Democratic messenger., 1911-11-11

cepteu nluL Sne was cOnslucraDiy eA'
cited.
Il have found little girl on Vine
street" said she. who saw that man
20 into The house. No 81"
'SanderSon.'
Yes II was about an hour after
the robbery The girl says he used "A
key. but the landlady does not know
him. It's house where they rent fur
nished rooms. quite nice and respecia
BILE and all that. The landlady Is tell.
ing the truth. but I'm sure that the
little girl Is not mistaken"
What do you make OF that?" asked
Hewitt.
why. the man must have used some.
body else's key. lie has what do
you call it?-a pal living there
You may lie right" said Hewitt.
him before. "Well look this up. Wait
for me In that drug store while run
into headquarters and ask Staley what
he knows. Then I'll join you"
Stalcy was the chief Of police. a crea.
ture Of politics. but not m aggressive
ly bad man. fle was tricky. but not
malicious: clever up TO certain level
and utterly dense beyond Il.
"Har said he. drawing the word
out into a sort Of singing note when
his eyes rested on Hewitt Here's
the shrewdest boy Of the bunch You
come right along with me-" and he led
the reporter into the innermost private
room.
Are you good at puzzles ?" said he.
Fair" said Hewitt. what have
you got?''
"A note from Sanderson to his pal"
responded Sialey. and Hcwitt's heart
sank
"You see" continued the chief. its
the money we want. We've got the
man beyond doubt-that Is. we've
got one of them. There's another on
the outside. as | knew from the he
ginning. aud. of course. the fellow on
the inside would like to communicate
with him.
"Well why not give him chance:
says l. So | fixed up n scheme by
which Sandcrson was able TO write n
note In his coll last evening and pass
II TO little. unimportant crook whom
we were holding here on suspicion and
were ready to let GO The note was
passed all right. and one OF my men
shadowed the little crook. and what
do you suppose he did: BY jlngo. he
went home and went TO bed.
"When found that this was straight
| had the fellow brought down here
with Sanderson's note on him. said.
Where did he tell you to take this?
And the crook replied. Nowhere: just
take II and run along What do you
make OF that?"
II don't know" said Hewitt. What
was In the note?'
''That's what want you TO tell me. =
responded the chief. Here II is
He laid before Hewitt the following
humorous message written on half a
sheet Of note paper:
Race reDr II : y IN II
Hr Il l.. Et T. oE
III. Is. IL. -. Il. lie. 81.
III. 81. ITO. l2. Ill. III.
This Is too much for me-" said
Hewitt. but know somebody VIII,
can read H.
"Who?''
Miss Reed of our paper"
Il believe you. my boy" said Sialey
with enthusiasm. shes the brightes,
girl in this town
shell be here In two minutes said
Hewitt. and he made his word good
After dcvoting live or ten minutes Ia
IA close study nf the mystic scroll Miss
Reed veniurcd to express this opinion
THE inan knew that this would fall
into your hands
Staley.
Il judge from what It says" she re-
piled
You've read it,
Yes: II is quite simple. The fig
ures refer TO the letters. lie might
uS MNi uHNt Stt uoWu tue utltdDet.
but that would have been too plain
Now. take the first number. Ill IL
can't really be Ill, because there are
not SO many letters aS that. But sup.
pose you read II one. eleventh Is.
first row. eleventh letter That's $.
Similarly u is first row. ffth letter
That's 7. and - Is A. Twenty-six Is
second row. sixth letter. That's L."
Seems 10 be my name" said Stalcy.
porting over the document. STALE
and li2 Is Y That's me. Twenty one
is |. and III Is S-STALEY Is.
Twenty-Five is A. and ITO Is \. and -
Is A.
And III twice means So said
Hewitt 'Staley II mn ass We'll.
upon my word
The chiefs face was purple. but he
forced n laugh.
Funny. ph?' said he. MIR. Saun-
derson thought he'd he funny Well.
well. Let's see what happens 10 him.
But--er-l wouldn't mention this out
side. You're II good fellow. Hewitt.