The Washington herald., 1912-01-08
lccunght. 1872 ~ ". q. cHArsLAS.t
tcop5rEht IN canadp and Grsat Bdtain.l

hurried grasp. and caught them up. The
detective calmly unfolded the papers.
finding them covered with some freakish
letterings, while the boy turned red, and
the chief looked quizzically on.
Il beg your pardon" spoke up Pink
well i earnestly beg your pardon for
such rudeness. MINI"
''Brockett. sir Harry BrocIstt," an
swered the youngster.
Il apologize once more. Ar. Brockett I
have grown so Suspicious OF everything
and every one in my old age that /
really imagined these papers were plans
OF Pacific fort. or the details OF the
new rife. Translation OF an Aztec scroll.
son?"
well. hardly. sir" laughed young
Brockett. self-conhdence returning. i
was amusing myself with building a
eipher-somethfng that would be rather
hard for any one who wasn't engaged n
the building Of II to make out"
The grim face Of the chief RELAXED INTO
9 semi-smlle.
How did the experiment work out7c
Brockett grinned frankly. '.Fm no ex-
pert practitioner IN such subjects. Mr.
wilkins. still. think IL would take a
pretty capable scientist TO pick It apart
and put Il together again He'd have
to be an American. too-or possibly
Cuban"
Why soH" questioned Pinkwen. -1s
the cipher written in Spanish?''
No. sir. Plain English Would you
like 10 go over II, some time when YOU
have little leisure!''
Always glad to encourage youthful tai
ent." smilingly responded PinkTefi LET
me look through II tonight son? Thank
you. And now. I believe, Mr.. wilkins
would address you"
Just a small errand, Mr.. Bnockett.
Kindly run over to the Secretary OF war
and the Secretary OF the Navy. Ask
the next hour. Then so and attend TO
your baseball difficulties with a clear
conscience. That's all"
Brockett was opening the door. when
Ptnkwe1 reached out q OBTAINING hand
Son" remarked the old detective, "'this
cipher Of yours is certainly bewilder1nE.
That IS supposed to be the best point
about successful ciphers. believe. Tell
me. my boy-cRn you read II yourselfT''
why. Of course. II IL so simple that
dont even need a written key"
Indeed? Suppose you demonstrate #
to US. just for a moment. Are you
agreeable. chief7''
Go as far as you Ike. Billy" the
chief assented. '.I'll confess-considering
our conversation Of a little while ago
that I'm interested too. Mr.. Brockett.
a
transcription OF a few words I Will give
you and then let Us try % disseet Hy-'
The young fellow took the chair at
which the chief mot1oned. drew q pencil
from his pocket. and ripped the top sheet
from a paper pad. Chief wilkins studied
for a moment. and then dictated slowly
and coneisely:
Watch below Langtry tn further or
ders. Reported force OF 800 insurrectos
near by
Bnockett wrote briskly for 4 few mo-
ments. and then handed the chief a
strange eonglomeration;
BIB Pos To r 5BH ABB SH PO TC BIB
PO Pos 2 2BH TO W WP
TO HR Po PO SB Fin W TO 3BH SH
W TC W BIZ sH W L
W SH FA TC W TO sH BH, sB TC
wR SH LIB Paskert
HR L I'm " W SH r TO TC L
z SH pos W ALB wP.
wilkins and PinlCweil gazed AT that
strange document for several minutes.
with faces which changed from good
natured raillery TO perplexity, and then
TO keenest interest. Young Brockett.
hand upon the doOrknob, waited for the
verdict The chief folded the slip Of pa
per, and thrust It in a pocket
Snail ] leave you the key 10 the
cipher. Mr.. wiI<ins7' asked the young
ster.
mo. Wen see what we can do with
il Just from the original diotation. On
your way now, my boy-kindly tend 10
your errand. And-and-will you report
to me, personally. half an hour before
your usual time tomorrow
Brockett was almost across the thres-
hold, when the voice of Pfnkwell halted
him.
Son asked the old detective. what
do you call this chart Of yours?'
The Diamond Cipher. sir"
Tro BE CONTINUED ro-MoRRowl