Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1911-07-20
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locked into his and pressed It to his
lips before he spoke. There was a
silence after that. Then, with a little
effort, the girl spoke,
Phillip, do you remember my say.
ing what a contempt you must have
for the world that didn't know how to
fly? Do you remember that, and the
answer you made to it?"
He nodded.
Philip, Is that still theref Your
contempt, I mean, for the world?"
Il don't believe" he said, that you
a ave 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 a
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, when ne went
on his voice had a somewhat different
quality. But the other contempt,
Jeanne, that still exists, or would x
list If l gave it the chance, the worlds
contempt for me. Not even your faith
could shake that"
She had been ~half+reclining 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 a matter-of-fact tone, though there
was an undercurrent Of excitement in
1t, Philip, l have been trying to
solve a puzzle since you were Ill. l
hoped l could solve it by myself. If
| were intelligent enough I'm sure |
could; but I'll have to ask you to help
me It's a string Of letters written
around a picture, in a locket."
"a locket of yours?" he asked, sur
prised.
Never mind about that just now"
She spoke hastily and the undercur-
rent Of excitement was growing
stronger in her voice.
do you want me to try it now?" he
asked. IF you'll make a light and
show me the thing I'll see what ]
can do"
Perhaps you won't need that" she
said. Il 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 a 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
Fsteady. 1t was N. And then, II
one word, came the letters p-b-j-n-e-q.'
""That means "A coward" he said
His voice was unsteady, and hi
clutched suddenly at her hand. Sht
could feel that his was trembling, S,
she took it in both Of hers and hell
it tight.
Its a code" he said, "a boyish cod,
Of my own. | remember that for
long time after | invented 1t | be
lieved 1T to be utterly insoluble; yet |
was childishIy simple. 1t consists
simply Of splitting the alphabet IL
two and using the last half for tn
first, and vice versa. 1t must have oc
Cured to hundreds of boys, at on
time and another, and yet" his Voic,
faltered. "Yet, it's a little odd tina
you should have stumbled upon an
other example Of it."
THE next word was o-r-g-e-n-l-r-q.
THAT means betrayed" he said
almost instantly. "Was-was there an.
more"
"One little word, three letters
'u-v-z.' But l know already what the
mean, Philip" There was a momen-
airy silence. then she repeated tn
! whole phase-"'A coward betraye
him." She was trembling all owe
now, herself. Il knew" she said. :
: knew 1t was something like that
Then she dropped down beside hill
and clasped him tight in her arm
Philip, that was written around you
picture, an old picture of you it mus
have been, which fell out of yor
+ pocket when | was undressing yo
/ that night after your fight with Ro
coe. | recognized the locket 1t was e.
closed In as Mr.. Hunters. had ofte
seen 1t on his watch fob, and it's q
: graved with his initials"
1T fell out Of my pocket" sal
Philip, incredulously.
8 YES" she said, that puzzled m
! too, for awhile; and finally l figure
q it out. You must have found it"
I THAT night in Roscoe's cave, whe
I was waiting for him. I had forge
ten 1t until this moment"
II knew 1t must be like that" sl
Q said, Something like that. And WASH
D 1t . she began
Hunters code as well as mine
$ Yes. We made 1t up together whe
o we were boys" he said, and we use
1t occasionally even after we left Il
d Point We wrote in IL, both of us, /
easily as in English; and read it Il
same way"
Her youns arms still held him fast
Philip, he must have been SOFT
Q q long time-almost since 1t happene
Q It's an old. old picture OF 10
d dear, and the ink Of the letters
faded. He's carried 1t with him ev,
Q since, as a reminder Of the wrong |
did you, and Of his cowardice in IL
ting you suffer under It."
Il suppose 1t was that from II
first"
It II don't believe he eve meant
She let the sentence break OF thar
and there was q long, long silence
Ritenhouse Club, his top hat tilted al