footman--a tall,
lank specimen of humanity-had heard
noise in the night in the library, but
had paid no attention to it. as Mr.. Day.
ton was in the habit of writing very late
and he thought it was his employer.
What puzzled me the most was the
means of entrance and cgress adopted
by the burglar or burglars. The library
was fully fifteen feet from the ground,
had 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 ladder, no
signs of footsteps exhibited themselves
in the damp ground, wet from recent
rains.
was sorely puzzled. l 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 by
scientific burglars, and they had worked
at their leisure.
l inquired into the anteccdents of
Edward, the footman but Mr.. Dayton
averred that he would allow no suspicion
to rest on SO faithful servant to the
family. l resolved to inquire more about
him, however; but l found nothing
against the man, and temporarily dis
missed him from my mind as having no
connection with the case.
"You heard no noise on the night of
the robbery? I inquired Of Mr.. Dayto
"None. | slept unusually sound last
night"
| went away thoughtfully, for l had
found in the library an empty bottle
which from the scent, knew to have con-
tanned chloroform, and | had noticed the
marks of muddy boots leading from the
apartment, while around the window
none were to be seen. The glass, too,
had been broken by quick blow, not
cut out. Altogether, it was most
mysterious piece of business.
l watched all the dives frequented By
the cracksmen of the city, and worked
like beaver. | could not obtain clue
to the preparations of the daring burgla-
ry, and, after three days of unremitting
toll, | was considering il it would not be
well to call in professional assistance,
when the advertisement in the Herald,
at the head of this story, attracted my
attention. Instinctiyely | OWNED some
connection with the "crooked" business,
and whether it referred to my case or
not, | resolved to ascertain its meaning
| went down to the Herald office that
morning, and, introducing myself, at
tempted to obtain some description Of
the person who handed the advertise
ment in. The clerk stated that it had
been received by mail in letter enclos-
ing the amount requisite for its insertion
in the paper. could / see the original
copy?" He would see; and a message
was sent to the composing room. Lucki-
ly the copy had been preserved. 1t was
written in disguised hand on little
scrap of paper. asked leave to retain
it, and permission being granted to me |
returned to my room at once.
| poured 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 | Glanced to
look at the reverse side Of the paper
There we're figures aud I read, United
States bonds, 10000" and other mem
oranda, indicating that it had been a
loose wrapper for valuable papers.
Then know that the advertisement
bore an important relation to the rob-
berry.
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 ! fell asleep
with my head upon my desk, and | did
not awaken until noon time. II is won
derful how a brief repose will clear the
mind. | took up the paper with renewed
energy and bright idea flashed over
me.
Simple as it was, bad not thought Of
il before. The entire message was writ
ten on the substitution Of letters. based
on the reversal Of the alphabet. Instead
of 2. the last letter, was substituted
instead of y was used the alphabet
reversed was the key to the solution
of the puzzle.
! gave utterance TO a shout Of JOY, for
following out the theory il read
Larry, meet me Saturday night at
1877 Fire street. NED"
And "Ned," or Edward. was the
name Of Dayton's footman. | began to
SEQ very large mice. But Fire street
there was no such thorougbfarc in the
city. and ] was "hoored" again.
Gradually the thought occurred TO me
on the basis Of reversal and opposites
employed by the sender Of the message
why should not fro mean water, its d.
rect reverse?
/ dashed down the stairs, and hailing |
b cab. for did not forget that il was
and that evening was the ap-
pointed time for meeting Of the two
burglars. IL such they were. soon had
reached Water street. !