Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-05-14

his own way. If you meet Parker and
me here al 7 O'Clock tonight. we shall
have that wonderful desk opened; and
your great discoveries shall be made
They met that evening. The desk
was opened by Parker, and a bundle OF
letters, carefully packed up. all from
Elinor Beaumont. and a quantity OF
circulars, play bills and shop receipts
were handed to the expert.
That gentleman read through the let
ters. and seemed much struck by the
last.
Read that, said he. handing it to my
uncle.
As the letter is important, l give Il
entire:
NO. 100 FLEET STREET.
September "a. 1903.
MY DEAR CHARLES = Although
we had and adverse wind all the wav.
~. made without difficulty, the port
we we're bound tor. Ny aunt. in spite
of her fifty years enjoyed the trip very
much. and is ready to sail again. hope
Won will think of sending the line You
nromised on the 25 h. and come your
self as our party is much smaller and
we should enjoy the visit.
when was in London. last week.
I saw our cousin Harry, fresh from
windsor. There is little change to be
observed in him-not as much "a you
would exrect. Come to us on Friday.
Yours affectiOnatrly.
'ELINoR b.
NV uncle read this out loud from be-
cininc 10 end. and then SAID, Do you
see anything suspicious in that? 1t
seems to be very innocent
Hum! 1t may be. Was there any
thing else in the desk?' said he. ad-
dressing Parker.
You may 90 and look, growled that
notenate. and he led the way, and the
expert following.
The desk was quite empty, with the
ovcontion Of two or three scraps ofwhife
napor. On one of these the expert
nonnced and returned with an air Of
o,ation to the other room. He then
unfolded this scrap of paper. ard dis
closed a half sheet exactly the size OF
,he Manor on which Elnor Bearmonts
letter. were written. in which oblong
holes at cnicrvals had been cut
Ue then placed this half sheet over
tbc letter. and handed both thus placed
70 my uncle. whose astonished evo'
road the following words. which the
hole. left visible:
Fleet wind hound. Fifty sail OF the
line TWENTY-FIVE smaller. Should the
wind change. expect us on Fridav.'
THE devil said nv uncle; and Nell
son ordered of to West indies
Then there was. rs YOU NAV suppose
brrrv,no and acurrving. and running
ord G. asinr. and disratchinC Of Gov
orr,ent conriera. and semaphors. tele-
cronhs and carrier pigeons. and all inc
Old World means OF communication
then IN fashion. The kew thus Obtain
Cd disclosed the whole correspondence.
and turned ont 10 hc n connected series
cf letters from The French Government
sn,rcclcd into Jersey. The result his
tory knows; the intended invasion was
abandoned, and Napoleon went else
whore.
But what put you ON the scent"
asked nv uncle, aftorward. with many
apolocies to the expert.
+ susrected the trick from the fret.
although If was a very good specimen
oft. The letters were too innocent and
too little point in them. But they were
done with admirable skill. The gram
mar was complete. and the little d"'s
or marks which burr,ars use to gnld"
them IN writing the words which are to
read were entirely absent. The waV
in which the deception is effected Is
This The correspondents, before ie'
oininr. take a sheet Of paper and GU
holes in it which, OF course the two
half sheets exactly correspond. They
each take one half sheet. and when a
lotter "a TO he written. the writer 81
q frances the words that those intended
10 he read shal, appear in the ho'eS
when the half sheet is placed over the
naner which is OF the same size. Wher
his correspondent receives the letter
he place. his half sheet over IT. hnf
roods off the words "a YOU did. The
difficulty which was so well conquered
in this case. is to make the sense rnr
Auentlv. and 50 prevent anv vls'hl'
break in the writing. Without the hal
sheet with the holes in it. no one car
have the slightest clue to the real mean
ing
NV suapicions. once aroused. wer
confirmed nv the inquiries which made
The whole story about the sister wa
fabrication. The letters did com
from Jersey. the answers went tn Flee
i Street. 10 the charge Of vrrv notorion
foreign agents. But If our friend ha
not been fool enough to leave his ha'
sheet in the desk. we might have grope
in vain for the mvsterv.'
Beaumont disappeared that night,an
: ; was never heard Of again at the Ad
mirnlty. 1t transnired afterwards tha
u somc accomplice had warned him Of th
T. expert's visits to the Admiralty. and hi
INQUIRIES in Jersey. He had made n
" attempt to get an admlitance to h
e rooms. hut was scared bv the sounds h
ls had heard. and managed to escape