The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1901-09-19
CHAPTER III.

Side SID or paper aSlues ANU III Se1l'H VI
an explanation, returned to the letter
Here again she found herself in a state Of
perplexity. Directed to Mrs. Roderick
Westerheld," the letter began abruptly,
without the customary form of address.
Did it mean that her husband was angry
with her when he wrote? 1t meant that
he doubted her.
In these terms he expressed himself:
II write to you before my trial takes
place If the verdict goes in my favor,
| shall destroy what / have written II
am found guilty. I must leave it for you
to do what | should otherwise have done
for myself.
The undeserved misfortune that has
overtaken me began with the arrival OF
my ship in the port of Rio. Our second
mate asked leave to go on shore-and
never returned. What motive determined
him on deserving I am not able to say. 1t
was my own wish to supply his place by
promoting the best seaman on board. My
owners agents overruled me, and appoint
ed a man of their own choosing.
What nation he'd belonged to | don't
know The name he gave was BelJames,
and he was reported to be broken-down
gentleman. Whoever he might be, his
manner and his talk were captivating.
Everybody liked him.
After the two calamities Of the loss of
the ship and the disappearance OF the dla-
monds-these last being valued at FIVE
thousand pounds-I returned to England
by the first opportunity that offered, hay-
ing Beljames for a companion.
shortly after getting back to my house
in London, | was privately warned by
good friend that my owners had decided
to prosecute me for willfuly casting away
the ship, and for having stolen the missing
diamonds The second mate, who had
been in command of the vessel when she
,; struck Oh the rock, was similarly charged
along with me. knowing myself to be in
nocent. I determined OF course, to stand
nv trial. Ny wonder was, what Bel
James would do We had separated in
Cornwall, and had not met since.
ION the voyage home Beljames told me
that legacy had been left to him; being
a small freehold house and garden in st.
Johns Wood, London. While my mind
was running on this recollection l was
told that a decent elderly woman wanted
to see me. She proved to be the landlady
; of the house in which Beljames lodged
I and she brought an alarming message.
The man was dying, and desired to see
me. | went to him Immediately.
T "Beljames had heard Of the intended
r prosecution. How he had been made
l. aware of it death left him no time to tel
y me. The miserable wretch had poisoned
himself-whether in terror of standing bis
d trial or in remorse of conscience, it is moi
d any business of mine to decide Most I'M
e Iuckily for me- he first ordered the doe
r tor and the landlady out of the room
b and then. when we two were alone, owned
d that he had purposely altered the COURSE
d of the shin. and had stolen the diamonds
E Having eased his mind by confession
:. he gave me the slip of paper which yol
ct will find inclosed in this. There is M
lie note OF the place where the diamonds arr
hidden he said Among the many ignor
IS ant people who know nothing of ciphers
Id am one and l told him so. That's how
to 1 keep my secret he said; write iron
er nv dictation. and you shall know what i
lie means. Lift me up first As l did it b
r rolled his head to and fro, evidently il
If pain. But he managed to point to pen
ink and paper on a table hard by. o
Id which his doctor had been writing. LEI
ID him for moment TO pull the table neare
D. to the bed, and in that moment he groaT
IS ed and cried out for help. l ran to tn
he room downstairs where the doctor wa
or waiting. When we got back to him h
was in commissions. 1t was all over wit
no Beljames.
ok The lawyers who are TO defend m
"a. have tried to get experts. as they ca
them, to interpret the cipher. The e.
20 perts have all failed They will declar
,r- if they are called as witnesses, that th
lis signs on the paper are not according
on any known rule, and are marks made 4
ng random meaning nothing.
AZ rf ton aEartf an ms moi n of
or confession made to me. the law refuses
Wv hear it except from the mouth Of a wi
m. ness. might prove that the ships cour.
is was changed, contrary 10 my direction
lift after had gone below to rest, il cOu
find the man who was steering at the tim
he Heaven knows where that man is.
de "On the other hand, the errors Of n
ct past life, and my being in debt. are ci
aw cumstances dead against me. The lay
nv yers seem to trust almost entirely in
famous counsel, whom they have engage
to defend me. For my own part, l go
on my trial with little or no hope.
ms IF you are now my widow, and if Y,
er. may have any love left for my memor
cts never rest until you have found somebO,
who can interpret these curious signs.
en-. for me. say, what / cannot do for m
id; self. Recover the diamonds; and. VIII
r" you restore them, show my owners II
;he letter.
rry kiss the children for me. 1 wish thei
der when they are old enough, TO read II
up defense of myself and to know that tn,
his father, who loved them dearly, died
cen innocent man. My good brother viii ia
care Of you, for my sake. have done. -
I'M Mrs. Westerfield took up the cipher on
OF more. She looked at it as if it was livi
md thing that defed her. If l am ever al
lily TO read this gibberish," she decided,
ur- know what I'll do with the diamonds