The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1911-07-28
A CIPHER
TELEGRAM
By F. A. Mitchell
By r. A. MIToE
Copyright by American Press Aseo.
citation, 1911.

HOrnby was very popular 10 socie-
ty. though. not having q fortune. he
was rather sought by married women
coveting attention than young girls
angling for a husband. Among these
wives who interested themselves in
the young diplomat was Mime. Ber-
thalow, the wife of Partisan imam
cier. At that time the world was
stirred BY the Morocco AFFAIR. and It
was feared there would be . war be-
tween France and Germany. n. Ber-
thalow was in Berlin endeavoring to
secure the first news In case the EN-.
peror decided to 60 to war for specu-
lative purposes.
One evening at q court ball Nine.
Berthalow. seeing Horribly pass her.
called him to her on some pretext and
later, while hanging on his arm, said
to him:
''Mr. Horribly. do you think there win
be war;
II don't think about such things.'
II am sure II war u declared you
win know It before It IL made pub
Hc."
"Why do You think thatr'
because ! have been told that BE-
fore going to war the emperor must
know how the other powers will act
and your government 10 now one Of
the powers. The American minister
viii be able to Judge II there IL to be
war and will inform his government
What he knows you know"
Hornby smiled without making any
reply. The lady spoke Of other mat
tiers and finally said:
II presume all important dispatches
are In cipher"
"They are"
what II the word for war In your
cipher coder'
"oh. It wouldn't DO for me to tall
you that" g
please ten me that one word I'll
not divulge It"
well. on your promise. Ill tell you.
1t IL woman"
Good gracious! why was that
word chosen7"
Il don't know. didn't make the
code"
And what Ii the word for 'peacer
"'Man.'"
upon my wordl should have sup
posed those two words would have
been reversed"
perhaps that's the reason Of their
use as they are. They are mot 20
easily deciphered."
Mime. Berthalow looked mp into
the young mans face. II was n guile
less 40 May morning. She continued
her investigations.
against the United States, dating back
a hundred years or more, for . vessel
owned BY my great.grandfather. do
stroyed by an American privateer. I
should like you to advise me concern.
ing Il"
II shall be happy to do 20. am at
my ONCE from II 10 every day.
where It win be proper for you to
call"
This was not satisfactory to Nine.
Berthalow. She would have pre-
ferred to have the young man call
upon her where she could talk with
him In secret. but on second thought
she considered that there would be m
advantage In going to his ONCE. She
might light on some Information mot
intended for her. The next day 1t II
o'clock she appeared at the legation.
"Ah. madame" Horribly said. I'VE are
very busy today. and fear ! shall
have to keep you waiting. II you will
SO into my private ONCE for awhile I
shall be happy to advise you presently
concerning your claim"
He ushered her into . coy room in
the center Of which stood q table with
writing materials and papers scattered
about Mime. Berthalow. being alone
In the room. made a hurried examina-
tion OF the papers. One Of them bore
evidence Of having just been written.
1t was marked to be sent by cable to
the secretary Of state at Washington.
The lady eagerly seized It and ran her
eye over It There was a tumble OF
words the meaning Of which was nm
ineligible to her. but she noticed scat
tered throughout the dispatch the word
WVAA0As ~ VGCuAAOO wv NAknSos CIV
had all the time she needed for the ex-
aminadon-indsed. more than she
wished, for she was anxious to get
away that she might impart the infor-
nation to her husband that there was
to be war.
Presently Horribly came In and in.
formed her that he was ready to listen
to the matter Of her claim. She told
him she had left home without hav-
ing locked up the jewels she had worn
the night before and must return at
once. Hornby gave her ono Of bis en-
gaging smiles and saw her to her car
riage.
When Hornby returned to his once
he threw the cipher telegram into the
wastebasket and wrote one to broker
In Paris announcing that q prominent
financier would probably "sell the
market" II 80 1t would break. and the
broker was to buy largely for Horn
by's account
Horribly by the operation made for
tune. Some time after this Mime. Ber-
aAAl ~