Rocky Ford enterprise. (Rocky Ford, Colo.) 1887-1950, 1911-07-21

locked into his and pressed It to his
lips before he spoke. There was
silence after that. Then, with little
effort. the girl spoke.
Philip, DO you remember my say
ing what q contempt you must have
for the world that didn't know how to
ny? Do you remember that. and tho
answer you made to it?"
He nodded.
Philip. Is that still theref Your
contempt. l mean. for the world?"
II don't believe" he said, that you
can even ask that seriously-you, who
gave me first my soul back again and
then. in these last weeks. my life.
For it's been your life that has lived
in me these last days-they must be
good many-just as 1t was your
warmth and faith and fragrance that
gave me back my soul. long ago" He
paused a moment; then, whom ne went
on his voice had a somewhat different
quality. But the other contempt.
Jeanne. that still exists. or would ex-
list If I gave 1t the chance. the worlds
contempt for me. Not even your faith
could shake that"
She had been halfreclining beside
him. but now she sat erect purposeful-
ly, like one who has taken a resolu-
ton.
I'm not SO sure OF that" she said.
in q matter-of-fact tone. though there
was an undercurrent Of excitement in
It. Philip. have been trying to
solve a puzzle since you were Ill. I
hoped I could solve It by myself. II
I were intslligent enough I'm sure
could; but I'll have to ask you to help
me. It's q string Of letters written
around q picture. in q locket-"
"A locket OF yours?" he asked. sur
prised.
She spoke hastily and the undercur-
rent of excitement was growing
stronger in her voice.
do you want mo to try 1t now?" he
asked. IF you'll make light and
show me the thing I'll see what
can do"
Perhaps you won't need that" she
said. II can remember the letters.
They are divided up into words, but
I'm sure they are not any foreign Ian
guage; they are in a code of some
sort"
She did not turn to look at him. but
she felt him stir little. with sudden
ly aroused attention, and heard his
breath come a little quicker.
THE first letter was all by ITSELF"
she said. trying to keep her voice
steady. II was N. And then, in
one word. came the letters p-b-J-n-e-Q."
That means A coward" he said.
His voice was unsteady, and he
clutched suddenly at her hand. She
could feel that his was trembling, SO
she took 1t in both Of hers and held
II tight
TITS a CODE" he said, "a boyish code
OF my own. I remember that for a
long time after l invented 1t be.
lieved 1t to be utterly insoluble: yet It
was childishly simple. It consists
simply of splitting the alphabet in
two and using the last half for the
first, and vice versa. 1t must have &C.
CURED to hundreds of boys. at one
time and another. and yet" his voice
faltered. Yet, it's little odd that
you should have stumbled upon an
other example of it"
THE next word was o-r-ge-n-lr-q."
THAT means betrayed he said,
almost instantly. "Was-was there any
more"
One little word, three letters.
wv But know already what they
mean, Philip" There was a moment
airy silence, then she repeated the
whole phase-"'A coward betrayed
him." She was trembling all over
now. herself. Il knew" she said. II
knew 1t was something like that"
Then she dropped down beside him
and clasped him tight in her arms.
Philip. that was written around your
picture. an old picture of you it must
have been, which fell out of your
pocket when / was undressing you
that night after your fight with Ros-
coe. l recognized the locket 1t was en-
closed in as Mr.. Hunters. had often
seen 1t on his watch fob, and it's en-
graved with his initials"
TT fell out of my pocket" said
Philip. incredulously.
Yes" she said, that puzzled me,
too. for awhile; and finally l figured
1t out. You must have found it"
That night in Roscoe's cave, when
l was waiting for him. / had forgot
ten 1t until this moment"
Il knew 1t must be like that" she
said, something like that. And wasn't
1t she began
Hunters code as we'll as mine?
Yes. We made it up together when
we were boys" he said, land we used
1t occasionally even after We left the
Point We wrote IN IL, both of US. as
easily as in English; and read it the
same way"
Her young arms still held him fast
Philip, he must have been sorry
long time-almost since it happened.
4 IL .l.4..