The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1912-05-30

- BN'SOh ~ RNAoOt NANNY q
be revealed only to the messenger
and one companion-in the City of
Mexico. You are the inventor Of the
cipher, and can instruct in the use
of its key more rapidly, more success
fully, than any other man. You are
also, l believe, honest, loyal, and fair
ly resourceful. Furthermore, you say
that you have learned to speak a lit
tie Spanish. How would you like to
carry a message of importance, and a
key to your cipher, as far as the capt.
tai Of Mexico?"
Brockett choked up, flushed, and
stammered a vague sentence which he
in all probability meant to signify &C
ceptance Of the proffered honor. The
general smiled, reassuringly.
you don't say it very clearly, son,
but your meaning is easily under
stood. Now, then, something along
the same lines. If you had a COM
panion on this journey, a man who
spoke Spanish by right of birth and
blood, and who could be trusted as abb
solutely as yourself, the chances of
success would be more than doubled.
Ramon Solano, / knew your father. 1
have heard good reports Of you. If
you are even half the man your father
was a dozen years ago., you are al
ready selected for this commission"
The Cuban gazed straight into the
eyes of the fighting man, and the gen.
eral understood.
Nov, boys" the veteran continued,
Tets get busy without delay. You
will please make arrangements with
the folks at home for a somewhat pro-
longed absence. While you are gone,
Mr.. Brockett, your mother will receive
your salary-and perhaps a little
more. Mr.. SOlano, you are not in gov
eminent employ"
The Cuban waved a supple hand.
81 have ample resources of my own,
general, and shall consider it a pleas
ure to expend them on such a mis-
sion"
Nevertheless" answered General
Cole, the government will take the
liberty of supplying you both with the
funds needed in the completion Of the
enterprise. Enough money to cover
all probable expenses will be advanced
you, and when you reach the frontier
arms, horses, general equipments, and
trustworthy guides Will be found. To-
night, Mr.. Brockett, you will receive
full instructions at your home. Read
them over carefully-you also, Mr..
Solano. Be ready to start tomorrow
afternoon. I need hardly remark that
you are not supposed to speak OF the
commission with which you are en-
trusted-not even to your most init
mate friends. AS to your parents
that, Of course, is a different question.
think that is all, boys-go home and
bid your good-byes. You will know all
further details in the evening""
Brockett hurried home to break the
strange news 10 his mother, while So
lano agreed to notify his father that
he had decided to preface his vacation
by a few extra weeks of travel, and
made all possible speed to the nearest
Western Union office. The Cuban
picked up a pad of cable blanks, and
reached for a pen. II was broken. An
other pen proved equally useless, and
Solano fumbled in his pocket for a,
pencil. A little man seated on the
next stool turned quickly, and prof
fered him an ink-pencil, n Of those
annoying contrivances which were in.
vented a few years ago to displace
both lead pencils and fountain pens
and which are now a memory, and
nothing more.
Very annoying, the unpleasant de-
lay" said the little man, amiably. per
NIT me that I am Of a little assist
ance?"
And Solano, as he scrubbed his brief
cablegram. gave thanks, with true
Latin politeness, to the stocky, scar
checked japanese who had walked
past Brockett and himself the prsvi-
Gus evening. When the Cuban left
the telegraph Office, the little brown
mar caught up the pad Of cable
blanks. scrutinized the Impressions
left by hig meaaa1e. and daanita thn,