having been inflicted probably with a loaded stick or a
life-preserver. There was a severe cut over the right eye and a great
gash down the left cheek. The man was unconscious, and still remains so.
The doctors have grave doubts whether, even if he recovers, his mind
will not be permanently affected. In all probability he will never
regain his right mind."

"Terrible!" ejaculated Vera.

"Yes. A case of attempted murder, no doubt," he said. "But what first
attracted my notice was the statement that the man had been identified
as Max Steinheim, a German hairdresser employed in a shop in New Bond
Street, who had been missing for nearly two months. He resided in
Hargwynne Street, Stockwell, and as he owed a considerable sum to his
landlady, she had given notice to the police of his disappearance. It
was she who had identified him in the hospital."

"That's as far as the information conveyed by the newspapers carries the
affair," I remarked.

"Exactly. But we are able to proceed a little farther, to a matter which
must be closely investigated," continued Raymond. "On the arrival of the
train at Waterloo the compartment, which showed signs of a desperate
struggle, was searched, and under the seat was discovered a small piece
of paper tightly screwed up into a small ball as though somebody wished
to get rid of it unobserved. Upon it, in a distinctly foreign hand, and
in violet ink--which, by the way, is seldom used by Englishmen--were
traced some cryptic memoranda, a copy of which I have here," and he
handed for our inspection a piece of paper which presented this
appearance:

J 11864! 19505
Kingscliffe
12.15 train St. Pancras
M.R. Weldon and Corby 1 mile
Royal Pier 18
6.11
248 and 392
Harpur Street 2.30
? 8.88 M. 88
Elmar 39 X clock.

"You've endeavoured to decipher it, of course," I remarked, as both Vera
and I gazed at the puzzling array of numerals and words.

"I have. For the past three days I've indeed done nothing else.
Unfortunately the result is not very reassuring," he answered.
"Deciphered by one of the little-known codes, the figures 19505 stand
for 'January 24th,' which is four days before the murderous assault.
Kingscliffe is the name of a village in Northamptonshire, on the North
Western line between Peterborough and Rugby. The 12.15 from St. Pancras
is a restaurant train for Derby, and takes passenge