Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-03-05
She had bottle f brandy ready for him.

She had bottle brandy ready for him.
s'You look quite overcome" she said.
He was too deeply interested in the restora.
tive influence of the brandy to take any no
tice of this remark. When he had recovered
himself he was not disposed to believe in the
s5,OOO "Where's the proof of it?'' he said
sternly.
She produced her husbands letter. 'fDid
you read the trial of Westerfield for casting
away his ship" she asked.
II heard of it"
"Wiu you look at this letter."
SIS it long"'
eyes"
"Then suppose you read it to me-"
He listened with the closest attention while
she read. The question of stealing the dia-
monds Of they could only be found did no,
trouble either of them. 1t was settled ques-
ton, by tacit consent, on both sides. But the
value in money OF the precious stones sug-
gested doubt that still weighed on his mind.
slow do you know they're worth s., COOP
he inquired.
you dear old stupid! Doesn't Wester-
field himself say so in his letter"'
Read that bit again"
She read it again: AFTER the two calami-
pearance Of the diamonds-the last being
valued at e5 0OO-I returned to England"
Satisfied so far, he wanted to look at the
cipher next. She handed it to him with a
stipulation, "Yours, Jenny, on the day
when you marry me-"
He put the slip of paper into his pocket
"Now, I've got i" he said, suppose keep
it?'
A hn hos ha nj at n h
lie house is woman not easily found at the
end of her resources. 'In that case" she
CURLY remarked, 81 should call in the police,
and then telegraph TO my husbands employ
ers In Liverpool"
lie handed the cipher back. Il was jok-
Ing" he said.
$50 was l." she answered.
They looked at each other. They were
made for each other-and they both felt it.
At the same time James kept his own inter
ests steadily in view. He stated the obvious
objection to the cipher. Experts had already
tried to interpret the signs, and had failed.
quite true" she added, "but other people
may succeed"
How are you to find them?'
Leave me TO try. VIII you give me fort
night from to-day"
"All right. Anything else?'
Zone thing more. Get the marriage license
at once"
"Why?"
'"To show that you are in earnest"
He burst out laughing. at mightn't be
much amiss," he said, ''if l took you back
with me TO America; you're the sort OF wo-
man we want in our new saloon. I'll get the
license. Good night"
AS he rose to go there was a soft knock at
the door. A little girl in a shabby frocl; ven
tured to show herself in the room.
What do you want here?" her mother
asked sharply.
sgd held out a small, thin, hand, with a
letter in it, which represented her only ex-
cuse. Mrs. Westerlield read the letter and
crumpled it up in her pocket Zone of your
secrets" James asked. Anything about
the diamonds, for instance"
"Wait till you are my husband" she said,
"and then you may be as inquisitive as you
please" Her amiable sweetheart's guess
had actually hit the mark. During the year
that had passed she, too, had tried her luck
among the experts and had failed. Having
recently heard of foreign interpreter of
ciphers, she had written to ask his terms
The reply Gust rccGived) not only estimated
his services at an eXtravagantly high rate,
but asked cautious questions which it was
not convenient to answer. Another attempt
had been made to discover the mystery of
the cipher, and made in vain.
James Bellbridge had his moments of good
humor, and was on those rare occasions east
ly amused. lie eyed the child with conde-
scendng curiosity. Looks half starved"
he sad-as if he was considering the case Of
a stray cat "lIullo, there! Buy bit of
bread" He tossed penny to sgd as he left
the room and took the opportunity of bind
ing his bargain with Syd's mother "Mindl
If take you to New York Pm not to be
burdened with both your children. Is that
girl the one you leave behind youY'
Mrs Westeriicld smiled sweetIy and an
swered: "Yes, dear"