The Washington times., 1906-09-16
III--The Case of the Stolen Cipher.

frequently Nu6 CotuDlIAAlGA
makes man autocratic. arro-
CANT ana severe, Such man
was Mr.. John Barlow. OF Graves
& BARLOW. bankers, who entered
the Pine Street office OF MI feHA
Boyd at half-past eight one breezy
September morning
Mr.. Felix Boyd. that mysterious IN
dividuai whose vocation below the
.rDead Line" was a persistent thorn
IN the sides OF the curious. was seated
I'm his private makeup room, "hen
his office boy entered. and quietly an
nounced the visitor,
''ATr Jason Barlow. sir"
"Of Graves & Barlow7''
Eyes sir. He wants 10 see you at
once. sir"
BOYD laid aside his pipe, drew rom
over his knee a blond wig he earetuI-
" was comblng. and placed both Wig
and comb on the dresser. Pointing 10
a hashy plaid suit. which he had had
occasion to wear professionally lAe
previous night. no said, quietly:
"Stow those traps away. Terry and
close the door when you come out"
..Yes sir. Trust me TO close the
door. sir"
Boyd knew BARLOW well and he had
a way OF handling sucn men With
sort OF frigid blandness not easily
overr.dden. He found him, a portly
forceful man of fifty, nervously pac-
ing the floor.
.sGood-morninz. Mr.. BARLOW" said
hs sedateiy. You're downtown early"
eyes. and I'm mighty glad TO find
YOU in" cried Barlow. hlu0tly.
s'Vhy7 Anything wrong
Something very serious threatens
US"
"AhP' raurmured Boyd. with a sub
tie CLEAN from his keen, gray eyes.
THAT r. better than a blow already
dealt. One that only threatens may
posslbly be warded"
srTnat's precisely what 7 want done,
and why I am here so early"
Rovd complacently took the chair ~
his desk and waved his visitor 20 one
near by
"sit down" said he. you interest
me What's the trouble
are we alone here7" Barlow curt
ly demanded.
Rovd. iuzt ns Terry Gowan emerged
from the side room, swapping the
catch lock after him. Royd turned 10
him and added. you may hang about
the corridor. Terry, until call YOU
eyes. sir"
"CaU that bov be trusted Boyd, not
~ listen az the door, asked Barlow,
after the lad had left the room.
.,Petter even that that. He VIII in
sure u= against other listeners. You
may sneak freely, Mt Barlow
.ar1 corfdrurialy," was the sharp
r..-v ..ys-hat 7 have 20 say 70 you,
rrrf~ rovd must never 20 further.
pa-d glanced indiTerently AZ red
leather book on his desk
..--ra house Of Graves e Barlow -
listed among those res"onsihIe TOT il.y
-.-- s----rr-art duties and secret opeT-
r-f-r= ip this part or the city ne
said with rather dry significance. '''
arr-7dv should know Mr. barrow
chat Won may condde in me as free-
1,- -s one trusts his attorney-or MS
con fce-or."
..e,.,-er,-- =ureIvI'' muttered Barlow
. rr-f1. uer-urhed by the quiet Tennhe.
..rrf trls is n very serious business
r--d Very serious
..-r-a more binding my obligations
+ron. come 70 the point MI bar
low"
The wall street marnate no longer
.re---r--ra Tie drew from hi7 pocket
a document envelope vet before ne
o-a-a5 lr he }erl,e5 hls chair nearer
trar ~ hts companion. and said. fore
ihIv.
a. ,ou are well aware. Boyd. our
e~-- ore-ates very heavily IN the stock
market and frequently engineers deals
which involve many millions Of dol
lars"
-.ToS 7 am well aware Of g."
Necessarily such tremendous opef-
at.ors are very secretly planned and
conducted. ." Barlow went on. with an
energy quite in contrast with Boyd 8
odd ou,etude "If our designs and
vll..- were nrematureIy published. or
G.. much as suspected bv rival opera
TORS and the great army of hahitu7l
r-a-r,1tors market values might he
erected I'm way that would cost us
rrn1lore-miuions. Boyd and perhaps
ro-eleS=lv thwa~t our designs
1T IS not at all necessary to impress
these facts upon me-" said Boyd. dry
" Does vou~ business with me this
morning relate 70 such tremendous
o~~-rt'ors2"
Precisely. MS viii show you."
said Rerlow. now Inst'nctively lower
ir- his voice. "Aftor nearly four
months of cautious work ln several
Of trc rrrot markets. we have acquired
control of most or the stock necessary
~ rushing through a deal that already
has cost millions"
..yvciIe''
"E~Iefv. put tt IS 70 consist or p
merger 81 two large midland railway
e,--ta~s into one Of the most power
rul Western roads. Coaddcutiallv.
Pova ir case we now are able To rush
o. through this merger may meet
with serious opposition from the at
torrev general m washington. and
r-rla0z he turned down as Illegal. but
vr ura going to take chances against
-rat and arht 10 a duish any ltsa-
tar tl8t arises"
81 sce.'- nodded Boyd. not Just Tx
ing tie project.
-Our firm" continued the fnanciar;
'-h1s not been alone I'm This work. We
have had the co-0neraffon of some OF