The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1878-10-15
steps, exhibited themselves in the damp
ground, wet fromrecent rains.


steps, exhibited themselves in the damp
ground, wet from recent rains.
| I was sorely 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 by
scientific burglars, and they had worked
at their leisure. ~ - - ,s,
Inquired into the antecedents of Ed
ward the footman; but Mr.. Dayton
averred that he would allow no suspicion
to 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 ne
connection, with the case,
sa..Yoh heard no noise on the night a
the robbery 7" ! inquired Of Mr.. Day.
son. i'l' seill 1'l'a'2 = 5''l
"None., ! slept unusually sound that
night. ~ i---eS .s'''' : :,
| went 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 window
none we're to be seen. The glass, too,
had been broken BY quick blow, mol
cut out Altogether. 1t was most mys.
terious piece. OF business. f, tf s, IL,
! watched all dives freqnented BY the
cracksmen Of the city, and worked like 9
beaver I could not obtain clue 70 the
perpetrators Of the daring burglary, 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 al
the head OF this story attracted my at.
tention. J. Instinctively ! OWNED some
connection with the. crooked" business,
and whether it referred TO my case OF
not, I resolved to ascertain it's meaning.
I went down to the Herald Office that
morning and, Introducing myself, at.
tempted to- obtain some description OF
the person wholha handed Ia the advsr.
tieements The clerk stated that it had
been received by mat, in letter inclos.
ing the amount requisite for It's insertion
inG the paper. .Could I see the original
copy Z" p He would see and q message
was sent to the composing-room luckily
the copy had been preserved. / asked
leave to retain 1t, and PERMISSION being
granted to me returned to my room at
I poured loter the eNcipher for along
time, and, discouraged Dc nv inability to
make out q word OF It, was finally about
to abandon il, when I chsnced to look
at the reverse side Of the paper. There
were figures and words on it, and I read,
"United States bonds, $4,000" ard
other memoranda, Indicating that it had
been loose wrapper for valuable pa
pers. o mef' fFsse lest q
Then knew that the advertisement
bore an important relation to the robbes
ry aiIs T. lsi &
And so until the day upon which the
story opens was unable to make head
or tail Of the secret enigma. & @e}
So wearied was / that fell asleep with
my head upon my desk, and did not
awake until noontine. 1t is wonderful
how brief repose will clear the mind
/ took up the paper with renewed ener-
gy, and q bright idea flashed over me
Simple as it Was had not thought Of
II before. The entire message was writ.
ten on the substitution Of letters based
on the reversal Of the alphabet. Instead
Of a, 2, the last one, was substituted; in.
stead OF b, y was used; the alphabet re-
versed was the key to the solution OF the
puzzle. 10 taM@A] ~ ~ -. Gt
Il gave utterance to shout Of Joy, for
following out the theory, it read:
"Larry, meet me Saturday night at127
Fire street. g 2,'is f'''l7F NED
And aNed,"s Or Edward. wa. the name
OF Dayton's footman; I began TO see !
very large mice. But Fire strees-there
was no such thoroug6fare in the city,a
l was "nooded" again. ''oaiTiab
GtsduaIly, however, the thought oc.
Cured to me on the basis of reversals
and lopposites adopted by the sender ol
the message, why should not "fre" mean
'Watef," It's direct revefsef aaf $40
i dashed do wn the stsirs, and, hailins
a cab flor / did not forget that it wal
Saturday, and that evening was the ap
pointed ' time for the meeting; Of the two
bufglars, If such they we're, J I soon had
reached Water street. has 3'i4i lse q
Vacant! Number 1T was an empty
| lotie ase Tsh4a9aH aTs., 81 q
paused, disappointed, and dismissed
the vehicle, again having recourse to tht
puzzling enigma! So near the solution
and yet doomed to be baked at the last
and shfal''st si.'i etii ~ $50 q
A sudden inspiration of renewed en-
ergy, and 4 bad forgot the last link il
the chain Of evidence! There had beer
| reversal ID Che order OF numbers iron
one to ten, as the letters Of the alphabet
and TT meant 1904. 80
Z looked at my watch; 8 o'clock.
went to the nearest local telegraph office
and sent the following dispatch to th
Chief of Police: ~. -, 800 = =
.'.Send TO this Office three efficient me-
/ in citizens clothes "" 80
| / signed my name, lit a cigar, an,
awaited the arrival Of evening and m,
4 companion officers.
! It was dark when we reached the plac
| for the meeting appointed by the tw
mei. 1t was vile gtoggery kept by
woman, and q resort for the very loves
1 class Of ruffians 4 had put on q felt BIZ
] and 3 pair of false whiskers, and I entel
ed the bar; room. having first placed M
men ID advantageous positions on th
outside. : & 'stl.eh",''''s ~ .sts ne3s -
4 Within half an hour there entered a
old woman, veiled, bearing some bulk
object under her cloak. She made sig
to the woman hehind the bar, and wen
into the next room. / caught sight 9
| her feet as she passed through the door
they we're incased, not in shoes, but |
mems boots. / went quickly TO the ba
and made sign to the woman.
! Ills Larry in thereP" inquired In
1AHl r.,;n~ -, thn hou a - -