The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-22

send a cipher message, the operator
laid It aside. When Caspar came again
to inquired II it had been sent and was
told that it was held because it was
In cipher Caspar looked so disappoint-
ed and begged so hard that it be put
over the wires that his friend promised
to do so, though he feared trouble
would result. Caspar assured him that
there was nothing in the dispatch that
would be Of the slightest injury to
France, and this turned the scale
NJ. Larabee, deputed to examine tel
egrams received In Paris, was sitting
at his desk when an operator handed
him Caspar's dispatch. The moment
he read the name Of the person to
whom 1t was addressed and noticed
that the message was In cipher his
face assumed the expression Of one
who had unearthed an announcement
to German sympathizers that Paris
was about to be attacked by hundred
Zeppelins.
I, Mile tonerresr' he exclaimed. HAS
! 1t come to this? Do the enemy send
cipher messages to their spies In
Paris over our telegraph lines7 To
Nine. Kneiblitz, Fl Rue Pomponier.
Could there be better evidence that
this message Is intended for one Of the
horde OF German spies in our midst.
! who are watching our every actT'
Taking up telephone receiver. he
called up the officer In charge OF the
military telegraph and informed him
Of the message, stating that he did not
doubt that it had been surreptitiously
sent in the expectation that 1t would
be delivered by some one in the tele-
graph department who was working
secretly In the German interest. Colo
mel Bombardier, the officer telephoned,
directed that the dispatch be sent to
him and, after receiving and examin-
ing It, called a council of war to de-
eide what to do In the premises.
When the council assembled experts
in interpreting cipher kilograms were
introduced and began the work of
translating it. This was not easy to
do, for 1t consisted In certain SEN
fences which doubtless had a meaning
for the receiver. However, the ex-
perts, not daring to acknowledge that
they could make nothing of it, gave
possible translation, admitting that
they could not vouch for its correct
ness. The meaning they placed upon
1t was that 1t announced meeting Of
the German spies in Paris to receive
one high in the German secret service.
Meanwhile Hortense was arrested
and taken to Colonel Bombardier's Of
fee, where she was kept in an ante
room awaiting the result of the work
Of the experts. In time she was called
in to face an array of men who looked
ready to send her to the gallows.
Frau Kneiblitz," said the colonel,
do you speak French7"
II don't speak any other language"
was the meek reply.
"Do not try to deceive me. You are
German, as your name indicates. A
dispatch in cipher addressed to you
has been intercepted. 1t is an an
nouncement that an officer of high
rank in the German secret service is
coming to Paris to meet the spy corps
in Paris"
This was said because If IL were
the true Interpretation Of the dispatch
the young woman would likely col
lapse. She did no such thing. She
simply looked at her accusers wonder
ingly.
"Who is Caspar?" asked the colonel
severely.
Monsieur. he Is my husband. Has
anything happened to him" she asked,
paling.
"You play your part wen. but it viii
not serve"
"Have you dispatch from him to
me? oh, give 1t to mel"
After conference 1t was decided to
read the dispatch aloud to her. The
colonel began with the first sentence,
''The weather is very fine" and asked
her what It meant. She did not need
the key to tell him; she knew 1t by
heart.
Il am WELL" she replied.
The second sentence read was, YES
terday 1t was hot"
Hortense, somewhat abashed, re.
piled. Sweetheart, 1 love you"
The members of the council looked
at one another incredulously.
Again, I'VE are expecting cooler
weather tomorrow"
THAT means thousand KISSES" re-
piled the bride. dropping her eyes to
the floor
'This climate Is trying"
81 shall never see you again till
France Is victorious"
"The mud is very Deep"
"Goodby, sweetheart. shall love
you forever"
Several Of the men who had been
impressed with Hortense's gentleness.
honesty and. above all, that she was
essentially French smiled. Colonel
Bombardier's countenance assumed a
shamefaced expression. He stood with
the dispatch in his hand wondering
what next to do.
Colonel" said one of the council,
you've struck what they call In Amer
lea a mares nest.
'The case" said the colonel, main
tanning an official tone. ''will be bet
ter examined into by a woman.
shall send Nine. Kneiblitz to Nine.
Leblanc, head OF our woman's detec-
tive bureau, and If she reports favor
ably the prisoner viii be discharged"
Nine. Leblanc. instead Of assuming
the pomposity Of the officers, began
by soothing the poor little bride and
soon discerned that she was wrapped
up in her husband and had no ether
CONCERN Hnrtnnaa nrndr1f.sAd tho cinhar.