The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1916-03-16


and eyed with vast disparagement the
sheet Of paper spread flat open upon
the desk between himself and Helen
Bertel. The sheet bore what was
seemingly a meaningless tumble OF
typewriter letters, after this fashion:
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
QVUHOWFLPWUE
Observation-Disclosures
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
MQTRCMLONOGLOU
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
And you can't find the weak
placer" asked the girl-"the joint IN
its armor?"
For Hazard had descanted at consic-
cradle length on the principles or
cryptography, or secret writing, point
ing out the number of weaknesses that
render all such writings susceptible or
Interpretation when one diligently ana
intelligently sets himself to the task
of bringing to light their hidden mean
ing.
"Cryptography is fascinating
study" averred Hazard discurslvely,
leaning back and rumpling his hair
But no system has ever been de-
vised that meets all requirements.
The principles by which most clphers
are solved have been given a good
deal Of study and have been so
classified that the expert usually
has pretty plain sailing when he
brings himself to the task Of reading
a message not intended for his eyes.
Poe's Gold Bug holds the interest
almost solely by a description OF the
solution of cryptogram, and the
same is true of Sherlock Holmes So
luton of the dancing men cipher.
These two examples, however, are
about the simplest forms OF cipher
writing"
The sneaker abruptly banged the
open sheet on his desk with his palm.
This thing, though, is not going
to be easy to interpret. | believe IL
Is based upon what is known as the
Key-Suuare system; but as it is one
that lends itself to innumerable varia-
lions and combinations, only time and
labCrious effort are going to give US
the clue we need-unless, indeed, we
should. stumble upon it accidentally.
Helen Bcrters fine gray eyes slowly
took stock Of the mans outward evil
denccs of turbation-rumpled halr'
wrjnl1led clothing, disarranged tie,
three days growth Of beard-and her
expression softened.
She consulted a second sheet Of
paper that lay upon the desk, which
bore numerous memoranda. SAID she:
IF the fixed rules for deciphering
cryptograms amount to anything at
all. I don't see why they shouldn't
anply to every case. You tell me that
T. is the letter most frequently used,
T next, and then come in the follow
ing groups, arranged according to
their respective degree Of frequency:
AONI: RSH; d.; CWUM; FYGPB;
VIZ: XQJZ. We know that all words
Of single letters must be A, or o, and
that the double letters that occur
most frequently are EE, 90, FF. LII,
and IS. Am correct SO far?'
Hazard nodded. Go on" he en-
couraged.
Next, then, the commonest words
of two letters, according to their fire.
uuence, are: Of to, in, it, is, be, he by.
or, as. at an, so. Disregarding the.
which is almost never used in clphers,
and and are lead the words OF three
letters, then follow
Hazard glumly broke in.
Never mind the words Of four let
ters. Did you apply all these tests to
this cipher?'
Helen signified that she had. And
the result was quite as silly and mean
ingless as it already u.s." she added.
The reason is not hard to find"
Hazard explained. This cipher
doesn't contain enough repetit1cns OF
letter-groups to suggest anything at
all: none Of the commonest words are
even remotely suggested; and as for
e, or T, or any of the rest, one is
not justified even in guessing at
letter. All this signifies that sys-
tenn has been used that avoids repeti-
tons.
such a system is the so-called Key
Square. If it has been used my work
Is all cut out for me-
The Key-Square," repeated the girl
what is it,
With his pencil Hazard drew
square containing twenty-five smaller
squares. IN each of the latter he in
sCsibed letter Of the alphabet. At
the top Of each Of the five vertical
columns he wrote a numeral-1, 2, 3,
4 and sand likewise ct one end Of