The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-06-23
A CIPHER
NOTE
By MARGARET BARR
Copyright by American Press Asso.
citation, 1911.

Il have perfect commence IN my nus
band" said Mrs. Ackley to Mrs. Brad.
shaw, land the reason why l have
confidence in him is because he's so
careless. II he had occasion to keep
anything from me he couldn't do it.
For instance, If he should receive q
love letter from any illegitimate source
he would be sure to have it in his
pocket"
"But how would that give him
away?" asked Mrs. Bradshaw.
why, my dear woman, there's not
a night when he is in bed and asleep
that l don't go through his pockets"
"It's the only safe way with men,"
Time came when Mrs. Ackley in 60
ing through her husbands pockets re-
ceived a shock. She came upon a bit
Of paper on one side Of which was her
husbands name written in a woman's
hand, on the other certain mysterious
figures, IL, 0, g., s.
Mrs. Ackley turned pale. She loved
her husband Notwithstanding the fact
that she thought it necessary to watch
him. She had gone through his peck
cts for years dreading that she would
find something to convince her Of his
Inconsistency, and at last the blow had
fallen. She almost wished she had
remained in ignorance. Possibly she
would have burned the message had
not curiosity interposed to prevent her
doing SO. She wiped a tear from her
eye and looked at the paper again.
There were the figures 1, IL, 0, 8, 5.
Doubtless every figure stood for some
loving word.
Getting her feelings under control,
she began to puzzle W the figures
with a view to their Interpretation.
1t was the first day Of May; there
fore the figure l might refer to the
day of the month. But II came next,
and the twelfth month is December.
BY beginning at the other end the
theory fitted better. May was the
fifth month. The figure 5 conceded
with the month exactly. The next
figure, 3, might stand for the day of
the month, 0 possibly marking the
hour The figures indicated that the
sender wished Mr.. Ackley to meet her
on the Sd day of May (the next day
but one) at 9 o'clock. Twelve might
mean the termination of the meeting,
the hour it would be necessary for the
woman to leave him. But was it not
from 8 to IL in the morning or 8 to IL
in the evening. II have it." she ex.
claimed. 1.-THE figure ! indicates that
it is the first 9 to u of the hour in the
day or in the morning. OF course 1t
wouldn't do for them to meet in the
evening. 1 might have something to
say about that. In the morning, when
he is at his Office, I am supposed to be
powcrless. We shall see"
Having doubts about the correctness
Of this deciphering Of the message,
she tried another theory. Possibly the
figures might spell a word that would
mean a whole sentence. She tried
several plans and at last hit upon n
making the figures represent letters.
The first figure was /, and A is the
first letter Of the alphabet.
Eureka" she exclaimed.
Then she read, /, A; II. L; 8. I;3 G:
&, E-.Alice.
"Aha," she cried, $50 the name is
Alicey'
She thought over all the women she
knew, but none was named Alice.
Her rival could not. therefore, be one
Of her friends or acquaintance. She
must be some one her husband had
met whom she, his wife. knew moth
ing about. She would unearth this
plot, but she. would not spoil it by let.
ting It pe known that she possessed
the secret.
When Ackley came home for dinner
and gave his wife the usual martha
kiss he noticed that her lips were cold
Don't feel very well, dear?" he ask
"a.
Mn. Ackley declared that she wa
pee6sctiy well. Nevertheless. though
She ts3ed to appear as usual, she failed
The nat day Nrs. Acklsy. ate
beoaktaSt went 70 her mothers to r.
main for TIE day. She could not bea
% rs1ain in the house with the MAJ
xhowas Ascsiving Asr. She telephoas'
HIM sAnfing the day that shs, wosa'
4rsnain away AL night M. Ackle'
passed IL evening at his club. w!
home ate ana the next morning. hav
inxt b~ssak1astsd, went to hia once
Thsss hs fousd q note from q ma
With whom he had an important bus
nsss deal asking him 10 be at q ceFtai
place at $50 .. m. Mr. Ackley left n
once without saying where b NJ
Roipe. Ho did not return TIL half PAL
II.
When no did return hs found hi
wife in the oMce looking like . thur
asrcloud. She had been there thru
hours "nursing her wrath to keep!
warm" md IN accumHlation Of VII
dictiveness had placed her In Q COZ
ditdon frightful to behold. Those I
the once were waiting an explosion
When Nj. Ackley entered he looked
his wife. astonishsd. Without q VOL
she took from her portemonnaie Il