The Cipher Dispatch

One moruing after breakfust the front bell rang violently, and irnmediately afterward a servant made his appearaocc at the door of my private apartment, aud aonounced tbat a visitor wished to see me. "Who is it, Thomas?" I aoked. "I don't know 8 who it is," replied the servaDt. "He's dreesed fashionable, and didn't Hay his itame, iir, and is a young obap. I think as ojay be it's a young feller for the clerkuhip as you wantod Howsoeverhe dido't eay, sir.'" "Very well, Thomas," said I. "You may show hira intn the parlor, and I will be down presently." The servant accordingly withdrcw, nd sooii afterward I descended in to the sitiing room, where sat a íine-looking young man, aged twentythree or thereubouts, who immediately aróse apon my entranoe and etood by bis chair in an attitude of the most profound re speet, "Good morning, sir," said I. "You vvished to see me, I believe." ''Yes sir," said be, beooming aeated again as 1 took a chair; ''I owe an apology for the inconvenience to which I bave subjected jou by so early au in trusión." "The inconvenience is so light as not to require an apology, said I. "Pray proceed." "L aw your advertisement for a book-keeper, and wishing to engage myself in that capacity, callad to see about it," he said. "I can give uoexceptiona ble referenee as to my ability, and witb me a large salary ia not so much desir ed a a good straight forward mtuation." It came over me as he sat there witb bis eyt's roving all over the room, talk ing in the same even, unchatiging voice as he did, tbat this man had leurued his tpeeoh by heart, and was delivering himself of a certaio prescribed form (without any idea wbat it meant,) wbile his uiind was busy witli ati iospection of tho couteuts of the apartmeiit - or that be was like sorae woodcn talking machine with do í'eeling in whiit be naid and he himself eutirely disconnected from it. "Who are your references f I aeked "Lindsay. Wecd, Storms & Co," be said, gi'-'ii.g liis handkerchief auotber luru. "I was their assiataot bookkeuper fur six uionth-, and during tbat time fulfilled the position with ability nd 10 the credit of those ooncerned." "Very well," said 1 rieing; 'You may cali round to my office at uine o'clook, and perhapa we may effect some arrangement." With a parting glance all over the room, which iucluded everything but myaelf, he bowed himsulf backward out of the door and vanished. Tbat moruing on my way to my place of business, I called on the importinir eatablisbmeot of Lindsay, Weed. Storms & Co , and ascortaiued that what tli youDg man had said in refereoou to himsell wnHBtrictly trae; therefore when he made hisappearance at my office promptly at nine o'olock, I engaged him immediately and be entered upon his duties forth ith. He was, I confesé, the best ponman I hd ever eeen, and being thorougbly acquainted with the art of doub'e-entry book keeping, fulfiiled the position wbich I had employed him for with entire satis faction to myself. Asid from his work there was something about the young man I did not ezactly like - a peculiar reservad way with him that, during his stay with me, I never underetood, and I suppose I might always have remained in igoorance ooncerning its meaning bad bot the circumBtancea I am about to relate tlnowii gome light upon his t r ■■ oharacter. One forenoon about two weeks fter the engagement of my new clerk I hui' oooaeion, while he was absent, to go to Lis desk, and saw, lying on the floor just beneath it, a hal' sheet of fnols cap paper on whioh were insoribed in my book keeper's hand writing, tho following cbaraoters, which appeared to constitute a koy to Boiue eeoret record or correspondenoe : 14 15 1 2 16 17 3 4 18 19 6 6 20 abodefghi jkl m 21 7 8 22 23 9 10 24 25 11 12 26 nopqratuvwx y 27 13. z &. On what elight incidente are great ovents based 1 I oarelessly put the piece of paper into my pocket, where it lay for nionthx, iorgotien by myself, to be brougbt forth at last as the inetrument wherewith two villains were brougbt to juitice, and as the mean by which I was eaved the of a large sum of money. One day, after tbe banks were olosed, I wae paid the sum of three tbuusand dollars, whioh I