The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1912-08-08

a. ~ GREN6RZAIu/
deliver into such fascinating subjects.
Still. something must be done, and
done In a hurry"
Hurry Is the proper word" assent.
ed Pinkwell. "You will have to get
busy as rapidly as your affairs will
let you"
Wilkins turned, opened a desk
drawer. and began to tumble inside.
Il was experimenting on a cipher
this morning." he explained. Moth
ing complete, and nothing elaborate.
Penciled it out, for a half hours d.
version. Here-see If you a read
it."
Pinkwell took the sheet. inspected
it for an instant, and then turned it
over. Il don't think I can read your
hieroglyphs on short notice, john"
he remarked. suavely. "still. l think
the person who took this sheet from
your desk, placed a carbon beneath it,
n then traced your writing with a
NO. 8 pencil will be able to do SO. Or
Will ind some one who can"
The chief seized the paper, held it
to the light, and stared through a
magnifying glass. Crumpling up the
sheet, he flung it into the waste bas-
ket. only to have the detective fish
1t out. smooth it neatly, and tuck it
into his pocketbook. The chief, al
most inarticulate with wrath, exam.
ined the desk, the drawer, the key.
hole, and finally sat down disguised
and disgruntled.
Forget it. John."' admonished Pink
well. Forget it, absolutely. Don't let
q clerk or stenographer in the Office
see you with as much as a scowl upon
your lovely c~ountenance. Send some
lonesome n 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
a 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
as usual, I presume?"
Yes, sir. Good game today. The
White Sox are here, and"
Never mind about the White Sox,
or the Pink Ear-Muffs 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 a red
cap against his knee, in some little
confusion.
Fact is, Mr.. Wilkins, l expected to
meet a few friends, and have a little
practice Of u own this afternoon"
"Uh huh. l might have known there
was some e~arth-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 d%islodged 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
rnfolded the papers, finding them COW
cred with some freakish letterings,
while the boy turned red. and the
chief looked ~quizzically on.
II beg your pardon, spoke up Pink
well. II earnestly beg your pardon
for such r%udeness, MIMI"
'"Brockett, sir. Harry Brockett," an
swered the youngster.
II 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 a Pacific fort, or
the details of the new rifle. Transla-
ton of an Aztec scroll, SOM"
"Well hardly, sir" laughed young
Brockett, self-confdence 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 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, l think it would
take a pretty capable scientist to pick
it apart and put 1t together again. He'd
have to be an American. too-or pos
sibly a Cuban"
why so?" questioned Pinkwell. lis
the cipher written in SPANISH"
mo. sir. Plain English. Would you
like to 60 over it. some time when
you have a little leisure?"
Always glad to encourage youth.
full talent" smilngly responded Pink.
well. Let me look through 1t TO-