The San Francisco call., 1906-08-19

a frame of black wood one of those
hideous samplers which our grand
mothers were so fond OF working. 1t
was yellow square, embroidered-or
rather stitched-with the alphabet in
divers colors, and also an array of
numerals up to twenty-six. Hagar idly
wondered why the worker had
stopped at that particular number, and
then she noticed that the row of figures
was placed directly under the row of
letters. At once the means of reading
the key riddle nashed on her brain.
The cipher was exceedingiy simple. All
that had 10 be done was to substitute
letters for the figures. Hagar uttered
an ejaculation which reused old Par
sons from his musings.
What's the matter?t said he. turn
Ing his head. What are you looking
at, girl? Oh" he added, following her
gaze. that sampler; twas done by my
mother; rare hand at needlework
she was. But never mind her just
now. I want to know about that
riddle"
Il can't guess It," said Hagar, keep
ing her own counsel for reasons to be
revealed hereafter. do you wish your
key back? ! have 1t here"
mo; don't want my son to get 1t
and make that proud wench rich by
guessing the riddle. Keep the key till
I call for it. What! Are you going? ?
Have drink Of milk?"
The offer was Hospitality made. but
Hagar declined 1t, as she had no de-
sire to break bread with this malig-
nant old man.. Making a curt excuse
she took her leave, and within the hour
she was on her way back to London.
with clew to the cipher in her brain.
The sampler had revealed the secret,
for without doubt it was from his
wife's needlework that the Parsons OF
sixty years before had got the idea
of constructing the cryptogram. in
the sampler the figures were placed
thus:
A C D e G HIJ K L NJ N o p
2 4 6 10 II II 13 IA 15 16
Q r U v w x u
II IS 10 20 21 % 23 "a 25 26
and Parsons had simply substituted
figures for letters. The thing was so
plain that Hagar wondered why. with
the key sampler staring him in the
reading the riddle.
When back in the shop she applied
her test to the figures on the key and
found out the meaning thereof. Taen
she considered what was the best
course to pursue. Clearly 1t was not
wise to tell Parsons. as he hated Miss
Danetree, and II he found the picture
hide 1t again or destroy 1t. Should she
telfs Miss Danetree herself, or Frank
Parsons. the despised lover? After
some consideration the girl wrote to
the latter, asking him to call on her
at the shop. She felt rather q SYM
,pathy with his plight after hearing his
fathers story, and wished to judge for
herself if he was an eligible suitor for
Miss Danetree's hand. II she liked
him, and found him worthy, Hagar was
resolved to tell him how to hnd the
picture, and by doing so thus aid him
to gain the hand of the disdainful
beauty. If, on the other hand, she did
not care for him, Hagar concluded to
reveal her discovery to Miss panetFee
herself Her resolution thus being
taken, she waited quietly for the ar
rival of the stewards son.
When he presented himself Hagsr
liked him very much indeed, Tor three
reasons. In the first place he was
handsome--a sure passport to q wo-
mans favor; in the second, he had
fine, frank nature and tolerably In
telligent brain; in the third, he was
deeply in love with Marion Danetree.
This last reason influenced Hagar as
much as anything, for she was az q
romantic age and took deep interest
In love and lovers.
1T is extraordinary that my father
should have pawned the key" said
Frank when Hagar had told her story,
less the explanation Of the riddle
1T may be extraordinary Mr.. Par
sons, but it is very lucky-for YOU.
Il don't see it." said Frank, raising
his eyebrows. "Why?"
Why replied Hagar. drawing the
key out of her pocket because have
discovered the secret"
What Do you know what that line
or figures means?h
Yes. When I D. my visit to your
father l saw an aYes,le in his room
which gave me a clet7- ! worked out
the cipher, and no~f Know where the
picture is hidden"
Young Parsons sr7aag o his feet
with glowing eysx Nhere-oh,
where?" he almost sEsJred We'll me,