Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-06-17

her; shall see her to-day. don't thinl
there can be any imprudence in showing
you this" He took from a large pocket
book which he produced tiny newspaper
cutting. Mr.. Parkman looked at it with 9
face of great amazement. It read thus:
GIL vesvO NJRMGIvv sLFHv sRTsTzGv, Nvve
NV wyzIvHe zG II NszMTv zoovB zG ULFl
GLNDILD YBl GsZG GRNv RDRoO SEER IRN
NBHvOU 1t LII DLING WINNIE BLEI oLER
MT vIMvHG.
ssBut this is gibberishv' the merchant said
after turningit over.
ssNo, not gibberish, the detective au-
swered, wondering that such man should
knaw so littlelpf such a subject, 'sonly ci-
pher, and .thb easist that exists. It's
merely transportation of the alphabet,
q is A, Y is B, and so on. But here is
my translatiQnl j may add that the adver-
tisement appefed in the Standard of last
Friday, sir;
"1o Ethel, Mabatree House, Highgate:
''Meet me. dearest, at II Change alley,
at tomorrow By that time | will have
rid myself Of our worst enemy. You'
loving ERNEST
ssGood heavens!" cried the merchant,
pale with excitement. "He is lost! This
is almost conclusive evidence. don't
know-good heavensl-I don't know what
can be said to this"
"Umphl'' the detective said. "This ad-
vertisement is another thing which had
not when I gave you my opinion this
morning." He said it meaningly, and
paused as if he expected to be questioned
But Mr.. Parkman had not marked the
drift of his last words and let them pass
unchallenged.
'sNot through me-" she answered quick.
ly. "But remember Ernest saying that
young Mr.. Parkman knew all about me,
and had been very kind. But he cannot
have anything to do with it,
"No,' the detective answered briskly;
but he may have told some one else. !
must go to Richmond tomorrow, or as
no time" he added cheerily. "Your
young gentleman shall be free in day or OF
two. And hope that then he will teach
you better cipher, miss-or get rid of any
necessity for using one.n
On the tram-car Peters said to himself:
Wanted, some one with two things. First
ly, metive for numbering Critchlow, and
secondly, knowledge, however gained, of
the relations between Crisp and this very
nice girl By gad! This isa new ideal
Could it be that Critchlow fancied the girl
and tried to decoy her there with this bogus
message, and was found out and killed by
the jealous lover before the girl came! /
must consider that. That is new ideaH'
CHAPTER V.
care y tleDgaged to marry the accus-
ed?''
This was not the first question put to the
witness, but it was the first that promised
to afford the spectators, who occupied ev-
cry inch of floor in the justice-room, the
slightest return for the trouble they had
taken. The city was talking of nothing but
the Critchlow tragedy, and even in Cheap
side the excitement was plainly visible
Every one who could win an en-
trance, and was not engaged elsewhere,
was there. 1t was rumOred that the mat
ter was now as clear as the murder was dia-
bolical, and that the young man would GER
tainly be committed for trial to-day. Among
the persons pointed at, and scanned and
by the crowd in that close green
painted court, with the one window and the
skylight, was Mr.. Parkman; and close OBJ
servers noted that his eyes would now and
again turn from wandering over the court
to cast a look of anxiety, of expectation, al
most of dread, toward the door.
But listen. The witness has answered
the question bravely. 81 am."
ssAnd he was in the habit of communicate
ing with you by cipher advertisements SINH
lar to the one I produce?'
ssHe was.''
''Did he communicate with you by an ad-
ri, opt in tbn Nfo1,1nYd
the Friday before the murder?''
s'He did not"
"Were you," said the counsel, smiling,
'sunder the impression last Saturday that
The advertisement eEanated from hlm?'
81 was. But you must let me explain !"
And with great steadiness she stated her
reasons for SO thinking, and what she had
the message to mean, and why
she did not now think Ernest the author of
it. This caused great sensation. The
strange cipher advertisement was a fact
quite new to the general public.
edo understand you to think, then,
Miss Maunder, that the person, whoever he
was, who inserted this advertisement, was
also the murderer"
81 don't know" she faltered. Then with
courage: eyes, do think 500
He smiled calmly as he looked around
It was evident he thought nothing of the
girls theory, but believed Crisp to be both
author and murderer. Others in court also
smiled and shook their heads. Her idea
was too complex and far-fetched for them.
They could not swallow it, in vulgar phrase.
She was taken then through the events of
the Saturday afternoon, and examined par
ticularly as to the prisoners statements
about the deceased. Afterward the solicit
tor for the defence, we'll known to be en-
ployed by Mr.. Parkman, drew from her all
that might tell in the prisoners favor; and
then, casting one long, loving look of COM
fort at her lover, Ethel sat down. She had
told the truth; she had perfect trust now in
The wisdom of the law.
Two or three unimportant witnesses fol-
lowed, the medical evidence succeeded
these, and then Mr.. Parkman was called
AS he took off his glove many sympathizing
glances were cast at his handsome figure
and grave face. What trouble and an
noyance it must have been to him! What
4 loss to be deprived of his two chief en-
ployes at once! And then how rich he was
said to be; and almost fashionable too, for
was he not going to be married to the Hon.
5ylvestra Hautban? Even the Lord Mayor
could hardly refrain from leaning forward
IN his great oak chair to look his sympathy
"The prisoner has been clerk in the en-
oloyment of your firm for nearly fourteen
years, Mr.. Parkman?" That was the first
question of any interest.
ssHe has. He has been most faithful,
'teady, and upright man in all his dealings
With u.s.
This was gallant testimony, but what
Gould it avail against facts? 1t only evok-
ID look of warm gratitude from the pri-
,oner. Mr.. Parkman then went on to tell
what he knew of the difference between
Critchlow and the prisoner, and the un-
friendly mention of the cashier which Crisp
lad made in their last conversation. But
,e told this so reluctantly that the examin-
ng barrister was struck by his bias in the
favor, and asked him with a
smile: "And do you think that the same
person inserted the advertisement and COM
nitted the murder?"
The witness paused; it was clear that he
lad no doubt that his protege was guilty of
he one and the other, for he faltered and
passed his hand over his brow. Then he
aid, II do"
s.And SO do ~ said the counsel dryly,
md was about to sit down with that quip
n his mouth, when there was hustle at
he door. Some glanced that way impa-
iently, and some expectantly; what was the
oppression of Mr.. Parkman's face il was