Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-12-12

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-
scending curiosity. Looks half starved"
he said-as il he was considering the ease of
q stray cat. "HullO, there! BUY 4 bit of
bread" He tossed a penny TO sgd as he left
the room and took the opportunity OF bind
ing his bargain with Syd's mother. mind!
If | take you TO New York I'm not 10 be
hardened with both your children. Is that
girl the one you leave behind your
Mrs. Westerteld smiled swcetly and an
swered: "les, dear
THE cipher.
An advertisement In the newspapers, adj
dressed Ia persons skilled In the interpreta-
ton OF ciphers. now represented Mrs. West
eriield'S only chance of discovering where
the diamonds were hidden. The first answer
that she received made some amends for
previous disappointment. 1t offered refer
ences to gentlemen whose names were in
themselves a sufficient guarantee. She veri-
fled the references, nevertheless, and pail q
visit to her correspondent on the same day.
His personal appearance was not in his IA
vor-he was old and dirty. iniirm and poor.
His mean room was Uttered with shabby
books. None of the ordinary cOurtesies of
life seemed 10 be known to him; he neither
wished Mrs. Westeriield good-mOrnlng nor
asked her to take a seat. When she attempt
ed TO enter into explanations relating 10 her
errand he rudely interrupted her. "Show
me your cipher" he said; Il don't promise
TO study il unless | find it worth my while"
Mrs. Westerield was alarmed. "Do you
mean that you want a large sum of money!
she asked.
IL mean that | don't waste my time on
easy ciphcrs invented by fools
She laid the slip OF paper on his desk.
"Waste your time on hdt,' she said, sar-
castically, land see how you like It,"
He examined it-lirst with his blearcd red
trimmed eyes; then with a magnifying glass.
The only expression 0f opinion that escaped
him was Indicated by his actions. He shut
up his book and glOated over the signs and
characters before him. On a sudden he look
ed at Mrs. Westeriield. How did YOU come
by thisg' he asked.
That's no business of yours
I'm other words, you have reasons of your
W for not answering my question:
yes"
Drawing his own differences from that ~.
ply he showed his three lasi left yellow teeth
in a hOrrid grin. IL understands he said.
speaking to himself. He looked at the eli
pher once more, and put another question:
Have you got IA ccpy of thiS?'
II had not occurred To her To take a copy.
He rose and pointed to his empty chair. His
opinion of the cipher was, to all appearance,
forced to express itself by the discovery that
there was no copy.
"Do you know what might happen" he
asked. 1.-The only cipher that has puzzled
me for the last ten years might be loSt-Or
StOlen-or burnt if there was a fire in the
house. You deserve to be punished for your
carelessness. Make the copy yourself"
This desirable suggestion Wnciyilly as II
was expressed had its effect upon Mrs.
Wcstcrlield. Her marriage depended ON that
precious slip of paper. She was confirmed
:" "o" opinion that this very disagreeable
man might nevertheless be a man TO be trust
ed.
'Shall you be long in finding out what il
meanS?' she asked, when her task was com-
pleted.
lie carefully compared the copy with the
original, and then he replied:
Days may pass before | can find a clew.
! wOn'C attempt it unless you give me "a
week."
She pleaded for a shorter interval. He
coolly handed back her paperS--the original
and the copy.
Try somebody else he suggested-and
opened his book again. Mrs. Westeriield
yielded with the worst possible grace. In
granting him the week of delay she APP
preached the subject Of his fee for the second
time. How much will it cost me?' she in
quired.
''Ill tell you when I've DONE
That won't do! / must know the amount
first"
He handed her back her papers for the sec
ond time. Mrs. Westerlicld's experience of
poverty had never been the experience of
such independence as this. In her bewilder-
ment She yielded again. He took back the
original cipher and locked it up in his desk.
"Call here this day week. he said-and re-
tarned to his book.
you are not very polite" she told him, on
leaving the room.
AT any rate" he answered, II don't in
people when they are reading"
The week passed.
Repeating her visit, Mrs. Westerfield found
him still seated at his desk, still surrounded
by his books, still careless of the polite atten-
lions that he owed to Il lady.
well" she asked, "haye you earned your
money!
81 have found the clew."
what Is itY' she burst out. 'Tcll me the
substance. / can't wait to read"
He went on impenetrably with what he
had to say. "But there are some minor COM
k,,ot,.,,. ,nIt.I, n,r. ,sn A., 49,.
own satisfaction. ] want a few days more"
She positively refused to comply with this
Write down the substance of it,"
she repeated, land tell me what | YOU"
He handed her back her cipher for the
third time.
The woman who could have kept her tenn
per under such prOvocation as this, may be
found when the mathematician is found who
can square the circle or the inventor who can
discover perpetual motion. With 4 furious
look Mrs. Westerfeld expressed her opinion
of the philosopher in two words: You
She failed to produce the s~lightes.
impression on him.
my work" he proceeded, must be well
done, or not done at all. This is Saturday,
nth of the month. We will say the evening
of Wednesday next"
Mrs. Westeriield sufficiently controlled i,er-
self to be able TO review her engagements for
the coming week. On Thursday the delay
eXacted by the marriage license would eX-
pire, and the wedding might take place. On
Friday the express train conveyed passengers
to Liverpool to be in time for the departure
the steamer for New York on Saturday
morning. Having made these calculations
she asked, with sulky submission, If she was
expected to call again on the "Wednesday
evening.
mo. Leave me your name and address.
L will send you the cipher, interpreted, at
O'clock"
Mrs. Westerlield laid one of her visiting
cards ON his desk, and left him.
S.-Thc Diamonds.
The new week was essentially a week OF
eYents.
On the Monday morning Mrs. Westerfield
ana her faithful James had their first quarrel.
She took the liberty of reminding him that
II was time To give notice of the marriage at
the church, and to secure erths In the steam.
er for herself and her son.. Instead of an
swering one way or another James asked
o the expert was getting on.
HAS your old man found out where the
diamonds areg.'
"Not yet"
Then Wen wait till he does"
do you believe my worI?" Mrs. Wester.
field asked CURLY.
James Bellbridge answered, with Roman