St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-02
CHAPTER II.
THE PIGEONS HOME.

IhE = hOAEss
There was nothing to show whence the
message came or whittier it was being sent
Only these eighteen words, each composed
of an equal number of letters. Could they
be made into sense without a key? 1t was
not very likely, at least unless it was by
some very clever deciphererI And vet the
cryptogram could not be indecipherablel
The characters told him nothing, and
Sarcany, who was at first much diSap-
pointed, stood perplexed. Did the letter
contain any important news, and, above all,
was it of a compromising nature? Evil
IDENTIFY these precautions had been taken to
prevent its being read, if it fell into other
hands than those for whom it was intended.
To make use of neither the post nor the tel
egraph, but the extraordinary means of the
carrier pigeon, showed that it must be some
curious affair that it was desired to keep Sc
cret.
Perhaps" said Sarcany, ''there lies in
these lines u mystery that will make our
fortune"
And then" answered Zirone, ''this pig
con will represent the luck that we have
been running after all the morningI And |
was going to strangle it! After all it Is
important to keep the message and we can
cook the messenger"
Not so fast. Zirone." interrupted Sar-
cany, who again saved the birds life. ''Per-
haps the pigeon may tell us whittier it was
bound. providing, of course, that the person
who ought to have the message lives in
Trieste
And then? That will not tell you how
to read the message, Sarcany."
mo, Zirone."
Nor TO know where it came FROM"
Exactly. But OF two correspondents I
snail know one. and that may tell me how
| am 10 iind the other. SO. instead of kill
ing this bird. We will feed it and recruit its
strength and help it to reach its deStina-
tion.''
with the letter." asked Zirone.
with the letter-of which am going TO
make an exact copy, and that l shall keep
Until the time comes to use L.
And Sarcany took notebook from his
pocket and i'm pencil he made a careful fac
simhe OF the message. Knowing that in
most cryptOgrams II was important not TO
alter in the leSst the form and arrangement,
he took great care 10 keep the words ex-
actly in the same order and position and at
the same distances As in the document.
! Then he put the fac-simile in his pocket
the message I'm its case and the case in its
! place under the pigeons wing.
Zirone looked on. He did not share the
hopes of fortune founded on this incident.
And now?" he asked.
Now" answered Sarcany, ''do what
! you can for the messenger"
The pigeon was more exhausted by
hunger than fatigue. Its wings were in
tact, without strain or bneakage. and
showed that his temporary weakness was
due neither Ia a shot from a sportsman, or
a stone from n street-boy. 1t was hungry
it was thirsty; that was ali.
Zirone looked about and found on the
ground few grains of corn, which the
bird ate greedily. Then lie quenched its
thirst with few drops of water which the
last shower had left in a piece OF ancient
pottery. So well did he do his work that
in half an hour the pigeon was refreshed
and restored. and quite able TO resume his
interrupted journey.
IF it is going far" said Sarcany, IF
its destination is beyond Trieste, it does
not matter TO us if it falls on the way, for
we shall have lost sight of it, and it will be
impossible for US 10 follow il. But if il is
going 10 one OF the houses in Trieste, its
strength is sufficient TO take it there, for il
will only have to fly for 4 couple of min
utes or So"
Right you are" replied the Sicilian.
''but how are We 10 see where it drops,
even if it is in TrieSte?"
1--WE can manage that, think" an
swered Sarcany. And this is what they
did.
The cathedral consists of two old Roman
churches, one dedicated to the Virgin. one
to ST. Just, the patron saint of Trieste,
aud it is flanked by very high tower which
rises from the angle of the front pierced
with large rose window, beneath which is
the chief door. The tower commands a
view over the plateau on Karst hill. and
over the whole city, which lies spread
as on a map below. From this lofty stand
point they could see down on the roofs of
all the houses, even onto those clustering
on the earlier slopes Of the hill away to the
shore of the gulf. 1t was, therefore, not
impossible 10 follow the pigeon in its
fight, and recognize the house on which it
took refuge, provided it was not bound for
some city of the nlyrian peninsula.
The attempt might succeed 1t was at