placed witliin a drawer in my small office iafe, intending it should remain there over night, and the nezt day I would place it on deposit. bamnett, my new olerk waa present, and appeared very observant of what 1 wan doing - following my every motioD witb an eager, nervous, exoited glance, which. althouyh it altraccd my attention at the time, did not impresa me as ai matter of importance, sd waa íooii out of my miad ; though afterward I had cause to remeoiber it vcry distinolly. "Uarauett," said I, as I owung to the s ifo door, lockod it carcfully, and put the kcy in my pocket - (by the way, I muy as well saté here tbat I waa the only one who had a kej) - "Gamnett, you kuovv, of course, about the tnoney, and to ius'.re its gafety I winh jou would do me a favor." "I ni ivady to oblige at any moment - the present nooe the less," said he. "Well, then," said I, "I would like to have you sleep in the office all nighl, and guard against burglars. You cao sleep on the couoh and keep the tire burning, po you wiil be warm aud com fortable. You may take my revolver and everything will be all right. Of oourse I slia.'l pay you estra ior the troubla " "It will be a hnppinesa to do so," said Gamnett somewhat eagerly, I afterwanls tbought, "I oare not 'ior extra pay." "I am sorry to havo to cause you eo tnucb troublo and incoDveuience," said I, gratified at the readiness witb whioh heacquiesced, "and I hope it will not often occur By the way, Garanett," I added, puttingf on my overcoat, "I ahall not be back a the office to-night, for I am going to tne city od the ure o clock train. You and Wilson see to tbingg while I am gone - though I shall probably return to murrow. Good night." "Good night, Mr. Parker. You can depend upon my fiiithfully earrying out all yonr directions." The uuusuul cordiaüty with whioh he spoke, oombiued with the fact that he ma.de üse of my naini; for the first time within my remembrance, oocasioned me Home surprise ; however, I sooo lefc him at the desk, and, wrapping my overooat closely about me, went into the cold wintry air, and wended my wny homevmrd. Aftor partaking of a hearty mcal I jroceeded to the depot, and then took ;he five o'clock train for the oity, at wbieh I arrived two hour later. Io my younger days I had been em)loyed jn a telegraph office, and had become a competent operator, though for various reasons I did not like the busi ness, and, after baving worked at it for afewyears, resigned my position to enjatfo iu something more congenial to my .usté. Among the many acquaintances [ had formed at that time was that of a voung fellow by tho name of Taylor, who was also an operator, acd, at the me of which I write, was employed v the telegraph eompany in theirdown own office, wbere for old acquaintuoce ake I called without delay, ui'l found lim seated by his instrument engaged n the peru8al of the eveuing paper, with bis fret oomfortabiy resting ou the op of an adjoining ohair. "Tiiylor," aid I, advancing towards lim, "hiw are you ?" "Halloo, Parker, ia that you !" he exolairued, rising trom h'w eeat. "Gr ve us your fin, old fellow, and how goes it?' "First rate," I replied, shaking hands ; 'you Htill keep at the old trade I see." "Yes, and probubly always t-lnill. Iere is the paper ; uit down and be ocmfortable. I've got to receive thi message that'g coming. 'iVo peace for he wickcd,' and certainly not for the elegraph operators." I took the seat hc offered, and spreadng the paper out before me, bcgan to ead - my friend in themeantime taking oitn the dispatch, and otherwise busyig himsulf about the instrument which iaJ commeoced tiekiug in a very lively nd uuimattd marnier. "It's Irom your place," be said presutly "Is it ?" eaid I, fulding the paper to jet at the inside. "It's in cipher, too," ho added, soon fterward. ' From my plaoe and in cipher ?" I epeatcd, throwing anide the paper. VVho 8 it from!" "Haveu't.come to that yet." I had become stranacly interested. I oarcely kuew why, and waitcd patiënty for the complete tronsmission ot the uessage. Ti, e instrument went on olicking at a ;reat rate, and presendy Tajlor began o spell aloud, as fust it came over he wires, the name appended to the ispatch. "G- a- m- n- e- t- t. Gamnett," aid ho "Gamnett I" I ezclaimed, starting up. Wby, h. 