Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-05-31

"JhAt key. SAID Crisp, still DEVIL
dered and Graphing with the memory
of things which seemed to have hap
pened SO long ago. "that is the key Of
Mr. Critch--" he stopped with trem-
bling lips. He had gone so far I'M
thinking; and then his position in all
its bearings flashed across his mind.
He remembered all that the presence Of
that key upon him, all that the words
he had uttered, might mean for him.
The room began to go round, visions Of
Ethel and Mr.. Critchlow swan before
his eyes. Amid an appalling silence,
which had greeted his words, he fell to
the floor in dead faint.
Five minutes later the room was
cleared Of all save its owner and the
short, stout man. 81 cannot believe
it now" Mr.. Parkman was saying
"and yet the key-the key! How
can he explain that? How can he ex-
plain that?"
"You remember, sir, I told you it
was a pretty clear CASE" answered the
detectivo-for such he was, and WELL
known one.
You did, and l did not believe
you," the merchant answered with
groan. He was very greatly distressed,
and no wonder.
swell, sir, I'm inclined to think
that you were right and I was wrong"
the other answered, dryly.
"Eh Less clear now, Inspector?
But the key?"
at is the key, and another matter
or two that puzzle me-" the man an
swered thoughtfully. " You've read,
dare say, of murderers doing stupid
things, sir? There was that nurse who
straDgled her patient, and then could
not refrain from laying her out? Yes,
quite so. But l never heard of muir
derer carrying proof against himself
in his pocket, and that proof thing he
had no motive for keeping and every
chance to get rid off,"
It almost seemed as if the merchant
in his interest in the puzzle thus pre-
sented to him forgot his anxiety on be-
half of his poor clerk. "But," he sug-
gested, I" it was very likely sheer care
lessness. Its discovery you could see
was a terrible shock to him."
"Quite true, sir" the detective said.
"And the female who. if the police
man is to be believed, was with him
if you could get a clue to her, she
might clear it all up"
Il hope she may" the man answer
ed coolly, for ] have not only got the
clue to her; | shall see her to-day. |
don't think there can be any impru-
dence in showing you this" He took
from large pockct-book which he pro-
duced a tiny newspaper cutting. Mr..
Parkman looked at it with a face OF
great amazement. 1t read thus
"GL vGsvO NZRMGIvv sLFHv
sRTsTZGv NvvG Nv wvZIvHG zG
II xsZMTv ZOOvB 20 ULFI GLNDILD
YB GsZG GRNv RDROo sZEv INV
NBHVoU LII LII DLIHG vMvNB BLFI
OLERMT VIMVHG."
But this is gibberish." the mer-
chant said, after turning it over.
"No, not gibberish," the detective
answered, wondering that such man
should know so little of such subject,
only cipher, and the easiest that ex-
lists. It's merely transposition Of the
alphabet, Z is A, Y is b, and so on.
But here is my translation. | may
add that the advertisement appeared in
the Standard Of last Friday, sir"
The translation ran as follows:
$40 Ethel, Maintree House, HigLgate /:
meet me, dearest, at II Change
alley, at 4 tomorrow. by that time |
will have rid myself Of oar worst enc
my. Your loving ERNEST"
Good heavens :" cried the mer-
chant, pale with excitement. " He is
lost This is almost conclusive evil
dence. don't know-good heavens -
| don't know what can be said to this. ="
"Umph :" the detective said. This
advertisement is another thing which |
had not when gave you my opinion
this morning." He said it meaningly,
and paused as if expecting to be ques-
toned. But Mr.. Psrkman had not
marked the drift of his last words, and
let them pass unchallenged.
mot through me-" she answered
quickly. but | remember Ernest say
ing that young Mr.. Parkman knew all
about me, and had been very kind. But
he cannot have anything to do with it,
mo" the detective answered brisk
ly; but he may have told some one
else. must 90 to Richmond to-mor-
row, or as soon as | can. and ask him.
We will lose no time" he added cheeri-
ly. Your young gentleman shall be
free in day or two. And | hope that
then he will teach you a better cipher,
miss-Or get rid Of any necessity for
using one"
On the tram-car Peters said To him
self: Wanted, some one with two
things. Firstly, a motive for murder
ing Critchlow. and secondly, KNOW
ledge. however gained, of the relations
between Crisp and this very nice girl.
BY CAD This is a new idea. 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 idea -
CHAPTER V.
"Are you engaged to marry the ac-
cused -
This was not the first question put
to the witness. but it was the first that
promised to afford the spectators, who
occupied every inch Of floor in the JUS
tice-room, the slightest return for the
trouble they had taken. The city was
talking of nothing but the Critchlow
tragedy, and even in Cheapsde the er-
element was plainly visible. E' ~
enc who could win an entrance, and
was not engaged elsewhere, vas
there. twas rumored that the matter
was now as clear as the murder was
diabolical, and that the young man
would certainly be committed for trial
to-day. Among the persons pointed at
and scanned and sketched by the crowd
in that clnse rreen-nainfed court viii