The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-07-05

hole, and finally sat down disgusted
and disgruntled.
Forget 1t. John" admonished Pink.
well. Forget II absolutely. Don't let
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.
T Did you, call me. Mr.. Wilkins?" he
asked. respectfully.
The chief looked him over rapidly
Are you the only clerk remaining
this afternoon?"
Yes, sir Everyone else went away
at four"
"Uh huh. Gone to the ball park
as usual, | presumed
yes, sir Good game today The
White Sox are here, and"
Never mind about the White Sox.
or the Pink Ear-Muifs either" growled
the chief. you are as bad as the
rest of them-how does it happen you
are not going out to the game?"
The boy grinned, and flicked a red
cap against his knee. in some little
confusion.
Fact is. Mr.. Wilkins, expected to
meet a few friends, and have a 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 a 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 a
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
well. Il earnestly beg your pardon
for such rudeness, Mr.-Mr.-"
"Brockett, sir. Harry Brockett," an
swered the youngster.
81 apologize once more, Mr.. Brock
EFT. | have grown so suspicious Of
everything and everyone in my old
age that really imagined these pa
pers were plans of a. Pacific fort, or
the details of the new rife. Transla.
tion Of an Aztec scroll, SOM"
well. hardly, sir" laughed young
Brockett. self-confdence returning. 81
was amusing myself with building a
that would be rath-
er hard for anyone who wasn't en-.
gagged in the building of it to make
out"
The grim face Of the chief relaxed
into a 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. is
the cipher written in SPANISH"
NO. sir Plain English. Would you
like to-go over it. some time when
you have a little leisure?"
always glad to encourage youth.
'ul talent" smilingly responded Pink
well. Let me look through it to-
right, son? Thank you. And now. !
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 a clear conscience. That's all.
Brockett was opening the door.
when Pinkwell reached out a detain.
ng hand. Son." remarked the old |
this cipher Of yours is GER
ainly bewildering, That is supposed
o be the best point about successful
,iphers, believe. Tell me. my boy
IAN you read it yourself?"
why, of course. 1t is so simple
hat | don't even need written key
Indeed? Suppose you demonstrate
I to us. Just for a moment Are you
Igreeable, chief?"
go as far as you like, Billy" the
.hief assented. 'T'll confess-consid-
ring our conversation of q little
While ago-that I'm interested too.
Ar. Brockett, suppose you write, in
our cipher, a transcription Of few
words will give you and then let us
ry to dissect it?"
The young fellow took the chair at
which the chief motioned, drew PEN
II from his pocket. and ripped the
op sheet from a paper pad. Chief
Wilkins studied for a moment, and
hen dictated, slowly and concisely;
Watch below Langtry till further
rders Reported force Of 800 insur-
ectos near by"
Rrockett wrote briskly for few
loments. and then handed the chief
strange conglomeratiOn.
iB Pos TO r SBH ALB SH PO TC BIB
PO Pos II 2BH TO w WP
% HR' PO PO SB Fin w TO 3BH SH
w To w BIZ SH w l.
' SH FA TIC w TO SH BIZ SB TIC
WR SH In Paskert
Wilkins ana PinkMell gA1ed AZ that