Part 16 (2/2)

”Probably the desk has been gone over, Marsh,” acceded Morgan. ”But you must remember that Merton has been known to be missing for several days and hotel employees, even under ordinary circ.u.mstances, are apt to be curious. The point is worth remembering, but I doubt if it is of any importance.”

One by one, they examined various letters and papers. A few touched on business subjects, but the majority were of a personal nature.

Most of these were from Merton's wife; the others from business men whose well known names placed them beyond suspicion. In one corner of the desk Morgan picked up a sheet containing some notations regarding bond purchases. Beneath this he found a black, leather-covered notebook of a size that would conveniently fit into a vest pocket. One glance into this and Morgan gave an exclamation. ”See here!” he cried, calling Marsh's attention to the book. ”This notebook has been kept in cipher. These combinations of letters and figures mean absolutely nothing as they stand.”

The two men slowly turned the pages, but as Morgan had stated, the matter which the book contained conveyed nothing to them.

”That looks as if Merton had something to conceal, Marsh.”

”On the face of it--yes,” returned Marsh. ”But just glance at this sheet which covered the notebook. From its subject matter I should be inclined to believe that it represented Merton's handwriting.”

Morgan nodded and Marsh went on.

”Now, when you come to look at this notebook, even a hasty glance shows a difference in the handwriting. In. fact, now that my attention has been drawn to it, there is really a marked difference.”

”Well?” queried Morgan.

”Offhand,” returned Marsh, ”I would say, that somebody has been keeping a secret record. That person sat at this desk making additional notes. In a moment of forgetfulness, or perhaps the necessity of hasty concealment, the notebook was placed under this sheet and later overlooked. There is a possibility that this notebook was left by the person who preceded us at this desk.”

Morgan took the notebook and examined it carefully for a few minutes. ”In my work,” he said, ”I have several times run up against ciphers of various kinds. This is unlike anything I ever saw before, and looks as if it would be mighty hard to unravel.”

Marsh again took the book and after carefully examining it, said, ”I don't pretend to be a cipher expert. In fact, I never waste time on it. We have men both here and at Was.h.i.+ngton who can read this sort of stuff backward. I'll send this book to them and we'll soon get a key to the cipher.”

At this moment, both men became silent and alert. Someone was slipping a key into the lock of the door. Marsh quickly dropped the notebook into the side pocket of his coat. A moment later the door swung open and Gilbert Hunt entered.

He stopped with a start of surprise, but quickly recovered himself.

”You gentlemen gave me a shock!” he exclaimed. ”I didn't expect to find anyone here. Already on the job, Mr. Marsh?” he added.

”Yes,” returned Marsh, easily. ”I never lose any time, and this room naturally should be looked over.”

”And this gentleman with you?” questioned Hunt.

”Detective Sergeant Morgan--Mr. Hunt,” introduced Marsh. ”Morgan is conducting the police investigation.” Then he added, with a wink at Hunt. ”We met downstairs and I thought we might as well look things over at the same time.”

”I see,” said Hunt, smiling. ”Have you discovered anything?”

”Nothing to which I can attach any great importance at this time,”

replied Marsh.

”I thought I would come up and look things over,” explained Hunt, as he strolled over to the desk and ran his fingers through the papers.

The two men watched him with keen attention.

”Seems to be nothing here outside of personal correspondence,” said Hunt, turning around.

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