The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1912-06-27
CHAPTER Il.-(continued.)

CHAPTER II.-(Continued.)
Solano half-turned, and peered
through the twilight. Rude form. l
know" he spoke, half-apologetically
ito stare after a young lady. was
just wondering, though, where l had
seen her lately-several times, in fact.
A-hem, Harry-she has met a friend. "
Half a block up the street, little
man, his head scarcely up to the ste
nographer's shoulder, had emerged
from the shelter Of doorway. He
lifted his hat with ceremonious pre-
cision, and bowed over the young
woman's extended hand. Miss Law
son checked her onward walk for the
fraction Of an instant, and the young
men, idly glancing towards the couple
saw flash of white passing from the
girls hand into that of her new-met
friend. The little man bowed again;
Miss Lawson walked on. and the lit
tie man came down the street with a
rapid, jaunty stride AS he passed
the boys, his face was for an instant
in the dying light Of the day, and the
strong, brown features. with a wide
scar across one cheek. were clearly
outlined.
He was Japanese.
When Brockett presented himself
at Chief wilkins private Office in the
morning, none of the other clerks had
as yet appeared. Miss Lawson, how
ever, was already at her desk-it had
long been her custom to come early
and work late, with an intelligence, a
faithfulness, and an attention to detail
which had won her repeated COM
Brockett crossed the Office and halted
at the chiefs particular door, the girl
looked up, threw the boy a sunshiny
smile, and resumed the polishing Of
some small factor of her typewriter.
Brockett returned tho smile, knocked
lightly on the frosted glass, and heard
a loud Come in"
Chief wilkins sat at his desk,
f1anked by the burly Mr.. Pinkwell.
Three big leather chairs nearby were
I,
whom Brockett, with natural surprise,
recognized as the secretary of war.
the secretary of the navy, and Gen
eral Cole, commander of the army.
The boy, thus precipitated into dis
tinguished conclave, could only strug-
gle against sudden dispersal of his
thoughts and senses into the sem
blance of a cloud of wandering bees,
and, in default of clear comprehen-
sion of the situation, could only stare
inquiringly at the grim face of the
chief
"Mr. Brockett," came the incisive
tones Of the chief, cutting through the
boys understanding like spear.
point thrown from long, long dis
tance, will you give these gentlemen
another demonstration of your cipher?"
The spear-point went clear through,
and Brockett woke up.
"Why-yes-of course. How shall
demonstrate it?"
Suppose" explained the chief, I'VE
have General Cole dictate a sentence
to you. Write out that sentence in
your cipher. Then read the sentence
back again to us--1ust to show that
the cipher is clearly Ineligible to you
yourself. After that-if you so wish
explain the key of the cipher"
Brockett had shaken himself to.
gether. and the group Of dignitaries
no longer over-awed him. Pad and
pencil ready, he waited for the gen
erals words, and the soldier, slowly,
sententiously, dictated.
Send Eighth cavalry, 1856 men, to
Laredo. Support with First infantry
by Friday. No guns at present"
Brockett penciled briskly, and hand.
ed the general sheet scribbled be-
wilderingly in this fashion:
L SH E BH BOSTON R Pos T pos
Pc w WP COBB TO TIC PO DOS W
SH BH TIC L fin FA FA TC W TO
BIB HR to 3BH CUBS HR E SB Pos
f TO w WP ABB WP SB W HR BH
pos WP UMP 2BH fin E L pos TO FA
w SH L SH TO.
The sheet Of paper went around the
circle, and then back to Brockett, who
promptly read off the generals orig
inal dictation. Silence followed for a
moment, and then the general, slap
ping his hand sharply on his knee, ex-
claimed: by blazes! Gentlemen, it's
too much for mel" A general burst of
laughter followed, and Brockett felt
the last traces Of embarrassment melt
rapidly away.
"Mr. Brockett," interrogated the
chief, after the merriment died down,
'how old are your"
Nineteen, SIR"
What education, If / may ask?"
High school, sir. Then one year
at Columbia. Had to leave when my
father died"
Eyes, ! see-making it essential for
you to support the family, suppose ?"
"Yes, sir"
Speak any languages besides Eng
lish?"
Il have picked up Spanish from a
friend, a Cuban. Ramon Solano."
Him. HIM. That accounts for your
remark of yesterday-that a Cuban
might understand this cipher. Have
you shown it to your friend, Solano?"
Yes, sir. In fact, he suggested
some of the points in the cipher. and
can read 1t as well as myself"
Him, HIM. Rather sorry about that.
Is this Solano good. square fellow?"
''Rest in the world, sir. He's a real
American In everything but his birth
place. chief. I'll vouch for him every
time"