The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-09-19
A CIPHER
TELEGRAM
BY JANE PINCKNEY BENNETT

come betrothed to Captain Paul Mick
elienieff, was obliged to part with hel
lover, who was ordered with his regi
ment to Manchuria. 1t was love
match between them, and Anna suffer.
ed tortures at the approaching separa
ton.
Paul, dear" she said to him, "can
you not send me telegram every day
instead of letter? Any letter l may
receive from you will be several weeks
old"
my darling! A telegram every day.
Do you suppose the government would
permit the wires to be put to such a
use? Suppose all the lovers in the
army were to have such privilege ac-
corded them. There would be no time
for military dispatches. Besides. tele-
gram is open for others to read
Cant you telegraph in cipher?"
"a cipher telegram over govern
ment wire? Such thing would send
us both to Siberia"
But Siberia was better than the dep
rivation of two lovers to send loving
words, and the young officer said that
he would try to bride an operator and
send her just one little message by tel.
egraph. But they must have a code,
So together they arranged a very sim
pie one. IL a sentence began with the
letter A, it meant Il love you as ever"
II 1t began with B, II ana WELL" G, II
am ILL.," d, Wounded" E. II am lone
ly without you;,' f. "A thousand kiss
es;" G, 81 have escaped being injured
sn the recent battle.", and so on to the
end of the alphabet.
The captain left her. promising to do
all he could to get her kilograms
through, though he must use large
corruption fund Money is potent
factor among Russian officials, and he
succeeded in sending number of mes
sages. He did not attempt to send Il
dispatch after a fight. when the tele-
graph line was crowded with govern
ment dispatches. They were all placed
in the hands of the operator when no
fighting was going on. to send when he
could.
One day after receipt of one of An
mas most loving letters Paul decided
to reply over the wires. Taking his
telegram to an operator whom he had
already paid large sums. he handed him
his telegram. slipping so rubles in his
hand at the same time. The operator
laid the message aside till he could get
rid of "A number of orders being trans,
mitted to the supply department at st.
Petersburg. but before he had sent
them all skirmish commenced with
the Japanese. which ended in battle
1t was not till the fight neared it,
termination that rush of telegraphic
messages began. While the struggle
was going on the operator had found
time to send Paurs message. 1t reach |
ed St Petersburg just as the govern
ment was expecting news of the re-
suit of the battle. The telegraph be-
ing in the hands of the government all |
offices were closed. The only instru-
ment in use was in the cabinet of the I
car While his majesty and his min.
lister of war were eagerly awaiting |
news from the seat of war a message |
was clicked off for Anna Zarenski as
A bird in the hand. Every dog has his
day. Fortune favors the brave. Keep off
the grass. PAUL.
A terrible scowl gathered ON the
brow of the minister of war as he read
the words and handed the message to
the emperor.
"A telegram in cipher, your majes-
ty," he said.
The car read it. and he, too, scowled.
Telephone the police" he said, Ito
arrest lima Zarenski and bring her
here. Have her produce the key to
her cipher code under pain of instant
death.
When Anna was arrested she was
frightened out of her senses. She made
matters worse by at first refusing TO
rive up the code and only did so when
.old that it was by the cars order and
he penalty for Withholding it instant
leath She was put into carriage,
AIKEN to the Winter palace and brought
before the emperor, and the high Of
icials gathered about him.
what reasonable document is this?'
aid the car. handing her Paul's dis
,atch. Anna took it. blushing like d
ose. She was very pretty and, traitor
II no traitor. made an attractive pic.
ure.
Take the key" said the emperor, /
and interpret the dispatch"
Il beg your majesty to direct some
ne else to interpret it"
"Obey the order" said the car
ternly.
Anna began the Interpretation. i
"a bird In the hand" She hesitated. d
I love you as ever" Every dog has |
is day" 81 am lonely without you t
She was too mortified to go on. h
Proceed" said the car. n
Fortune favors the brave" "A thou. =
and Kisses" Keep off the grass" :
Goodby. my ANGEL :
The czar'a features relaxed. Calling
or the key, he assured himself that the &
Interpretation was correct e
"You are forgiven" he said. holding t.
ut his hand for her to kiss. il
Dropping on one knee. she pressed P
er lips to 1t in gratitude for the par CO
on. =
And your lover is included in the
oon," added the car. For your
,t-o shall ordor h;,.. - |