The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-03
DISCOVERED SECRET CODE.

In order to obtain an entrance into
secretary Roots private Office after tile
hours upon which he is on public view
one must have a knowledge of the code
OF knocks, for the secretary has a sig
nal that must sbes given before the DIOR
OF his sanctum will swing from it's
hinges, says dttte Chicago Chronicle.
When 1t was frst adopted the new
scheme worked like charm, and sena-
tors, representatives, tourists and other
unwelcome callers have gone up against
the door and knocked till their knuckles
were sore without, the result, because
they did not know the secret code
Since the lockout has been placed at z
o'clock instead of, 3 the casualties have
been even greater,a although no cabinet
oncer has fallen a victim since the
memorable occasion when Secretary
Hay tried all the knocks he knew
The other day, however, Senator For
aker triumphed over the door without
the fatntest knowledge of the open Sc
same, and he ehass been cnucklinS over
his victory ever since, The countersign
knock has by this time become matter
of notoriety to congressman, so many
of them having fallen victims to it. Ac-
cordingly when Mr.. Foraker arrived at
the war department and found the doors
locked he knew what 1T meant and
froWned. The stories his colleagues had
counterSign flashed across his mind. BE
had taken pains to get there before j
o'clock so as to avoid the usual defeat,
and yet the doors were locked. He knew
that behind it were three sturdy colored
men, who would listen complacently TO
his futile knocks and never stir toward
the doorknob Nay, more, they would
probably grim
But Mr. Foraker is not one to give in
easily. He frowned again, DIT his lip
and dashed his fist ferociously against
the door. Then he listened and thought
he heard a faraWay chuckle on the other
side. His scowl grew deeper and he rat
tied the doorknob impotently, conscious
that a group of newspaper men, sworr to
secrecy. about the correct fraternity
knock, were regarding him gravely ard
on the other side.
Then Mr.. Foraker stepped away and
thought for a moment. His anger over
came him and he decided to return and
give few more hammers on the door,
just TO express his opinion of 1t. Ac-
cordingly he raised his fist and gave
it would never do to tell how many
knocks he gave aoE in what way he gave
them, but hee knocked in an unusual
way. This was simply because he was
angry. IT
AS the last knock rang out an answer
ing knuckle sounded on the inside. Mr.
Foraker deeming this mere sarcasm hit
the door again. To his intense astonish-
ment it flew open and a bowling attend
ant stood before him, inviting him to the
secretary's presence. He had Academia ly
hit on the right knock AS for the at
tendant who had supposed it to be a
war department clerk, he was dunn
founded t5s
walk right in, SENATOR he gasped.
And is the senator, vanished in the secre-
tary's ROOM he caught the words
How did heuexer learn that knock 81
Mr.. Foraker came out of the secretary 8
room beaming all over, after most sat-
isfaetory Interview He has done some
thing that few other visitors have ac-
complished. Only one thing bothers him
now-he wishes he could remember that
knock.