Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-09-12
A CIPHER
TELEGRAM
BY JANE PlNCKNEl BENNETT

elienicr, was obliged 10 part with her
lover, who was orlerci with his regi
ment to Manchuria, Ii was love
match between them. and Anna suffer
cd fortunes ut the approaching separa.
ton.
Paul, dear" she said to him. can
you not send me telegram every day
instead OF Il letter? Any letter l may
receive from you will hc several weeks
old"
My darling! A telegram every day!
Do you suppose the government would
permit the wires to he put to such \
use2 suppose all the lovers In the
army were 20 have such privilege nc
corded them. There would hc no time
for military dispatches. Besides, a tsle-
gram Is open Tor others to read"
Cant you telegraph in cpher?"
"A cipher telegram over Il govern
ment wire? Such thing would send
us both to siberia"
But Siberia was better than the dep
rivation Of two lovers ~ 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 code.
So together they arranged very sim
Pile one IL sentence began with the
letter A. II meant Il love you as ever;"
II 1t began with II, II am WE'LL" G, II
am M" n. "Wounded;" II. II am lone
ly without you;" +, "A thousand kiss
es;" G, II have escaped being injured
In 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 n potent
factor among Russian officials, and he
, succeeded In sending number OF mes
sages. He did not attempt to send Il
, dispatch after 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 lnrge sums, he handed him
his telegram. slipping 90 rubles In his
hand at the same time. The operator
laid the message aside TIL he could get
rid of II 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 Il battle,
Ii was not till the fight ncared Its
termination that rush Of Geographic
messages began While the struggle
was going ON the operator had found
time to send pauls message, II reach
ed St Petersburg just rs 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
czar While his majesty and his min
lister OF war were eagerly awaiting
news from the seat OF war message
was clicked of for Anna ZareDski as
follows:
| A bird in tho hand Every dog has his
day Fortune favors the brave. Keep OF
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 II, and he too. scowled.
Telephone the police. he said. 10
arrest Anna 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 NJ brst refusing to
give up the code and only did 40 when
told that 1t was by the cars order and
the penalty for Withholding II instant
| death She was put into carriage.
taken to the Winter palace and brought
before the emperor. and the high or
fcials gathered about him
what reasonable document is thisT'
said the ear. handing her Paufs dis
| patch Anna took II. blushing like
! rose, enc WIN very plttiy hhp' h"''"'
! or no traitor. made an attractive pie
ture.
Take the key" said the emperor
"and interpret the dispatch"
Il beg your majesty to direct some
one else 10 interpret IT,"
"Obcy the order" said the car
sternly.
i ANNA began the Interpretation
"A bird IN the hand" She hesitated
II love you ns ever" Every dog has
his day" II am lonely without you"
She was too mortified TO 90 on.
Proceed" said the ear.
Fortune favors the brave" "A thou
sand kisses Keep Off the grass"
"Goodby. my angel"
The cars features relaxed. Calling
for the KEY, he assured himself that the
Interpretation was correct.
"You 40, forgiven" he said. holding