The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-03-22

And the crook replied, Nowhere; just
take it and run along What do yOL
make of that?"
81 don't know" said Hewitt. What
was in the noteT'
''That's what want you to tell me- .
responded the chief. Here it is"
He laid before Hewitt the following
humorous message written on half a
sheet Of note paper:
RaCeT eDrHnSy yNmH
HrH HaLeE Et E oEt
Ill, Is, Il, 20, IA, liz, 2l.
Ill, 25, ITO, l2, Ill, Ill.
This is too much for me-" said
Hewitt, but l know somebody who
can read it."
"Who?"
Miss Reed of our paper"
II believe you. my boy" said Staley,
with enthusiasm. She's the brightest
girl in this town.
She'll be here in two minutes" said
Hewitt, and he made his word good.
After devoting five or ten minutes tc
a close study of the mystic scroll Miss
Reed ventured to express this opinion
"The man knew that this would fall
into your hands
What makes you think so?" asked
Staley.
II judge from what it says" she re.
piled.
you've read it?'
"Yes; it is quite simple. The fig.
ures refer to the letters. He might
as we'll have set down the alphabet.
but that would have been too plain.
Now. take the first number, Ill 1t
can't really be Ill. because there are
not so many letters as that. But sup.
pose you read it one, eleven-that is
first row, eleventh letter. That's S.
Similarly IS is first row, fifth letter.
That's T, and II is A. Twenty-six is
second row, sixth letter. That's L."
Seems to be my name." said Staley,
poring over the document. STALE
and 112 is Y. That's me. Twenty-one
is /, and Ill is S-STALEY is.
Twenty-Five is a, and 10 is N. and 12
is Az
And Ill twice means S." said
Hewitt. "'Staley is an ass Well.
upon my word!"
The chiefs face was purple. but he
forced a laugh.
Funny, eh?" said he. "Mr. Saun-
derson thought he'd be funny. Well,
well. Let's see what happens to him.
But-er-I wouldn't mention this out
side. You're a good fellow. Hewitt.
You understand that-er-a man in my
position, you know And Miss Reed
will keep mum. That's understood.
eh. between fIiends?"
And Staley took hand of each with
a great affectation of cordiality. Hew-
lit promised to respect the chiefs feel
Ings on this delicate subject, and Miss
Reed also gave her assurances, but in
q very weak voice, which Hewitt at
tributed to the young Iady's efforts
not to laugh. But when they were
upon the street and around the corner
from headquarters she suddenly took
MS arm and leaned upon it heavily.
"Pm trembling so that l can hardly
stand" she said. "Oh, 1 wonder If
I'VE done anything very dreadfulr
why, what have you done|' he eX-
claimed, staring at her. amazed
You're as pale as a marble angel
What is it, Mabel|
1T must be understood" said she
that If anything comes of this-lf
ve End that money-the reward is
ours"
"The money! Hewitt gasped. DO
'ou know where it isY'
Perhaps. l can't be sure. l should
lot have told you yet. Edgar, l knew
,ou're working for this reward; /
now what you would do with the
money and how much good would come
# it, to yourself and others-to the
Whole city. You must take this money
{ we win it."
my dear girl" said he. with the
that she had longed to hear
n his voice. 1T would be yours.
ouldn't touch a penny of it. I've done
lothing myself"
Edgar" she cried. IF you don't
,romise me to take it I'll carry this bit
# paper right back to Mr.. Staley and
ell him what it means"
He fairly gasped at the sight Of Har
y Sanderson's message in her hand
Good heavens" he exclaimed. did
vou get away with that? shOught
Jtaley threw it into the wastebasket."
HE did" she answered. but here
is. VIII you promiseY'
He was silent for some seconds.
Mabel" said he at last. this re- (
ward from Bardwell would be the 9th. :
II half Of what need. By next week