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

tioabAS III NCtlplltllnk 1lS meaning.
Whatever information he gained, how
ever, seemed to afford but small salts
faction. He smiled mirthlessly,
tossed the pad back upon the counter,
and walked out into the busy thor
oughfare.
Brockett's mother, a sweet-faced,
thoroughly feminine, but thoroughly
sensible woman. did not offer any seri.
Gus objections to her sons acceptance
OF the strange commission so shortly
10 be entrusted to his care. Mrs.
Brockett. in fact, cherished an abid-
ing belief In the foresight and tho
cleverness Of her boy-a belief that he
could take care of himself under al
most any circumstances. Bertha
Brockett, Harry's only sister, was
much more worried over the possible
dangers of the journey than either her
mother Oh the young athlete himself.
She forecasted terrors Of the road and
~hobgoblins of the passes. In her six
teen-year-old imagination, Mexico
teemed with bandits. Yaqui savages,
II ferocious insurrectos. AS Miss
Brockett was not only eloquent, but
extremely pretty, her arguments might
have ~dissuaded almost any young adj
Yenturer-unless the a%dventurer hap
pened to be her brother. Sisterly
counsels and entreaties have been
wasted on the wandering winds for
many centuries, and, presumably, al
ways will be.
Young Brockett had dined, had re-
ceived some excellent advice from his
mother. and had rebuffed the implor-
Ing sister with much humor. He was
glancing over the evening paper, and
waiting the arrival of Ramon Solano
or OF the messenger who should bring
him his instructions, when the door
bell tinkled lightly. Bertha, answer
ing the bell, admitted a stocky, we'll
dressed man OF middle AGA swarthy
little fellow, with one cheek crossed
by a broad, indented scar. The boy
at once remembered the Japanese
whom he had seen stop Miss Lawson
on the previous night, but gave no
sign Of recognition as he looked in
Quiringly at his Oriental visitor.
There was Old World politeness In
the courtly bow with which the stran-
e prefaced his Standardization.
Il speak to Mr.. Harry Brockett?
Yes?"
AT your service. sir. You are
Mr.. -"
Il am Mr.. Yazimoto. or Tokyo. I'm
porter Of Oriental goods"
Won't you sit down. Mr.. Yazimo-
to?"
II thank you, yes. May / speak Of
the business that brings me to you,
Mr.. B~rockett?"
Brockett, wondering, nodded his as
sent, and the japanese spoke ~suavely.
MI. Brockett, am a man who has
much, very much, Of business trouble.
There are many who are competitors
with me in the honorable occupation
OF importing Oriental wares. You
doubtless a comprehend it SOP"
Perfectly, Mr.. Yazimoto."
There are, of these who are com
petitor against me, some, whom / do
not know by name definitely, who re-
sort to means not wholly honest. I
am sorry, much, that | say this Of my
W countrymen, but it Is truth | tell
you. ! have reason to believe that nv
correspondence, both in Japanese and
In English, is as you say it, held up,
read by these not so honorable COM
petitors. SO have come to you. Mr..
Brockett."
ITO me? Why, what can l do for
yo1?'
That shall now be told you, Mr..
Brockett. l could now make use Of
some new, some very difficult CORE
%spondence cipher. If in English, that
would be very good-my firm has at
home most admirable English edu-
Gated clerks. Friends of mine tell me
that you, Mr.. Brockett, have devised
such cipher. A cipher of most hon.
orable excellence. If this cipher we're
to be adaptive to the use of commerce,
/ would pay well. / say, in fact, Mr..
Crockett, | pay modestly high moneys.
Suppose that you demonstrate for me
the idea OF your cipher. II It shall
prove satisfactory for the commercial
I'A pNpN, 4 pby yOu YOtOVO. anu, lLdJ L
show am a man Of business, and that
i do not waste the valuable time, I
pay you, If satisfactory or no, $500
that you only demonstrate for me the
ideas Of the cipher"
The smiling Japanese had drawn
forth a thick, prosperous-looking wal
let, and was %fumbling with It, when
Brockett slowly, but emphatically
shook his head.
"Mr. Yazimoto, you have been mis-
Informed. cannot imagine where you
gained your information, but 1t ia
wrong, completely wrong. have no
cipher for sale, and am sorry that l
cannot oblige you"
Mr.. Yazimoto sighed as he replaced
the portly pocketbook.
Il am deeply sorry, Mr.. Brockett,
that you should lose the opportunity
for enlargement Of fortunes. Perhaps
you will reconsider. Maybe | call up