Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1899-12-28
tine dies have flown this time, any
how, in spite of the SPIDERS watchful-

A.tS SdIiCl tlIu.
s'We)l, Sherman" remarked banter
ingly, when we were left alone-for the
temptation to have quiet fling at him
proved irresistible-'how Jared the
quest? Did the lady prove amenable to
your Establishments
eyes, sonny" he retorted, displaying
his strong, white teeth in an exasperat-
ing grin, ''you can congratulate me, I
reckon, right now!"
AND with short laugh he turned on
his heel and strobe away, leaving me
absolutely dumtounded at his amazing
a,ldacity.
"Oh. by-the-bye," he remarked, stay
ing at the door, there's your paper.
Guess we're still friends, anyhow. :. ..
Shake! No? Well, just as you please"
As he drew the journal from his
breast-pocket, all unobserved by him
a small fragment of paper fluttered to
the for.
':Well, for a cool liar" I burst out,
hotly, ''you certainly take it," But he
only replied with a hooking laugh, as
he swung through the door and disap-
peared. ..
Enthusiastically stopped and
picked up the crumpled bit of paper
which had fallen from his pocket.
Smoothing it out I discovered upon it
what at first sight appeared to be an
arithmetical calculation of some sort.
1t was scrubbed in pencil, and read as
follows:
543-4-0-4O9.2.
1.7.4s.3 - 10 - ill.,
9.105.337-21. 29.-29.17.3.
Turning the paper over curiously n
my fingers I scrutinized the figures
again and again in vain endcavor to
dacipher their meaning, and then, sud-
denly, as noted the indistinct impress
of the circular datingstamp, which
proclaimed that It had passed through
the post office, it struck me that this
was no arithmetical calculation, but a
cipher message of some kind.
But what could it mean? "543-4-9
Puzzled, I dropped into the window
seat, and, as did so, my eyes lit upon
he folded cover of the journal beside
me. The top portion of the front cover,
bearing the familiar title and the date,
alone was visible. "543-4-9!" repeat
ed, abstractedly. And then, all in mo-
ment, it occurred to me that also had
many times jotted down just such an
other batch of figures in certain futile
attempts to win an initial letter COM
petition, which some time previously
had been announced weekly by this: my
favorite journal. The idea was to form
the hest sentence from the initial let
tiers so taken. and as noted the num-
Der of that issue and the date Of the
paper-April 9-the connection struck
me, and I OWNED that the key lay to
lay fingers.
Eagerly turning the leaves I found
the page indicated, "409," and scrutin-
lied the second column for the clew to
the hidden message. Nor did I look in
vain, for at glance I discovered that
the initial letters of many of the lines
the page down were licked by very
faint pencil-mark.
This, then, was why the willy Sher-
man, who had never to my knowledge
manifested any interest in the period
ical literature of the day, had borrowed
my journal. He had had some Interior
motive. This weekly paper was key
to prearranged code of correspon-
dence with some acquaintance. The
mystery was a mystery no longer. The
enigma was solved!
Deducing that the figures given in
dicated the number of the respective
lines, set to work with my pencil, and
in few moments had evolved the fol-
lowing message from the initial letters
of the lines corresponding to the num-
bers:
mail-rll- c. swag %.
KIT" .
For some seconds gazed at the words
before me at loss to comprehend their
meaning. Then, their full significance
dawned upon me, and sprang to my
feet with suppressed cry of triumph.
$50, Mr.. Sherman" I muttered, you
have employed your slack time to some
purpose"
Without loss of time I sought the de-
tective and the chief, and straightway
placed the facts before them. The Off
Ger listened to my breath1ess eXpiana-
tions in silence, and, when had fin.
ished my recital, his face was illumined
by meaning smile.
''Mr. Whitworth," he remarked, de-
liberately, carefully placing the papers
in his pocket, II congratulate you on
your perspicuity. From the first sur
missed the culprit must be looked for in
side the building. My examination of
the case strengthened this belief. The
screws along the side, proNimate to the
missing relic, have been tempered with,
allowing the case to be tilted upwards
from its supporting pedestal and the
insertion of the depredator's hand.
The marks of the screwdriver were
fresh upon them, and, though scarcely
apparent to the naked eye, easily dis
cernible through my glass. The theft
I am prepared to swear could hardly
be accomplished under two minutes by
the most dexterous swellmobsman at
large.
1.-TWO minutes is long time, con-
sidering the publicity of the apartment.
Wherefore my deduction! The robbery
was committed between four and six
yesterday afternoon.
II need scarcely impress upon you
the imperativeness of absolute silence.
Good! You will meet me at six in the
station-master's Office. For this night
only, you and will pose as railway
porters."