Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1907-09-28
THE FREEDOM CIPHER
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The Vigilant sat in his big Invalid
chair porting over small slip of pa
per on the desk before him. He had
been sitting there, just so, motlonless,
to all appearances almost lifcless, all
| through the long night hours, while
kioto, the little brown japanese serv-
ant, slept quietly on the mat before the
door.
Before him was a crumpled heap Of
papers, Of even greater dimensions
than usual; on the table at his elbow
stood his breakfast-a cup Of coffee and
a plate of frut-untouched. The pa
per which he was studying was a
cipher cut from the agony column Of
one Of the dailies. 1t ran as follows
3.7a.2.5.9.d.3.h l III 2.47.9.p2q.7.S.s.
1.3.9w.
To any one unacqualnted with the
| art Of cipher reading the above would
seem unlntelligible. To the VlEllant's
trained eye the method Of 1t and It's
construction were chld's play. But
there was one thing necessary for it's
solution, and that was what had kept
the Vigilant to his chair all the long
night.
He stretched out long, slnewy hand
and drew toward him a thick, white
sheet Of paper carefully ruled into
small divisions and cut here and there
at irregular intervals with sharp
knife point. 1t was form Of what Is
| technically known as a "gridiron'-an
Instrument much used In cipher read
Ing and making. He turned it over
thoughtfully, with puckered brow. and
applied 1t to an open page before him,
moving 1t carefully from position to
position, apparently without result; for
after a while he desisted and ralapsed
Into his former breeding attitude.
There came the sharp whlrr of an
electric bell. Kloto rose noiselessly to
his feet and vanished, only to return
usherlng in tall, bronzed, distinguish
ed looking man.
Il am glad your highness has hon
ored me with a visit" said the Vigil
liant. You Will pardon my not rising
l 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
l am here"
Il know, sir, that l am addressing
Prince Rupert Of Mnlonia, who Is to
be crowned In his capital OF Nervan in
ten days time, and that the city Is
| positive nest OF anarchy"
The prince nodded and seated him
self.
That Is perfectly true, and 1t Is for
that reason l am here. | 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 l am to be made an
example Of. AS rule, I should have
taken no notice; but on such an occa-
/ slon-well, the streets OF Nervan are
narrow, especially thoae near the Gu
| thedral, which lies In the old city"
A silence Of few moments ensued.
broken only by the crisp rustling of
papers his visitor handed to him.
These are serious, sir" he said.
when he had finished. They are the
work of man well known to me; an
|euthusiast-mad if you wlll-but a man
who would cheerfully sacrifice his own
lie TO insure the destruction Of yours.
And, as your highness says the streets
Of Nervan are narrow and a desper-
ate man might do much. The fellow is
an Italian by birth, Pasquali by name.
Your hIghness receives the reports Of
your project OF police; could you tell
me the name OF any anarchist pubuca-
ton which may be privately printed in
NervanT'
There is Socialist organ called
. Freedom.' which is printed in secret
but though revolutionary, they don't
advocate the use of the bomb and
the revolver. l have copies forwarded
to NE each week by them"
could I have those coples?"
Certainly. They shall be sent around
at once"
In that case, your highnes, I think
l need detain you no further I have
been at work for some days on a Sc
ries Of ciphers which l am certain are
the handiwork of this Pasquall. | look
10 the papers you will send me for
the one clue l need. l will communi-
cate with You further in three days