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

..To Show ,hat Won are in earnest.o

~ buiSt Oht lhuEttiE. ~ UIikuhlt py
much amiss," he said, iii too 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 H. 20 there was a soft knock at
the door. A little girl in - shabby frock YEN
tured to show herself in the room.
What DO you want IIerey' her mother
asked sharply.
sgd held out a small, thin, hand. with a
letter in it, which. represented her only ex-
cuse. Mrs. Westerfield read the letter and
crumpled il mp in her pocket. 'One OF your
secretsg' James asked. Anything about
the diamonds, for instance"
wait till you are my husband she said,
'and then you may he as inquisitive as YOU
please Her amiable sweetheart's y,iass
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 a foreign interpreter Of
ciphers, she had written To ask his terms.
The reply Dust receiyedJ not only estimated
his services at an extrayagantly high rate,
but asked cautious questions which il was
not convenient TO answer. Another attempt
had been made 10 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-
scending curiosity. Looks half starved"
he said-as if he was considering the ease Of
a stray cat. "Hullo, there! Buy a bit OF
bread" He tossed a penny 10 sgd as he LETT
the room and took the opportunity Of bind
ing his bargain with Syd's mother. mind!
IL / take you to New York I'm not tn be
hardened with both your children. is that
girl the one YOU leave behind yOug"
Mrs. Westertield smiled sweetly and an
swered: Yes, dear
THE Cipher.
An advertisement in the newspapers, adj
dressed to persons skilled in the interpreted
ton OF ciphers, now represented Mrs. West
erteld's only chance Of discovering where
the diamonds were hidden. The first answer
that she received made some amends for
previous disappointment. Ii offered refer
ences Ia gentlemen whose names were in
themselves a sufficient guarantee. She veri-
fed the references, nevertheless. and paid 4
visit TO her correspondent on the same day.
His personal appearance was not IN his ia.
yor-he was old and dirty, iutirm and poor.
His mean room was Uttered with shabby
books. None Of the ordinary courtesies OF
life seened to be known Ia him: he neither
wished Mrs. Westerfield goOd-mOrning nor
asked her Ia take a seat. When she attempt
ed 10 enter into explanations relating 10 her
errand he rudely interrupted her. SHOW
NE your cipher" he said; Il don't promise
to study il unless ! find ii worth my while"
Mrs. WeSterfieId was alarmed. DO you
mean that you want a large sun of money!
she asked.
al moan thaf 4 Hnr'f tvasfa my fitua IN.
easy clphers invented by fools"
She laid the slip of paper on his desk.
"Waste your time on that" she said, sar-
castically, and see how YOU like it."
He examined it-frst with his bleared red.
trimmed eyes; then with a magnifying glass.
The only expression Of 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. Westerfield. How did you come
by this?' he asked.
That's no busines of yours
in other words, you have reasons Of your
W for not answering my question:
Yes"
Drawing his own differences from that IT,
ply he showed his three ~last-left yellow teeth
in a horrid grin. Il understand he said.
ftaNAAiH ~ iaiil''lls ~ a. ft u
pher once more, and put another question:
Have you got a copy of this":'
IL 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.
ID you know what might happen%' he
asked. The only cipher that has puzzled
mo for tba Lost tom xaaru~ might ha i,.,-nr
stolen-Of burnt il there was n ire in the
house. You deserve 10 be punished for your
carelessness. Make the copy Yourself"
This desirable suggestion (uncivilly as il
-. 49,
Westerdeld. Her marriage depended on that
precious slip OF paper. She was confirmed
g" har opinion that this Very disagreeable
man might nevertheless be a man TO be trust
ed.
'Shall YOU be long in finding out what i:
nleans.r she asked, when her task was COM
pleted.
He carefully compared the copy with the
original, and then he replied:
Days may pass before | can find q clew.
l wOn't 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. Westerield
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.
I'll tell you when I've done"
THAT won't do. must know the amount
first"
He handed her back her papers for the see
ond time. Mrs. Westeriield'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 il up in his desk.
"Call here this day week" he said-and re-
tlrned to his book.
You are not very polite" she told him, on
leaving the room.
AT any rate" he answered, Il don't in
terrupt 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-
tons that he owed To a lady.
well" she asked, ''haye you earned your
money!"
Il have found the clew."
What is itT!' she burst out. 'rell me the
substance. ioan't val; - read"
He went on impenetrably with what he
had to say. But there are some minor COM |
binations which l have still to discover to my
own satisfaction. | wan a few days more"
She positively refused to comply with this
request. Write down the substance of it,"
she repeated, ''and tell me what | owe 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 a furious
look Mrs. Westerfield expressed her opinion
of the philosopher In two words: You
brute!' She failed To produce the slightest
impression Oh him.
my work. he proceeded, ''must be well
done, or not lone at all. This IL SATURDAY..
18th Of the month. We will say the evening
of "Wednesday next"
Mrs. Westerfield sufficiently controlled her-
self to be able TO review her engagements for
the coming week. On Thursday the delay
avacfat ny fha n.arriaoa tiaaoca xrnut.i ~.