The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-04-27
The Times Complete Nove Monday Saturda,
1.-THE BEST MAN"

Codes are different. you know,
from one another but there Is a
key to them all II one can Just
find IL out"
The guests relaxed and went
on with their dinner.
Gordon tried To keep up a pre-
tense OF eating, the paper held In
one hand while he seemed to be
studying II. Once he turned II
over and looked on the back.
There was strange cross mark In
red ink at the upper end. He
looked at IL curiously and then
tnstinctively at his host.
That is my own mark" said
Mr.. Holman. II put Ii there to
distinguish 1t from other papers,"
He was smiling politely. but he
might as we'll have said. 81 put
1t there to identify II In case of
theft"
Among the artic.es in the en-
velope which the chief had given
Gordon before his departure from
Washington were a pair of eye
glasses, false mustaeh, a goatee
and pair of eyebrows.
He had laughed at the sugges-
ton of high-tragedy contained in
the disguise. but had brought
them with him FOR possible
emergency. The eyeglasses were
tucked into the vest pocket beside
the duplicate paper. Could he,
under cover of taking them out.
manage to exchange the papers?
And II he should, how about that
red ink mark across the back?
Would anyone notice its absence?
Under cover of the conversa-
tion. he managed to get the du-
plieate paper out of his pocket
and under the napkin In his lap.
This he did with one hand, all
the time ostentatiously holding
the code message in the other
hand. This hand also held his
coat lapel out that he might the
more easily search his vest
pockets for the glasses. 1t all
looked natural. The host and
other guests saw no reason to be
suspicious about the strangers
hunt for his glasses.
@"Oh, here they are,' he said.
quite unconeernedly. and put on
the glasses to look more closely
at the paper, spreading ii smooth
ly on the table before him, and
wondering how he should get 1t
into his lap in place of the one
under his napkin.
Then the butler removed the
plates, pausing beside Gordon
with his silver tray to brush away
the crumbs.
This was just what Gordon
waited for. He drew aside, lift
ing the paper from the table and
putting it in his lap, for the in
slant the butler did his work: but
In that instant the paper with the
red cross was slipped under the
napkin, and the other paper took
its place upon the table, back
down so that its lack of a red
cross could not be noted.
So far, so good, but how long
could this be kept up? And the
paper under the napkin - how
was it to be got into his pocket?
His hands were like ice. If any
one should pick up that paper
from the table and discover the
lack of the red mark, it would
be all up with him.
Sitting thus he heard the dis
tant telephone bell ring.
From his position he could see
the tall clock in the hall. and its
hands pointed to ten minutes be-
fore seven. 1t was about the time
his chief had said he would be
called on the telephone. What
should he do with the two papers?
He had but an instant to think
until the butler announced that
someone wished to speak with Mr..
Burnham on the telephone. He
would have to leave the substitute
paper on the liable. To carry it
away with him might arouse sus-
picion.
The real paper must be put
safely away at all hazards, and he
must take the chance that the alb
sence of the red mark would re-
main unnoticed until his return.
Deliberately he laid a heavy sill
yer spoon across one edge of the
paper on the table, and an ice
cream fork across the other, as If
to hold it in place until his return.
Then, rising with apologies, he
gathered his napkin, paper, and
all in his hand, and made his way
into the front hall where was
the telephone.
As he passed the hat rack he
swept his coat and hat off with his
free hand. Hastily he had the
cipher message. The napkin he
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