Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-02-19

would be ]; p would be u: K tmaking follow ?,
would bee. Next comes d. which would be 4:
then n, which would be s-the true letter being
always the itth letter from the cipher forward
Follow Ii out, gentlemen. and see for your
selves"
did as he bade me. And the cipher read let
ing OF the name OF the tsststrix and all:
GPXDS wNDYBDoy JwDNI HIT
LUCIS BaIDGITA oBISS MY
IDz3Z.
NIECE.
mere was no more doubt that the cipher was
this than 1t was My dear nephew, Flrentz Steldl.
IL meant both equally and both at the same
=. put It to every cryptologist In the world, is
within the bounds tf credibil that cipher
OF twenty -hve letters should be readable In two
eAactV opposite and inconsistent ways and
that Its two irreconciaple solutions should he
gained by following two simple principles both
equally obvious and equally sound? IncredI.
bie-nay, Impossible, Will be the unanimous
answer And yet the impossible, by marvel
Gus cnain or condolences. was effected I'm that
VIII or Miss Molloy. She could not Intentionally
nave Drought about such a result, even If she
had tried: The for the e In Ferentz, or rather
FlIentZ, left no room for doubt that Wfthers'
solution was true. On the other hand. the pecu.
nar spelllng or Bridgita was an unanSwerable
argument In favor OF Mr.. Higgins. Withers had
started on the principle which has amused so
many readers OF Edgar Poe, and Is in itself
perfectly true and sound one Higgins had
started on the principle favored by simpIetons
VINO correspond In cipher in the agony columns
and imagine that their silly secrets are moi
open 10 body who takes 1--WE minutes trouble
70 read them.
What was TO be done-now?
Siear ~ the situation was not realized by
either OF the fathers Of the rival legateeS. But
gloom came over the face or Mr. Wtthers. ne
ttok up the paper on which Mr.. Higgins had
written his solution and examined IL In
tentty.
NO sane woman would have used such a
simple cipher as that" said he. at Is lust thu
solution that would satisfy an amateur"
True" said MIR. Higgins, with slight sheer.
Jury men are IN the position or amateurs. be-
"a cipher can have two solutions" said Mr..
Nithers. throwing the paper down.
-, True True, again" said Mr. Higgins Happily
for Miss O'Birn.'
Have you studied cryptology as a science.
Mr.. H1gg1ns?' asked MIR. Wftlfers. with a wild
effort at elaborate courtesy.
u 10 not such an ass" said Mr.. Higgins, with
no pretence of courtesy at all. "I'd as soon set
whimS."
You are insulting, sir. There is a science OF
writing; and i shouldn't Hike to write Ike YOU
Judging from what it's like to be-"
IL always make 1t a point OF insulting lacks
and humbugs, said MI. Higgins. Its the first
duty of man. I've read that cipher in the way
that would satlsfy anybody but an expert, and
there's an end
"Whom do you call a quack, sir? Let me
tell you that when IA man deliberately insults
my science, IL feel 1t my duty to KNOCK him
down"
neutrality-suspicious." l cried out, you
nave both been very cleyer-a great deal too
clever for me. / would gladly have accepted
either OF your readings, Heaven knows. But |
can't accept both; and both your reasons are
so admirable that / can't accept either And
what's worse, It's your arguments. not YOUR
assertions, that Will have to 60 into Chancery:
AID into Chancery We must all 90. Yes, there's
no help for 1t now; and, once In, Heaven alone
knows when we shall get out again.
81 OBJECT TO the law on princiDle: / shall have
nothing 10 do With the law" said SteldI; and |
have 60 doubt but he had excellent reasons
Tor the only principle l ever heard OF his
having. Il bring my expert; you are satisfied.
! demand twenty-five thousand pounds for my
Il despise the law" shouted the Major. "An
irish gentleman doesn't mix up with petit
Jogging rascals ] wouldn't touch the dirthy
thing with the end OF an old boot, It's as clear
as day-LuciS Bridgita O'Birn.'
ut must be compromise, or-Chancery," said
l. Have IL as you Will"
"Compromise-wit him ?" said Steldl. point
Ing to the Major with his thumb. Not one
penny shall he rob my son."
'Compromlse-With Sseldl 2" said the Major
In his turn. maybe with Old Nick would: for
o!d NICK 8 gentleman added he.
And there was the deadest lock ever heard
OF since was born. No Lord Chancellor ever
Grew up Will that most clearly meant two
opposite and frreconciiable things. And So
verify believe, should we have been standing at
this triangular deadlock at the present hour
had not the delay Itself brought about a most
natural solution In the most natural way in
the world. When In doubt, do nothing" i
constantly ind TO be the wtsest maxim that
ever was made.
My relief at the time hardly equaled my sur
prise. But considering that Mrs. Steldl and
Mrs. oBlrn had never Quaraled-considering
that they had met again-considering what SORT
or young people their son and their daughter
Were-I must own that was an ass 10 feel sur
prised on learning OF the marriage OF Lieulen-
ant Steldl to LUcis Bridgita 0Birn. The his
tory OF the Montagues and the Capulets does
not stand alone In the effect OF the feuds OF the
old upon the hearts of the young. Bat this is
no part OF my story. Enough that her claims
became his. while his remained his own-and
therefore her own, too. And If two elderly ras-
Gals were kept In somewhat disreputable clover
for the rest of their days. and If two executors
were content TO run little safe risk In making
things comfortable all round for everybody.
themselves included, and IL two cryptologists
remained irTeeoncilable foes, and II two young
people became happy In their own peculiar way
and II the court was deprived OF big cause
and the profession OF the bulk OF the property
of Miss Molloy-well the fault is mainly my
own. profess only 30 tell the story, not to solve
the mystery OF Miss MolloyS most Remarkable
i G..