The Washington herald., 1912-01-08

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liable Which do you really figure in
the equation-yellOw men or wooden
shoss?'
yellow men or wooden sh- Oh.
blazes- snapped the chief. Il am a
slow thinker to-day. Probably at all
times. or / could have ended this whole
business without calling for outside help.
As you are perfectly aware, there are
fifty reasons why Germany would be
glad TO keep in touch with our Mexican
policy. and would pay well for our secret
cibhers. Then. II you look at II in ap-
other light. there are just as many rea-
sons for Japan to grasp every chance
OF keeping close watch upon our troops.
our naval movements. and our general
dealings with all other nations l can't
fix II rightIy-I can't definitely assert
that there Is a Gordon OF japanese spies
from here to Los Angeles. with an in
telligence bureau which can both obtain
and interpret every cipher We have ever
constructed. Neither can l say that
there is a German system of the same
pattern-I am, as yet. beautifully checked
at all points. I have only this moral GER
tainty: Nothing goes out OF Washington
concerning the movements Of fleets or
armies without heavy risk Of transcript
tion and Interpretation by our enemies
There are only two avenues open-you
can easily guess them both"
Either find the leak-or devise cipher
that even a Japanese or German scient-
list cannot take apart and reassemble.'
The chief nodded emphaticaly-
IF we found the leak, we would stop
the source OF information-for a little
while. II we devised an undecipherable
cipher. we could make monkeys Of either
Kaiser or MilSado. until our plans had
matured. and our hands could not be
forced on either the Atlantic or Pacific.
After that. We could ferret out the leak
at leisure"
Exactly" assented PinkwelL Then
I think II would be best for my office
70 make some sort OF blum at digging
up the guilty parties, while you devote
your energies TO the construction of a
cipher that not even such man as-well,
We will say Won Schimmel-could possibly
dIsentangle?"
The chiefs nod was more emphatic
than before.
Il have thought OF asking the DSecre-
tary OF War and the Secretary OF the
Navy to Join US in formulating a new
cipher Among US. we might possibly
turn out something that would be too
much for the wisest fellow.
gotHltAuhlk Alht Nut IN
the Sherlock Homes story?" queried the
detective, with a reminiscent smile.
That idea" returned the chief-"a
tiny dancing figure. in different posi-
ton TO represent each letter. was origi-
nal and clever. iou will remember
though. that It was finally turned into
plain English, without much Difficulty. ]
almost think Won Schimmel was right
that there is no cipher which cannot be
hr-F ka a l-s q,
subjects. still. something must
be done. and done in a hurry.
Hurry Is the proper word" assented
Pinkwel. You win have to get busy as
rapidly as your arfsirs will let YOU
wilkins turned opened desk drawer.
and began to tumble inside.
Il was experimenting on a cipher this
plete. nothing elaborate. Penciled il out
for half hours diversion. Here, see II
you can read IL"
Piukwen took the sheet inspected il
for an instant, and then turned il over.
Il don't think I can read your hierOglyphs
on short notice. JOHN he remarked
'-Still I think the person who
took this sheet from your desk, placed
carbon beneath 1t. and then traced your
writing with a No pencil will be able
to do 80. or will find some one who can"
The chief seized the paper. held it up to
the light and stared through a magnify
ing glass. Crumpling up the sheet he
flung Il into the waste basket only to
have the detective fish II out. smooth Il
neatly, and tuck It into his pocketbook.
The chief, almost inarticulate with wrath
examined the desk, the drawer, the key
hole. and finally sat down, disgusted and
lisgrunt,ed.
Forget it, John" adInonished Pink
we'll Forget It absolutely. Don't let
,lerk or stenographer IN the ofice see you
With as much as a scowl upon your love-
y countenance. Send some one-some one
1ou think you can talk pleasantly to at
his annoying moment-to the esteemed
Don't use the phone"
push button buzzed shrilly. The door
~ the private ONCE opened, and a tall
ioung fellow stepped in.
Did you call me, Mr.. W1lkins?" he
lsked. respectfully.
The chief looked him over rapidly. Are
1ou the. only clerk remaining this after
loong''
eyes. sir. Every one else went away at
.'Uh, huh Gone to the BAN park as
isual. I presume7''
Yes, SIR. Good game to-day. The |
White Sox are here. and
Never mind about the White Sox,
n the Pink Ear-Muffs either" growled |
he chief. 'sYou are as bad as the rest /
v them-how does 1t happen YOU are not
,oing out TO the gamer
The boy grinned. and hiclSed red
.ap against his knee. IN some little con-
usion.
Fact Is, Mr.. Wilkins. expected 10
meet few friends. and have little
'ractice OF our own this afternoon"
,'Uh huh. i might have known there
vas some earth-shaking reason for
'our not disappearing with the rest
Vel. can you forego a few minutes OF
lour Talusble time, even II It is after Of
lee hoursg"
The boy hobbed sn asserting head.
ried 10 thrust the red cap into q pocket.
nd dfslodged some folded papers. which
ell rilsfling to the floor. As he bent
or the papers. Pinkwell anticipated his