The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1912-06-20

mo. Hardly. Because" and Will
kins almost snorted as he forced out
the words-'I personally invented the
latest cipher used-cspaed it up from
ancient Greek, my old college trigo-
nometry and sixty words of the Co
manche tongue, learned when l spent
a vacation at Fort Sill. You'd think
that would be some cipher, Billy, some
cipher. 1t held them for two days
then found good evidence that it had
been translated"
by whom, and for whom?"
Billy, there's the toughest problem
in the whole blamed affair. l can't
even state, definitely, which govern
ment to accuse. All l know is that
our army orders, our Mexican policy,
and l don't know what else besides
are being continually relayed to an
unfriendly power, and can't actually
name the power"
THE process of elimination" said
the old detective, slowly, should cas-
lily demonstrate the location Of the
leak, and the power to which such
a leak is valuable. Which do you
really figure in the equation--yellow
men or wooden shoes?"
yellow men or wooden sh- oh
blazes!" snapped the chief. II am a
slow thinker today. 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 ciphers. Then, if
you look at 1t in another light, there
are just as many reasons for Japan
to grasp every chance OF keeping close
watch upon our troops, our naval
movements and our general dealings
with all other nations. / can't Ak it
rightly 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 OBJ
tain and interpret every cipher we
have ever constructed. Neither can I
say that there is a German system of
the same pattern-I am, as yet, beau
tifully checked at all points. l have
only this moral certainty: Nothing
goes out of Washington concerning
the movements Of fleets or armies
without heavy risk of transcription
and Interpretation by our enemies
There are only two avenues open
you can easily guess them both"
Either find the leak-or devise a
cipher that even a Japanese or Ger
man scientist cannot take apart and
reassemble."
The chief nodded emphatically
IF we found the leak, we would
stop the source of information-for a
little while. If we devised an unde-
cipherable cipher, we could make
monkeys of either kaiser or mikado
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 lei
sure"
Exactly" assented Pinkwell. Then
you think it would be best for my
Office to make some sort Of bluff at
digging up the guilty parties, while
you devote your energies to the con-
struction Of a cipher that not even
such a man as-well, we will say
Won Schimmel-could possibly olsen
tangle"
The chiefs nod was more emphatic
than before.
Il have thought Of asking the secre-
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 that ever
combined or subtracted words and
letters"
Something like the Dancing Men
in the Sherlock Holmes story?" quer-
led the detective, with a reminiscent
smile.
THAT idea," returned the chief-"a
tiny dancing figure, in different po-
sition to represent each letter, was
original and clever. You will remem-
Der, though, that it was finally turned
into plain English, without much diff
ficulty. l almost think Won Schimmel
was right-that there is no cipher
which cannot be read by the expert
deliver into such fascinating subjects
Still, something must be done, and
done in hurry"
Hurry is the proper word" assent
ed Pinkwell you will have to get
busy as rapidly as your affairs will
let you"
Wilkins turned, opened desk
drawer, and began to tumble inside.
Il was experimenting on cipher
this morning" he explained. Moth
ing complete, and nothing elaborate.
Penciled it out, for a half hours d.
version. Here-see If you can read
it."
Pinkwell took the sheet, inspected
1t for an instant, and then turned it
over. II don't think / can read your
hieroglyphs on short notice, John" )"
he remarked, suavely. Still, think
the person who took this sheet from
your desk. placed carbon beneath it,
and then traced your writing with q
No. 8 pencil will be able to do 30, or
will find some one who can"
The chief seized the paper, held It
to the light, and stared through a
magnifying glass. Crumpling up the
sheet, he flung It into the waste bas-
ket, only to have the detective fish
It out, smooth it neatly, and tuck It
into hia nnokafhnnk ThA nhiaf al