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

I need detain you no further. l have
been at work for some days OH h
series of ciphers which | am certain
are the handiwork of this Pasquali.
l look to the papers you will send me
for the one clew need. 1 will COM
municate with you further in three
days time, by which time there
should be no cause for alarm.
Faithful to his promise, the papers
were sent by the prince that after.
noon. Marshall Third picked out the
current number and went through it
carefully, pencil in hand, dividing the
words of all the longer articles into
series of nine, which he labeled re-
spectively A, B, C, and so on through
the alphabet. He seemed dissatisfied
with his work till he came to the
leading article OF the week on the
center page.
Here he had no sooner begun his
annexation than he gave a low ex-
clamation of satisfaction. He contin-
ued his divisions of nine through un-
til he had reached the letter w. Then
he started again at the beginning, un-
derlining certain words-the third
and seventh in division A, the second,
fifth and ninth in division D, and so on
to the ninth of w.
The message was now plain to read.
The translation was as follows:
Everything satisfactory. Plans
definitely arranged. Sebastian leaves
for capital Thursday. Have fuses
fixed. Meet on boat"
1.-TWO years ago Pasquali was at
Munich under the name of Sebastian.
Now for the rest muttered the Vigil
liant ito himself He took from the
table "a notebook full of messages in
the same cipher. each carefully pasted
in and the date added. Throughout
the afternoon he pored over ciphere
and pamphlets Of corresponding dates.
When he had finished he wrote
cipher message himself, and then
leaned back in his chair and passed
hand YEARLY across his forehead.
"Kioto, take this to the advertise
ment Office Of the newspaper mention
ed. See that it is inserted in Wednes-
days issue without fail"
Wednesday morning found the Vigi-
liant in his book-lined room; but
change had been effected His invalid
chair had been removed to the far
side of the big writing desk; the space
between that and the door was bare
save for the soft carpet The full
light Of the window illuminated the
intervening space, leaving the corner,
in which stood the chair, in desT
uncertain shadow.
Marshall Thirds face was immova-
BILE as a mask. Though he knew full
well that in the next half hour ne
would be at hand-gripss with death
in its most terrible form, not a trem'
or or twitch of nerve or muscle De-
trayed the fact. He made no move
ment till the outer bell rang. Then,
under cover of the massive desk, ne
slipped his hand swiftly beneath the
rug on his knees.
The door opened and thin. sal
low-faced man, with coal black hair
and big, dark, lustrous eyes came
| swiftly in.
Monsieur Pasquali," said the vigt-
| liant CURLY.
The mans face turned a shade sal
| lower, and his eyes glittered. 1t was
clear that his nerves were strung to
| their highest tension.
"Yol-who are your" he demanded
-, ,,n1ich
| the sender of this?"
And with shaking hand he held
out the torn fragment of paper.
| 81 sent you message in cipher
the cipher of the Freedom'-warning
you not to 60 to Nervan on Thurs
day."
Hal" The exclamation was half
snarl, half threat. And why not?"
Because your movements are
known and watched-because every
detail of your plans is known. Sebas-
tian."
as this a trap?" demanded the
other hoarsely. taking a stride for
| ward
Stand where you are" came the
curt order You are an enthusiast
"a. dangerous enthusiast in danger
GUS cause; but you have an intellect.
aad you are man of your word.
Swear to me that you will abandon
your attempt on Prince Rupert of
Malonia. Swear that to me on your
word of honor, and you are free to
CO."
And if not?"
You are wanted by the police of
France for the outrage in the Rue
Courcelle; by those of Germany for
the murder of the man Liban. Eng
land is your one refuge. 1 have only
to utter the word Ferguson to the
police here and you yourself and six
more will be on trial for yet anoth-
ed murder before the month Is out