The Washington herald., 1912-01-08
CHAPTER I.

80 NHNa AAAs Il hNAls uO Use at all
II am beginning to believe what Won
schimmel. the German expert. said in
this room two weeks ago. He main
tanned that there was never yet cipher
formulated that the genius OF deductive
energy could not solve. nor cipher so
guarded that it could not fall into hostile
hands
The able head OF the Secret Service
bureau almost snaried with vexatiou as
he spoke. while the gray-mustached vet
eran In the huge leather chair looked at
MIN sympathedcally. bur gave no sign OF
his emotions. Pacing up and down the
oorder OF Pueblo rug. Chief Wilkins
tore up a few fragments OF note paper,
and resumed his monologue
1 don't know where the leak Is but
do know that there's a leak large
enough to let 90 per cent OF the War
Departments pet secrets go trickIing
through. That's why / am working with
every bit Of energy and every available
man TO help In the time OF need-dolng
things that the Secret Service hasn't
concerned itself with since 1855. That's
why am asking you TO come into the
hint. yoI and the besr men OF your
agency. ! don't mind telling you thnt|
shall commander the Barnes agency
too. Mr.. Pinkweil, and think that when
II is problem that concerns the poll
cies and destinies' Of the whole nation
there VIII be no professional Jealousies
between you"
'Emphatically none" growIed old Pink
well. setting his square jaw. Bring
Barnes right into this room, and Camera
Eye sheraton, too. II you can get him.
III confer with them ike an older broth
er: III lend them the best men on my
pay roll. and know that they will do as
much for me II the good old L. S. A. can
be helped in any way"
+. Chief wilkins angry face relaxed its
frown. He crossed TO the big chair and
shook the old detectives hand with cor
dial vigor.
spoken as thought you'd say H."
he chuckled. Spoken as old Billy Pink
well would always speak when time and
called for real men to
stick together. Barnes will be here to-
morrow. He'll bring his bloodhound Sher-
ration along with him, and we can thrash
things out during the morning This
afternoon, Billy, IN have little talk
with you. We can exchange secrets OF
state without interruption-there won't
be any cipher messages exchanged or
stolen on the way
Pinkwell carefully distributed the ash
Of his short cigar.
Suppose you tell me about the cipher
messages, chief?'' he suggested. Inform
me in fun as to your troubles. Open con-
fession Is good for the soul, as I told
the fellow who blew the Southwick
bank"
Did he agree with you. Pinky'
Not exactly. He said open safes were
good for the wallet. and gave me the
ightsome hR ha. Tell you about him
some day-he was the fellow who opened |
iafes with surgeons stethOscope. Some |
-iass to him. !
Tell me at dinner Maybe he's the boy
who has been pilfering our ciphers. When |
lid he get out?'
Pinkwell laughed grimIy.
Il imagine IL would take as clever a !
to read a government cipher"
he responded But this lad has eight |
years. i've months, and fifteen days stiH |
10 go. allowing for good conduct But !
,ome on-come through with the cipher |
story. Have the handwriting experts |
been turning tricks with the War De-
messages2'
'EmphaticalIy, yes. Two-thirds OF the
riders 10 the troops In the field along (
he Mexican border have been translated.
'ither In transit or before leaving WASH
ngton. Telegraph, wireless. sealed let /
er by trusted handsome one gets 10 /
he more important messages. The /
'iphers have been changed. Teversed. re-
'amped, invented brand-new by the most
cientifc experts"
who very probably sold out their
process inside OF an hour after trans
Icting business with the War Depart
nent." Pinkwell interjscted.
mo. Hardly Because" and VIII
Tins almost snorted as he forced out
he words-''I personally invented the
attest cipher used-cooked II up from
Incient Greek. my old college trigo-
lOmetry and sixty words of the Co
tongue. learned when I spent
vacation at Fort Sill. You'd think
hat would b. some cipher, Billy, some
ipher. II held them for two days.
hen l found good evidence that it had
'een translated
BY whom, and for whomI
billy, there's the toughest problem
q the whole blamed AFFAIR. can't even
tate, definitely, which government to
ccuse. All I know is that our army
rders our Mexican policy, and / don't
now what else besides are being con-
Inually relayed to an unfriendly power.
nd can't actually name the power"
THE process of elimination" said the
Id detective, slowly, should easily
the location OF the leak. and
he power TO which such leak Is val