'smy clerkl" Taylor, let me ce that dispatoh " Althougb the proceeding was somewhat irregular, (it not being usual for elegraph officials to allow third parties 0 become acquainted with the contenta f o'.her people's inensages,) my friend, under the present circumstanccs, (which were considered as partial justification or the act), hmided me tho paper on which he bad transcribed the message, nd glancing over t eagerly, I saw what ollows : "To William Juckson, 119 Coppice treet : 0 4 23 16 16 10 4 7 24 9 14 21 2 76 6 14 23 9 18 21 10 4 15 9 15 17 16 13 8 14 23 ö 16 24 3 7 21 16 10 18 6 6 10 7 20 7 23 23 7 11 1 7 20 16 2 7 11 21 18 10 4 16 10 7 7 6 9 18 HO 20 16 2 18 14 10 16 6 26 13 14 10 7 21 16 15 16 14 10 10 4 16 7 17 17 18 1 16 13 18 11 18 6 6 6 16 10 26 7 24 18 21 18 9 6 16 16 8 10 4 14 13 17. Gamnbtt." "Wlio is this Jackson - the man to whom this dispatoh is addressed - or don'i you know ?" I asked. "Kuos a sort of blacksmith hop and makes tools," said Taylor I don't like lia looks - he'H vinegar-visaged." I bardly know how it was; but the 'not of my clerk having sent a telegraph dispatch in cipher looked very suspioiouD to me, and 1 immediately thought of the paper I had found under his desk and which was still in my pocket. "Taylor," said I, "wish you would allow me to keey a copy of this dis pateh. It may effeol my interests more than you think for." "Well, if you think itdoes, go ahead," saii Taylor. "Only don't get me into bot water - tbat's all. 'Til take care of that, Taylor," said I, going tö tho desk and sitting down before it. "Now leave mè alone foT a few minutes, and I '11 ste if I can solté tbis uiystery." Although I am not naturally of a pryiog or inquisitivo disposition, and detest as much as auy one the spirit tbat actuatoa a pernoa to pry into tbe afl'airs oi othiTu and hecouiu a party to tbat which doei not concern hiin, yet ia the present 0180 I feit justified in the course 1 was pursuing. and did not hcaitate to do all in my power to decipher tbe niysterious figures, and aeoertuin if possible, what was engaging the attentiou of my clerk to sucb un extent that he required the medium of a secret alphabet through whioh to comniunicate with bis friends By the aid of the piece of paper I have heretofore meotioned I eoon o'jtained the following traoslation : "To William Jaokson, 119 Coppioe St. Three tboasand dollars in the safe, and Parker gooe till to-morrow. Come down with the toola itnmediaiely, and at ouüe be at tho offioo, and will let you in. Gamnett." I oould deduce from tbin dispatch only one conclusión, whioh was Ihat my clerk was tak ing advantage of the confidenoo I reposed in him, and of my absence from home, to enter into a coopiracy with somo villain to burglarke my safe, and carry off tbe three ttiou sand dollars ooutained therein. In a pcrfeot thrill of excitement I Daae my inend a uasty gond-by, and telliug hini I would more fully explain at some other time, ran to the depot and took the night train for home. As we whirled ouward in the dark nesa, 1 revolved the whole matter over in my miud, and canie to a decisión as to what plan I should purgue - whioh will be better illuatrated by the notual faots as tlicy oncurred. Going directly to the pólice office, I oommuuioated my disoovery to theohief, who set a trap by means of whioh the burgla-rs were oaught in their nefarious sohoines. The depot was watohed, and a stranger, carrying iu bis hand a large satchel, wae observed to got off from the half past eleven o'olook train from the oity, who, af ter loitering about in byways and alleys for nearly two bours, finally took liis way to my office, on the door of wliii'.h he gave a peeulinr knook and was at once admitted by (ianniutt. The officers waited on the outside a saffioient Iengtlt of time for tliain to ;et fairly at work, and then, breaking nto the store, found one man engaged n blowiug powder into the key-hole of ;he safe, and the other (my clerk) lookng over the hurglar'g tools that the salchel contained. Both Gumnett and his bosom friend Jackson ware provided for by the authoritiee of the State of New York."