Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1901-02-07

every sign OF life. Doors are
open, and clerks are constantly passing
in and out, typewriters are clicking,
and messengers are busting about.
Only the doors leading to Mr.. Roots
Sanctum are locked and guarded, and
Ehere a stranger will see no sign Of life.
Z So strictly is this carried out that
even the DOR leading from Chief Clerk
Schofeld'S room is locked, although
this door does not open on the hall, and
no ordinary man would think of gain
ang entrance through 1t. But it was
concluded that some one very intent on
seeing the secretary might get into Mr..
Schoield's room on some preteXt and
then, watching his chance, steal
Through the door into the main room.
Even then the stranger would have to
pass over the dead bodies of the three
dusty colored men before he could pen
etrate to the next room, which contains
Private Secretary W. S. Coursey and
Confidential Clerk f.. G. Squires. He
would then AVE to overcome Coursey
and Squires before he could get into
Mr. Roots room. 1t was decided, how
ever, to Jake no chances, and Mr.. Scho-
field was locked out.
But it was necessary to devise a way
by which Mr.. Schofeld could get in to
see his chief. 1t would also be a disa-
greeable predicament if one Of the col
Dred messengers passing out on an err
rand should be unable to get in on his
return. There were also others in the
department who must find a way to
get in and see the secretary. They
could not do it by trying the door or
knocking, because the garrison was in
Etructed to pay no attention to such
primitive methods of getting in.
This problem was grappled with and
q solution found. A secret code was
Invented, comprehensive and accurate.
When Mr.. Schofeld or any of the other
persons in the secret wants to get in,
he delivers a peculiar series of knocks
Dn the door, built, it is believed, on the
lines of the Morse system. This cipher
knock means, 81 want to get in" 1t is
Instantly recognized by the garrison,
and one of them advances to the door.
lie does not open it, however. 1t oc-
CURED to the deviser of the system that
some lurking congressman or visiting
New Yorker or other nOndepartmental
person might by dint of hanging
around the door and listening for SOM
time acquire the secret Of the code an6
after committing it to memory deliver
an imitation which would deceive the
very elect.
The sentinel therefore advances tt
Che door and delivers a peculiar knock
which means, advance. friend, will
the countersign." He listens. and i
the person outside is really n of thu
initiated and not one of the genera
public he comes back" with the mex
number on the code, which is the coun
Nersign. This satisfies the sentinel, ant
che door is unlocked n instantly
closed again behind the new arrival.
The new system works to the secre
+ary's satisfaction. The other cabine
officers are aware of it, but none o
them has yet recognized its advaI
tages to the extent of initiating i
tHmong the clerks in the other depar'
ments it is customary to guy" those j
the war department since the new sy'
fem came into vogue. Those in the se'
retary's office are known as the "M'
n and are frequently greeted wit
cries of ..Thirty-second degree" an
AAdmit the brother"