The Fatal Letter.
Here is a letter and a puzzle all in one:
There was once a detective who had followed a criminal long and far, and when he thought he had "run him to cover" he found the place empty and only an open letter lying on the floor. He was overcome with chagrin, for it had been said of him that "he had never failed to catch his man." In despair he caught up the letter and read it. On the first reading it seemed a mere succession of idle village gossip. He read it again, then sat down, and pondered over the peculiar sentences all the night long.
His vigil, however, was not in vain, for three hours after dawn the criminal was behind prison bars. Below is a copy of the "Fatal Letter." Can you discover the secret message contained therein, the solution of which led to the arrest of the criminal? Don't be discouraged because the detective spent a night over it. Perhaps you are even sharper than the detective. He had no clew. Neither can one be given to you. But this much may be said, the message is not a haphazard affair, but follows a distinct plan.
THE LETTER.
Beloved Sister,—Dwellers of this town have been much excited over a little affair of recent happening. A servant stole from a rich woman what she called a ewer; it was brought from over the ocean. It was of fine porcelain with heavy gilt edges and a calm summer scene painted on the sides. A man of this town will soon begin sheep-raising. If that old ewe is saleable send her on. It is the druggist who wants her; R. Jones is his name. He will marry soon a girl of this city; his wedding gift is a diamond necklace of elegant and chaste design. It must have cost every cent of a thousand dollars.
The man who lived next door is dead. He took a draught of poison and only lived two hours after. His wife was once the belle of the town. She keeps crying, "I'll take poison myself." Yet he was a poor provider; they had meat only once a month, and their table was always ill supplied. He was also as meddlesome as a flea and of very uncertain temper. Quite lately he quarrelled with me because of my statement concerning a lump of iron ore which he owned. Answer this soon and don't forget about the old ewe. Ah, another bit of news. The woman at the candy store has found a dye that has turned her gray tresses as black as a coal.
Brother Tom.