The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-04-27
CHAPTER I.
In the Secret Service

Cyril Gordon has been seated at
his desk but ten minutes when
there came a message from his
chief, summoning him to the in
ner office.
The chief had keen blue eyes
and shaggy eyebrows. He never
wasted words: yet those words
when spoken had more weight
than those of most other men in
Washington.
Gordon" he said, can you
take the Pennsylvania train for
New York that leaves the station
in thirty-two minutes?"
"Why. sir, suppose I could
He hesitated. 81 could hardly
get to my rooms and back to the
station. Isn't there a train little
later?"
Later train won't do. Call up
your man on the phone. Tell him
TO pack your bag and meet you at
the STATEN in twenty minutes.
You'll need evening clothes"
There was that in the tone OF
the chief that caused Gordon to
make no further demur.
"Sure!" he responded, as he
strobe, to the phone. Evening
clothes?"
Eyes, evening clothes,' was the
curt answer, land everything
you'll need for daytime for a re-
spectacle gentleman of leisure =
a tourist. you understand.
Gordon perceived that he was
being given mission of trust and
Importance, not unmiXed with
mystery. He was new in the Sc
tret service. He telephoned his
own apartments, giving his man
orders in a decisive tone that
caused a look of satisfaction in
the chiefs eyes.
Now, SIR" said Gordon, as he
hung up the receiver, I'm ready
Tor orders"
We'll, you are to go to New
York, and take cab for the
Cosmopolis Hotel = your room
there Is already secured by wire.
Your name is John Burnham.
You will find awaiting you an in
vitation to dine this evening with
a Mr.. Holman, who knows of you
as an expert in code reading. Our
men met him on the train an hour
ago and arranged that he should
invite you. He didn't know whom
they represented, of course. He
has already tried to phone you at
the hotel about coming to dinner
tonight. He knows you are ex-
pected there before evening. Here
is letter of introduction to him
from a man he knows. Our men
got that also. 1t is genuine, of
course.
Last night a message of ma
tional importance. written in
cipher, was stolen from one of our
men before it had been read. This
is now in the hands of Holman,
who is hoping to have you de-
cipher 1t for him and few guests
who will also be present at din
ner. They wish to use 1t for their
own purposes. Your commission
is to get hold of the massage and
bring 1t to us as soon as possible.
Another message of very different
import, written upon the same
kind of paper is in this envelope,
with translation for you to use
in case you have to substitute a
message. The main thing is. get
the paper, and get back with it,
with as little delay as possible.
Undoubtedly your life will be in
danger should it be discovered
that you have made off with it.
Spare no care to protect yourself
and the massage, at all hazards.
Remember, / said, and the mes
sage, young man! 1t means much
to the country.
In this envelope is money.
Your ticket it already bought.
l think that is all. Oh, yes, to-
night, while you are at dinner,
you with be called to the phone by
one of our men. If you are in
trouble, this may give you an OPP
portunity to get away, and put us
wise. Don't turn aside from your
commission for anything. Don't
let anything hinder you! Make
it a matter of life and death! Good
morning and good luck!"
Gordon's man came rushing
INTO the station just after he
reached there himself. Gordon
had time to scribble message to
Julia Bentley, whose perfumed
scrawl he had read on the way
down. 1t began to look To him a
good deal as If he would ask Julia
Bentley to marry him some day.
when he could make up his mind
In surrender his freadome fn any