The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-05-14

Clarence and the Code


Clarence had looked forward 10 the
two weeks OF holiday time through all
the school months But when Christ
mas had come. his brother. who was
the messenger for the firm OF Wal
Wick a. Walden, suddenly became i'll.
He'll be on his feet In a week." the
doctor said, but In the meantime the
poor lad was worrying about his place
in the Office.
Cant | take your placer" asked
Clarence.
Thus 1t was arranged and for the
two days before New Years Clarence
ran errands and did everything that
was asked Of him. Just as the office
was being closed the night before
New Years. Mr.. Walwick called him
and said that he expected to come
down town the next morning although
the office would be closed, and he
wished Clarence to be sure and get
the mail and place il on his desk and
wait for him.
IL was quite early when Clarence
found his way inside the silent build.
ing. He had brought his skates with
him, and as there was to be a hockey
game later, and there was to be the
family dinner and the usual good
time on New Years afternoon. He
carefully put the mail on Mr.. Wal.
wicks desk and sat down TO wait. The
janitor came and swept. but Mr.. Wal.
wick did not come. There was still
plenty of time before the game. but
the clock hands were slowly turning.
Finally he picked up a magazine and
turned over the pages The hour when
he should be playing the game.
The game was on now. he knew.
The office was getting chilly and he
walked around from room TO room.
He looked at the clock. The game
must have been over for some time
and they would be expecting him for
dinner.
He was getting cold and hungry
Strange as II was, when he began TO
give up hope the time seemed to go
faster. Finally he curled up on a
couch and went to sleep.
Dream after dream tumbled over
each other and in the midst Of won.
derful hockey game, where everybody
SLATED about eating hot goose and
cranberries, he heard a bell. He
wondered what II could be and before
he could ask he awoke with a start
Almost at his ear the telephone bell
was ringing.
He jumped and took down the re.
ceiver. "Hello," he shouted.
Yes. this is Walwick & Waldon's
office"
well, | hardly expected 10 catch
any one. Take down this cablegram
and rush 1t through to Mr. Walwick
Calcutta, India. Jan 2.
Spike sugar Hardly new candle
'Spiegel, Hooker & Sons
There, have you got that? All
right. Repeat it, All right Good-by'
Clarence rubbed his eyes. There
was the message written out. but what
a message, Ii did not mean anything
and II was dated a day ahead. He re
membered hearing that Mr.. Walwicl
lived in some hotel. He had seen the
name some place. Oh yes, il was
on the magazines. There il was. Tn,
Albero. Like a flash he ran down
stairs and jumped on a street car.
In about twenty minutes he reach
ed the hotel. and as he stepped il
the door he saw Mr.. Warwick JUS
entering the dining room. He rushed
up TO him and Mr. Walwick looked al
him in surprise and then remembered
his face.
yes, what is IT,"
Its a message telephoned in. sir,
and he gave over the slip OF paper
Mr.. Walwick looked II over and
quickly took a book out of his pocket
went TO the hotel Office and wrote a
half a dozen kilograms.
-
half aloud and then noticed Clarence
at his side.
How under the sun did you happen
TO be at the Officer"
you told me TO wait, sir, until you
came"
Then he told the whole story. and
when he had finished the head OF the
great firm Of Waldwick a. Walden
took the messenger boy by the hand
just as If he had been a grown man
and said:
My lad, you've saved us a great
deal Of money, and now | think that
would better take you home in my
automobile just as fast as | can. Your
mother will be worrying about you"
When they We're seated in the big
machine and were wrapped in by the
heavy robes, Mr.. Walwick suddenly
asked what the boy had thought by
the peculiar message.
Il thought IL was very funny but
how could il be dated January >, when
this is New Year's?"
You will have to ask your school
teacher TO explain why. but you see
the earth turns round the sun and II
is the day after New Years in India
now. Each Of the queer words in the
message means a whole sentence
when you look them up in a little
book carry. We call II code"
When they came TO Clarence
house, Mr.. Walwck went into the
warm parlor and told the story 10
his mother Then he took a piece OF
paper and wrote something on IT,
what do you think that means?" he
said:
Waw heart wire Clarence Young
desk apple.
Il might tell you, sir, If had the
code" said Clarence
well, here is the code book. You
and your mother can look it up"
And this is what they read by
looking up the words:
"Waldick q Walden hereby prom.