The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-08-06
Monkeyiing With
A Signal Code
Bv DONALD CHAMBERLIN


splendid yacht, the Theta, big enoug
to sail anywhere in any waters, and il
this yacht he made his home He con
tributed quite number of invention
to assist scientists in making deep Sc;
soundings and Investigating ocean cur
rents and at the time referred to in thi
story was endeavoring to simplify Sc;
| signals.
Abercrombie sailed to the Philippine.
among other places, where he was wei
coined by the United States officials
especially the officers of the army
Among the families of the officers ht
met Miss Leila Turnlee. the daughter
of Colonel Turnlee, commander of the
-th infantry. Miss Turnlee under
stood his devices readily.
Now, the way Abercrombie knew tha.
Miss Turnlee understood his contriv.
anceS was because she always said
Yes" and Indeed and "How clever
exactly at the right time, and when he
asked. do you follow me?' she always
replied, Perfectly"
Mrs. Turnlee was much pleased that
her daughter had a mind capable of re
celving the explanations of Abercrom-
bie's inventions by Abercrombie him
self-not that she cared anything for
the inventions, but she hoped her
daughters vigOr of intellect would lead
Abercrombie to become interested and
possibly that a fine catch would fall to
the family. The good lady had drag
ged half dozen children over many
territories in the western portion of
America during her younger days and
had known what it was to get settled
in quarters to be Immediately ordered
to some other station or turned out by
ranking officer. Abercrombie's yacht
was preferable to an adobe hut or log
apartment even when fixed. In other
words. Mrs. Turnlee desired that her
daughter should marry elsewhere than
in the army.
At dinner one evening at Colonel
Turnlees quarters Abercrombie was
explaining to the family his new sys-
tenn of sea signals. Colonel Turnlee,
who was West Pointer and should
have understood anything in the signal
line. knew but little of what his guest
said. Mrs. Turnlee understood never a
word. Miss Leila did not need to ask a
single question. 1t all seemed to go
straight to her brain and find lodgment
there.
Upon my word!' exclaimed Aber-
crombie. How did you good people
come to have a daughter who under.
stands these things so well?"
Leila has always attended the best
schools" said the fond mother pointed
ly. Besides, she has scientific tastes"
Il have never met" Abercrombie de-
clared enthusiastically, lone who has
taken in everything l have said so
readily"
'She inherited it from her grand
father, Admiral Turnlee," the mother
pursued. HE wrote book on coral
reefs and another on volcanic forma-
tions. Children always take from their
grandparents rather than their own
fathers
Colonel Turnlee, who was cracking
nuts, did not notice his wifes asper-
sions ON his own generation
"Do you think, Miss Turnlee," said
Abercrombie, that if l were to send
you a message by my code from my
yacht out in the bay you would under
stand it,"
Il think | would" replied the girl
demurely-"that is. il it were not too
long"
Very well. Look out for one tomor-
row afternoon"
"llow shall reply? | have no sig
nails
You can write or. better, tele-
graph"
Miss Leila made no reply to this.
POSSIBLY she was timid at being put to
the test. fearing that she might fail l
don { know how she felt about il. I
only throw this out as suggestion
Her mother had confidence that she
would understand the signal perfectly
and furnish Abercrombie with fresh
evidence of the brilliancy Of her intel
lect. The colonel went on cracking
ana munching nuts. but said nothing.
When the dinner broke up he had to
go over to see the commanding gen.
eral, and Mrs. Turnlee received a visit
from the ajor's wife. This left Aber
crombie and Miss Leila alone together
Tor the rest of the evening. Aber-
crombie in order to give her. a better
chance to pass the test to come OF next
day coached her bit. asking her few
leading questions concerning 1t. He
discovered that she did not know as
much about the code as he had thought
she did He left her doubling that she
would be able TO telegraph him a cor.
rect answer TO his message.
The next day at there were evi.
dences on the Theta of desire to com.
municate with some one Abercrombie
himself was hauling up little flags and
running them down again. His mes.
sage was. You are very bright girl"
when the signaling was over Aber-
crombie waited for her telegram. II
dld not come, but later Colonel Turn.
lees orderly brought a note. 1t read:
Your fattering offer of your heart and
mana comes so Unexpectedly Mat l should
nave time. But my own heart saws now
and always Yes"
Abercrombie read the missive with
stare. He married Miss Turnlee. but
L