Gilpin observer., 1911-07-20

silence after that. Then. with little
effort. the girl spoke.
Philip. DO you remember my say
ing what . contempt you must have
for the world that didn't know how to
hyf Do you remember that and the
answer you made to It"
He nodded.
Philip, IL that still thersf Your
contempt mean. for the world9"
II don't believe" he said. "that you
can even ask that ssriously-you, who
gave me nrst my soul back again and
then, in these last weeks, my life.
Tor it's been your life that has lived
in me these last days-thsy must be .
good many|1ust ~ 1t was your
warmth and faith and fragrance that
gave ne back my soul. long ago." He
paused . moment; then, whom Ne went
ON his voice had . somewhat different
quality. But the other contempt.
Jeanne. that still exists. or would sx-
list II gave It the chance, the worlds
contempt for me. Not even your faith
could shake that"
She had been half-rsclining beside
him, but now she sat erect purpossful-
ly. like one who has taken q rssolu-
ton.
TIN not 30 sure Of that" she said,
in . mattsr-offact tone. though there
was An underourrent Of excitement In
It Philip. have been trying to
solve . puzzle since you were i'll. I
hoped could solve It By myself. II
were intelligent enough I'm sure
could; but I'll have to ask you to help
me. It's . string Of letters written
around . picture. In . locket"
"A lockst Of yoursf" he asked, sur
prissd.
Never mind about that Just now"
She spoke hastily and the undercur-
rent Of excitement was growing
stronger in her voice.
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 q code of some
sort"
She did not turn to look at him, but
she felt him stir little. with sudden
~ aroused attention, and heard his
breath come q little quicker
Tho frst letter was all BY itself"
she said. trying to keep her voice
steady. It was N. And then, in
one werd. came the letters p-b-j-n-s-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, 90
she took It in both of hers and held
It tight
IT'S q code," he said. - boyish code
Of my own. remember that for q
long time after l invented It be-
lsvsd It to be utterly insolubls: yet It
simply Of splitting the alphabet in
two and using the last half for the
FIRST. and vice versa. 1t must have oc.
CURED to hundreds of boys. at ono
time and another. and yet" his voice
faltered. yet. it's 4 little odd that
you should have stumbled upon ap-
other example Of It."
The next word was o-r-ge-n-l-r-q."
That means betrayed" he said.
almost instantly. "Was-was there any
more"
"one little word. three letters.
'u-v-z.' But know already what they
mean. Philip" There was a moment
ary silence. then she repeated the
whole phase-"'A coward betrayed
him." She was trembling all over
now. herself. 4 knew" she said. "I
knew II 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 l was undressing you
that night after your night with Ros.
eos. recognised the locket It was en-.
closed In ~ Mr.. Hunters. had often
seen It on his watch fob. and it's en-.
graved with his initials"
1T fell out of my pocket" said
Philip. incredulously.
YES" she said. that puzzled me.
too. for awhile; and finally l figured
II out. You must have found it"
THAT night in Roscos's cave. when
was waiting for him. 1 had forgot
ten II until this moment"
Il knew II must be like that" she
said. something like that. And wasn't
It. she began
Hunters code a. well as mine 2
Yes. We made It up together when
We were boys" he said, "and We used
It occasionally eveD' after We left the
Point. We wrote in II. both Of US. ~
easily ~ 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 II happened.
its an old. old picture Of you.
dear. and the ink Of the letters 10
faded. He's carried It with him ever
since. ~ . reminder Of the wrong he