The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-05-31
The
. Freedom Cipher -

:
The Vigiant sat in his big invalid
chair poring over small Slip OF
paper on the desk before him. He had
been sitting there, just so, motion
less, to all appearances almost afe-
less. all through the long night hours,
while Kioto, the little brown Japanese
servant, slept quietly on the mat be-
fore the door.
Beside him was crumpled heap OF
papers, of even greater dimensions
than usual; on the table at his elbow
stood his breakfast cup of coffee
and a plate of fruit-untouched. The
paper which he was studying was
cipher cut from the agony column of
one Of the daiHes. 1t ran as follows:
! 8. "a 2. s. 9. d. h ! m 2 4.
7.9. 2.q.7. SIS. 1. 8 W.
To any one unacquainted with the
art OF cipher reading the above would
seem unintelligible To the Vigilants
trained eye the method of it and its
construction were child's play. But
there was one thing necessary for Its
solution, and that one thing, or rather.
the lack of it, was what had kept the
Wigilant to his chair adj the long night.
I He stretched out long sinewy
hand and drew toward him thick,
white sheet of paper carefully ruled
into small divisions and cut here and
there at irregular intervals with
Sharp knife point. 1t was a form OF
what is technically known as a "grld-
iron"-an instrument much used in
cipher reading and making. He turn.
ed it over thoughtfully, with puckered
brow, and applied it to an open page
before him, moving it carefully from
position to position, apparently with
out result; for after a while he de-
sisted and relapsed into his former
brooding attitude.
There came the sharp whirr Of an
electric bell. Kioto rose noiselessly
TO his feet and vanished, only to re-
turn ushering in tall. bronzed, dis
Notwithstanding man.
II am glad your highness has hon
ored me with visit" said the Vigil
liant. "You will pardon my not rising;
! am, as you see, an invalid. l was
about to write and beg you to grant
me an interview"
The tall man started slightly at be-
ing Unexpectedly addressed by his
title.
'You know me, then, Mr.. Third In
that case you probably also know
why am here"
az know, sir, that ] am addressing
Prince Rupert of MatOnia. who is to
be crowned in his capital of Nervan
in ten days time, and that the city
lis positive nest of anarchy.
The prince nodded and seated him
self.
''That is perfectly true, and it is for
shat reason am here. 1 was advised
to come to you as the one man who
knew more of anarchists than even
they do themselves. l have received
warnings that i am to be made an ex-
ample Of AS a rnle, should have
taken no notice; but on such an Iac-
tAkC OC1o Va ANNA FHeAA
are narrow, especially those near the
cathedral, which lies in the eold city"
A silence of few moments ensued,
broken only by the crisp rustling OF
papers his visitor handeh to him.
These are serious, sir" he said,
when he had finished. They are the
work of a man well kRown to me; an
enthusiast-mad, If you Wlll-hut a
man who would cheerfully sacrifice
his own life to insure Ithe destruction
of yours. And, as your highness says,
the streets of Nervan are marrow and
a desperate man might do much. The
fellow is an Ialian by birth, Pasquali
by name. Your Nhighness receives
the reports of your project of police;
could you tell me the name of any
anarchist publication which may be
privately printed in HNervan?"
There is a socialist organ called
Freedom which is printed in secret,
but, though revolutionary, they don't
advocate the use OF the bomb and the
revolver have copies forwarded to
me each week by them"
Gould 1 have. these. copies?"