The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1912-11-22

Il have picked up Spanish from \
friend, Cuban, Ramon Solano."
HIM. HIM. That accounts for your
remark Of yesterday-that a Cuban
might understand this cipher. Have
you shown it to your friend, Solano?"
Eyes. sir In fact, he suggested
some OF the points In the cipher, and
can read II as we'll as myself"
HIM, h-m. Rather sorry about that
Is this Solano a good, square fellow"
Best in the world, sir. He's a real
American in everything but his birth
place, chief. III vouch for him every
time"
The secretary Of the navy spoke up
at this juncture.
Il think know this young Solano,"
he interposed, "and know his father.
If am not mistaken, he might be the
very man we need in the affair now
under discussion"
Chief Wilkins resumed the interro-
cation.
"Mr. Brockett. would you be willing
to take chance for your country? A
chance that might involve risking your
life dozen times, and which might
not yield you even taste Of glory as
your reward?"
Il am willing to Go anything | can
possibly accomplish. If you give me
the word, chief"
Good boy! | sized you up that way
the first time | ever saw you in the Of
fee, son. Could you say as much for
your friend Solano?"
"Yes sir. l think Solano would go
to eny lengths to prove his love for
the United States"
Very well. This afternoon, Mr.
Brockett,~ kindly make duplicate
copies OF your cipher for General Cole.
the secretary Of war, the secretary of
the navy, Mr.. Pinkwell, and myself
BY the way, we might as we'll have it
done now, and save the time Mr.
Brockett. will you call in Miss Law
SOM"
Brockett had half-opened the door,
when he faced around. closed the door
| again, and looked calmly into the eyes
OF the puzzled chief.
Chief" he exclaimed, rapidly. T1l
make out the duplicate copies Of the
key myself. Anyone who was unused
to that sort OF work might confuse
the symbols. l will have them done
early in the afternoon"
Very well" the chief assented
Bring me the copies. and then go to
army headquarters. General Cole will
be awaiting you at three o'clock If
possible, get your friend, Solano, and
take him with you. General Cole will
explain to you both just what he
wishes you to do"
Brockett bowed respectfully to the
group OF notables, and walked out. Co
ing TO his desk. he attended to few
matters Of routine duty, and then,
with hard pencil and carbon papers.
began laboriously copying the key to
his bewildering cipher. His hands
became smutted with carbon and pen
Gil dust, and Brockett, who was metic-
ulously neat about his work, went to
the washroom. Returning after an alb
sence OF but few minutes, he was
just in time to see the stenographer,
Miss Lawson, moving away from his
desk. empty-handed and with the
most innocent Of demeanor A glance
at his cipher reassured him-none of
the sheets were disturbed, none Of the
carbon papers missing. Brockett fin
ished copying the key. and then wait
ed, apparently busy In other work, un-
til Miss Lawson was called away to
take dictation. Then, rapidly slipping
the completed work and the used car
bons into his inner pocket, he took
five fresh sheets. four fresh carbons,
and proceeded to carefully inscribe
the top sheet with the words of an old
Columbia college song, mangling and
jumbling words. lines and rhythm.
When Miss Lawson returned, the boy
was still laboriously sinking the hard
pencil into the topmost sheet. When
the boy went out for lunch, Miss Law
son remained. absorbed in earnest ef-
forts ut her typewriter.