The Bottineau courant., 1912-08-30
A CIPHER
TELEGRAM
BY JANE PINCKNEY BENNETT

When the Russo-Japanese war broke
out Anna Zarenski, who. had just be-
come betrothed to Captain Paul Mick
slienien, was obliged to part with her
lover, who was ordered with his regi-
ment to Manchuria. It was love
match between them, and Anna suffer
ed tortures at the approaching separa.
ton. ..,
"Paul, DEAR" she said to him, "can
you not send me a telegram every day
instead of a letter? Any letter may
receive from you will be several weeks
DID,"
my darling! A telegram every day!
Do you suppose the government would
permit the wires to be put to such
use? Suppose all the lovers in the
army were to have such a privilege ac-
corded them. There would be no time
for military dispatches. Besides, tele-
gram is open for others to read"
Cant you telegraph in cipherY
"A cipher telegram over govern
ment wire? Such a thing would send
Us both to Siberia"
But Siberia was better than the dep
rivation of two lovers to send loving
words, and the young ohicer said that
he would try to bribe an operator and
send her just one little message by TEL
egraph. But they must have a code.
So together they arranged a very sim
pie one. If sentence began with the
letter A, it meant II love you as ever;"
II it began with B, II am well;" @, II
am ILL.," D, ''Wounded;" q. II am lone
y without yoat" B, "A thousand kiss
es;" G, IT have escaped being injured
In the recent BATTLE" and so on to the
end of the alphabet
The captain left her, promising to do
Ill he could to get her kilograms
through. though he must use a large
corruption fund. Money Is a potent
factor among Russian officials, and he
succeeded in sending a number Of mes
sages. He did not attempt to send a
dispatch after a fight, when the tele-
graph line was crowded with govern
ment dispatches. They were all placed
in the hands of the operator when no
fighting was going on. to send when he
could.
One day after receipt of one Of An
mas most loving letters Paul decided
to reply over the wires. Taking his
telegram to an operator whom he had
already paid large sums, he handed him
his telegram. slipping 80 rubles in his
hand at the same time. The operator
laid the message aside till he could get
rid Of number of orders being trans
mitted to the supply department at St.
Petersburg, but before he had sent
them all a skirmish commenced with
the Japanese, which ended in battle.
It was not till the fight neared it's
termination that rush of telegraphic
messages began. While the struggle
time to send Pauls message. 1t reach
ed St Petersburg just as the govern
ment was expecting news Of the re-
suit of the battle. The telegraph be-
ing in the hands of the government all
Offices were closed. The only instru-
ment in use was in the cabinet Of the
czar While his majesty and his min
lister Of war were eagerly awaiting
news from the seat Of war a message
was clicked off for Anna Zarenski as
follows:
A bird in the hand. Every dog has his
day. Fortune favors the brave. Keep off
the grass PAUL
A terrible scowI gathered on the
brow of the minister of war as he read
the words and handed the message to
the emperor.
"A telegram in cipher. your majes.
IT," he said.
The czar read it, and he, too, scowled.
Telephone the police" he said, Ito
arrest Anna Zarenski and bring her
here. Have her produce the. key to
her cipher code under pain of instant
death.
When Anna was arrested she was
frightened out of her senses. She made
matters worse by at first refusing to
give up the code and only did SO when
told that it was by the cars order and
the penalty for Withholding 1t instant
Ocdlu- 0uS was put AACO q SoAAAo6S'
taken to the Winter palace and brought
before the emperor. and the high Of
Acials gathered about him.
"What reasonable document is this 2"
said the czar, handing her Paul's dis
patch. Anna took 1t, blushing like a
rose. She was very pretty and, traitor
or no traitor. made an attractive pic
ture.
"Take the key" said the emperor.
'.and interpret the dispatch"
II beg your majesty to direct some
one else to interpret it, b,
"Obey the Order" said the car
sternly.
Anna began the Interpretation.
"A bird in the hand" She hesitated.
II love you as ever" Every dog has
his day. 81 am lonely without you"
She was too mortified to 60 on.
Proceed said the cZar.
"Fortune favors the brave" "a thou
sand kisses" Keep OF the grass"
''Goodby. my angel
sg Tho cvo I'D foo f,1roc rAloyod Hol1in 4,