The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-02-02

3l'-l Is the third letter after |. .
pv-fls Is the second letter after q. q
the second after o, The whole read
this way; I don't dare 70 make q NOV
yet Keep quiet. Our time will come
THAT doesn't give us much light.
said Baxter, but We have the othe
letters, aud there's no doubt they wer
Intended for Aliens pal. II the sam,
cipher Is used we've got
He paused as II stricken with paraly
sis. One OF Miss Davenport's letter
was open In his hand. The contentl
were blank paperl
II was the same with all Of them: MOI
q scrap Of writing no semhlance oi
any communication whatever.
well this knocks my eye ou,m said
Baxter. And then. with sudden ener'
~: These envelopes have been open.
ed. ! see the whole game Stuart
Fansworth Is the man. These letters
were not kept under lock aud key: they
were scarcely out OF plain slght-in q
drawer Of a writing desk In the Davcn.
ports sitting room. Farnsworth could
get at them without the girls knowl.
edge"
Now, this looked reasonable enough,
except that a partnership In burglary
between two bitter rivals In, love wvnld
Se somewhat OF novelty. especially
with the young woman an unconscious
assistant in the nefarious schemes. My
ere,lulity was hardly equal TO the de-
mand upon II. aud when thought Of
what | knew about young Farnsworth's
character rebelled utterly.
There Is one point" Graham was
saying. ALLEN wrote this letter and
lost IL. or course he would write an.
other. Has II been receivedf"
"Not yet" said Baxter.
Graham glanced at the clock.
There's one more delivery today" he
said. "Itll be due in few minutes at
Miss Davenport's house. Suppose we
so up there"
Baxter accepted the suggestion, aud
we set out at once. reaching the house
precisely in the nick OF time. Billy
Stern was in the very act OF delivering
letter to Miss Davenport at the gate. |
Baxter, out OF breath with walking.
merely extended his hand for the letter.
and Miss Davenport gave II 10 him.
The detective tore open the envelope
and drew forth sheet OF blank paper
This is too much for me-" said he.
I'm be hanged II | understand
He was interrupted by sudden and
surprising occurrence. Without the
slightest warning Graham sprang up.
on Stern. the carrier. and the two men
came heavily to the ground. Graham
was much the stronger. lie seized
Stern's right wrist and wrenched his
hand open. A crumpled paper wes dis
closed. Baxter stopped and seized II.
and saw as he held II up that II bore
letter written in Aliens cipher.
Graham rose, pulled Stern up after
him: then he faced Baxter. L
why, man. he cried, how could re
ioubt who was at the bottom OF this
Duslnessf Did ye really believe that
hese letters were opened after Miss
Davenport received them
DO you mean that this fellow Stern
ias opened them" demanded Baxter.
that they were intended for his eyes.
hat the whole plot was between Stern
Ind AllenT'
Beyond doubt" answered Graham.
Stern's description Of the second rob
'er was an obvious lie intended to
hrow dust In your eyes and cast sus- !
'icion upon an innocent man-yeung
Stern saw no robber but
Hen until he came TO looking glass q
nd saw himself. He's a trusted man p
q the office. He'd have n far better G
hance than the postmaster's son to
now Of the large sum In the safe. Did
e not think OF that;'
Baxter slowly shook his head.
Il guess you're right" he said. II
trying TO find Stern on the =
yening Of the fourth day after the c
obbery, and on that same evening Al
IN got away from my watchers for
Ouple Of hours. But | never thought a
nat there was any connection between i
le two occurrences. They must have q
let' i,
And on the next day Miss Daven. r
Drt got the note from Allen asking her
, receive the letters said Graham. 2
II was a clever trick. Allen knew Q
lat he was watched. He dared not o.
all letters to Stern or even to bogus p
anne. for he knew you would trace n
lem-in short they had TO be deliy.
ed TO somebody. IL they had been "
.stroyed or held In the postoffice you'd p'
ave known that the other thief must p
, there" Il
He turned suddenly and seized the dl
lle and trembling postman by the Y
IN with grip that made him vince.
You'd just opened this last letter. =
~ said he And you had the in. b
osure in your pOcketi OF course.
I'd when you saw Mr.. Baxter open /,
e envelope you were afraid and tried :
crumple the slip In your hand and :"
81 II over the fence. but nabbed you ~
time Am ] rlghtr A
Stern tried to answer. but his throat at
as too dry. His face was a picture Of RI