San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-10-26
Simple as it was l had not thought Of

simple uS IL was nhu not tHouSht VI
, il before. The entire message was writ
ten on the substitution of letters, based
, on the reversal of the alphabet. Instead
of n, 2, the last one, was substituted; in
, stead Of y was used-the alphabet re-
versed was the key to the solution OF the
puzzle. .
; gave uttepnce to shout of JOY, for,
following ont the theory, it read:
LARRY, meet me Saturday night at
1877 Fire-street. NED
And "Ned" or Edward was the name
of Mr.. Dayton's footman, / began to see
very large mice. But Fire-street 60
there was no such thoroughfare in the
city, and I was flooded" again.
Gradually, however, the thought oc-
Cured TO me on the basis of reversal and
opposites adopted by the sender OF the
message, why should not sire" mean
"water," it: direct reverse?
1 dashed down the stairs, and, hailing
cab (for did not forget that it was
Saturday, and that evening was the APP
pointed time for the meeting of the two
burglars, if such they were), soon had
reached Water-strcet.
Vacant! Number 1877 was an empty
lot!
I paused, disappointed, and dismissed
the vehicle, again having recourse to the
puzzled enigma! So.near the solution,
and yet doomed to be banked at the last,
and
A sudden inspiration of renewed en-
ergy, and had forged the last link in
the chain of evidence! There had been
reversal in the order of numbers from l
to 10, as in the letters of the alphabet,
and 1877 meant 1904. ....I.
1 looked at my watch; three o'clock.
went to the nearest local telegraph Of
flee, and sent the following dispatch to
chief of police: ,. ,. ....... |
"Send to this office three efficient men
in citizens clothes.
I signed my name, lit cigar, and
awaited the arrival of evening and my
companion officers.
1t was dark when we reached the place
for the meeting appointed by the two
men. 1t was a vile groggery, kept by a
woman, and resort for the very lowest
class of rufiians. ! had put on felt that
and pair of false whiskers, and [ en-
tered the bar-room, having first placed
my men in advantageous positions on
the outside.
Within half an hour there entered an
old woman, yelled, bearing some bulky
object under her cloak. She made a
sign to the woman behind the bar, and
went into the next room. l caught sight
of her feet as she passed through the
door; they were enclosed not in shoes,
but in mems boots. went quickly to
the bar, and made sign to the woman.
"Is Larry in there?" I inquired in Il
loud voice, pointing to the other apart
ment.
She looked at me sharply, and then
replied in the affirmative.
Keep anybody that comes out" l
said, significantly. "We are going to
divide the swag.'
And opened the door.
There was no one in the first room,
but in the second by table, on which
lay IL large tin box, was my game-Lar-
ry, the burglar, and a tall, spare form in
female attire, with veil thrown back,
and terrified face, and the footman, Ed
ward.
you can drop on that little dodge,
gentlemen" I sail, quickly whipping
out brace of revolvers. "The house is
surrounded, and any resistance will only
make it worse for you. Larry, open that
door"
/ He unbolted the rear door under the
silent persuasive eloquence of my revol-
yer, and the three officers entered.
Need / tell the rest? Edward, the
footman. had admitted his accomplice
into the house and had chloroformed his
employer. He had kept the booty hid
den in his room. not daring to go out to
communicate with his pal, except as has
been seen. for fear he was watched