"No; I did not think it was necessary to keep them. They all appeared within the last year." "Humph," said Herrick, "I'll send for a file of the newspaper. But this cipher? I wish we could read it. I believe it has some connection with Carr's death, or at all events with the secret of his life." "I can't make it out," said Bess looking at the cutting and the scrap of Chinese paper, "unless--" she hesitated. "Well, unless what?" "I was talking to Frisco one day," said Bess, "he had been drinking rum as usual and was rather drunk. The Colonel had sent him to the post-office for the letters and he held one in his hand the only one which had come that day. It was about three months ago, shortly after I picked up the piece of Chinese paper. This one," she shook it at Herrick. "I understand. Go on!" "I noticed that the envelope of the letter Frisco carried was of the same paper." "Ha!" cried the doctor, "this is interesting. Yes?" "Frisco was shaking the letter--waving it over his head, and singing. I stopped to tell him he ought to be ashamed of himself being in such a state, when he knew perfectly well how to behave." "One minute," interrupted Herrick remembering what Frith had said "was this Frisco a gentleman?" "Yes and No," replied Bess. "He had a refined way of speaking in spite of the frightful American slang he used. At times when he was quite sober he would speak to me in the most refined way. At other times he was just awful." "A large fat man was he not?" "Yes. Immensely stout: but his face was rather handsome. He was about the same age as the Colonel. There was something attractive about Frisco," finished Bess with a sigh, "he was his own worst enemy." "Well, about this letter?" "He was waving it and singing. I met him in the pine wood, where I had been to look for Sidney. I told him that he might lose it since he was so drunk. He laughed and said no one could read it. He knew the letter by the envelope." "Ha!" said Herrick, "by the Chinese paper! It is noticeable. Well?" "I asked him what he meant? He laughed again, and went away singing, 'Move on One! Move on One!' I took no notice of the words at the time, but as he had a cipher letter in his hand I have often wondered if he applied the words to the cipher." "Move one on!" repeated Herrick excitedly, and glanced at the Chinese paper cipher. "Humph! Stephen thought that fifteen I.T.K.X. might be a date. If this cipher has to do with the murder----" "A date!" interrupted Bess eagerly, "well! Colonel Carr was murdered in July. Dr. Jim, in the word July there are four letters, and----" "I see what you mean. And here are four letters I.T.K.X.: also the number fifteen." "Move on one," said Bess repeating the cry of Frisco, "that is take the next figures to one and five."