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

ined the desk, the drawer, the key
hoiV. and finally sat down disgusted
and disgruntled.
Forget it, John" admonished Pink
well. Forget it absolutely. Don't let
a clerk or stenographer in the Office
see you with as much as a scowl upon
your lovely countenance. Send some
one-some one you think you can talk
pleasantly to at this annoying mo-
ment-to the esteemed secretaries.
Don't use the phone"
A push-button buzzed shrilly. The
door of the private Office opened, and
tall young fellow, with a much
tanned face and a shock of tangled
brown hair, stepped in.
Did you call me, Mr.. Wilkins?" he
asked, respectfully.
The chief looked him over rapidly.
Are you the only clerk remaining
this afternoon?"
"Yes, cir. Everyone else went away
at four"
''Uh huh. Gone to the ball park
dS USUAL presume!
Eyes, sir. Good game today. The
White Sox are here, and"
Never mind about the White Sox,
or tho Pink Ear-Mults either" growled
the chief. "You are as bad as the
rest of them-how does it happen you
are not going out to the gamer"
The boy grinned, and ficked red
cap against his knee, in some little
confusion.
Fact is, Mr.. wilkins, expected to
meet few friends, and have little
practice of our own this afternoon"
"Uh huh. might have known there
was some earth-shaking reason for
your not disappearing with the rest.
Well, can you forego few minutes
of your valuable time, even If it is
after Office hours?"
The boy bobbed an asserting head,
tried to thrust the red cap into
pocket, and dislodged some folded pa
pers, which fell rustling to the floor.
AS he bent for the papers, Pinkwell
anticipated his hurried grasp, and
caught them up. The detective calmly
unfolded the papers. finding them Gov.
cred with some freakish letterings,
while the boy turned red, and the
chief looked quizzically on.
81 beg your pardon, spoke up Pink
we'll Il earnestly beg your pardon
for such rudeness, Mr.-Mr.-"
"Brockett, sir. Harry Brockett," an
swered the youngster.
Il apologize once more, Mr.. Brock
EFT. l have grown so suspicious Of
everything and everyone in my old
age that l really imagined these pa
pers were plans of Pacific fort, or
the details Of the new rife. Transla-
ton of an Aztec scroll, SOM"
well, hardly, sir" laughed young
Brockett, self-confldence returning. 81
was amusing myself with building a
cipher-something that would be rath
er hard for anyone who wasn't en-.
gagged in the building Of 1t to make
out"
The grim face of the chief relaxed
into Semi-smile.
How did the experiment work out?"
Brockett grinned frankly. I'm no
expert practitioner in such subjects,
Mr.. wilkins. Still, think it would
take pretty capable scientist to pick
it apart and put it together again. He'd
have to be an American, too-or pos
sibly a Cuban"
why so?" questioned Pinkwell. els
the cipher written in Spanish"
mo, sir. Plain English. Would you
like to go over it, some time when
you have a little leisure?"
always glad to encourage youth
full talent" smilingly responded Pink
we'll. Let me look through it to-
night, son? Thank you. And now, I
believe. Mr.. wilkins would address
you"
Just a small errand, Mr.. Brockett
Kindly run over to the secretary Of
war and the secretary Of the navy.
Ask them If they can come over here
within the next hour. Then go and
attend to your baseball difficulties
with clear conscience. That's all"
Brockett was opening the door,
when Pinkwell reached out a detain.
ing hand. Son." remarked the old
detective, "this cipher of yours is GER
tainly bewildering. That is supposed
to be the best point about successful
ciphers, believe. Tell me. my boy
can you read 1t yourself?"
why, Of course. 1t is so simple
that l don't even need a written key"
Indeed? Suppose you demonstrate
it to US, just for a moment Are you
agreeable, chief?"
go as far as you like, Billy" the
CHEF assented. "Ill confess-consid-
ering our conversation Of a little
while ago-that I'm interested too.
Mr.. Brockett, suppose you write, in
your cipher, transcription of a few
words l will give you and then let US
try to dissect it?"
The young fellow took the chair at
which the chief motioned, drew a PEN
ell from his pocket, and ripped the
top sheet from a paper pad. Chief
wilkins studied for a moment, and
then dictated, slowly and concisely:
Watch below Langtry till further
orders. Reported force Of 300 insur-
rectos near by"
Brockett wrote briskly for Q few
moments, and then handed the chief
strange conglomeration.
BIB Pos TO r 3BH ABB SH PO TC BR
PO Pos q abb TO w WP
TO HR PO Po SB Fin w TO 3BH SH
w TC W BH SH WI
W SH FA TC W TO SH BIZ sB TC
WR SH LIB Paskert