Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-08-30
Monkeying With
A Signal Code
BY DONALD CHAMBEEu IN

clubs and drawing rooms. He owned a
splendid yacht, the Theta, big enough
to sail anywhere in any waters, and in
this yacht he made his home He con.
tributed quite a number of inventions
to assist scientists in making deep sea
soundings and investigating ocean cur.
rents and at the time referred to in this
story was endeavoring to simplify sea
signals.
Abercrombie sailed to the Philippines
among other places, where he was well
coined by the United States officials.
especially the officers of the army.
Among the families of the officers he
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 that
Miss Turnlee understood his contriy-
ances was because she always said
Eyes" and Indeed" and How clever"
exactly ut the right time, and when he
asked, DO you follow me?' she always
replied, Perfectly"
III Aice W dS DledSeu LQaE
her daughter had mind capable of re-
ceiving 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
a 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
Turnlee's quarters Abercrombie was
explaining tc the family his new sys~
ten. of sea signals. Colonel Turnlee.
who was a West Pointer and should
have understood anything in the signal
line knew but little of what his guest
said. Mrs. Turnlee understood never !,
word. Miss Leila did not need to asks
single question. 1t all seemed to- sc
straight to her brain and find lodgment
there.
Upon my word.' exclaimed Aber-
crombie. How did you coed people
come to have a daughter who under
stands these things 50 well?"
Leila has always attended the best
Schools" said the fond mother pointed
ly. Besides. she has scientific tastes -
Il have never met" Abercrombe d.
elared enthusiastically. zone who has
taken in everything have said so
readily"
she inherited it from her grand
father. Admiral ,Nurnlee." the mother
pursued. He w'Ute book on coral
reefs and another on volcanic forma-
tions Children al ways take from their
grandparents ratier than their own
fathers
Colonel Turnlee who was cracking
nuts, did not notire his wife's asper-
SONS on his own generation.
do you think. Miss Tulnlee." said
Abercrombie. that if | were to send
you a message b! my code from my
yacht out in the bay you would under.
stand it?''
II think would" replied the girl
demurely-"t is. if it We're not toe
long"
Very well. LOOK out for one tomor.
row afternoon"
How shall reply? have no sig.
nails"
You can write or. better tele.
graph"
Miss Leila made no reply to this
Possibly she was tlmid at being put to
the test. fearing that she might fail. |
don't know how she felt about it,
only throw this odt as suggestion.
Her mother had confidence that she
would understand the signal perfectly
and furnish Aber rombie with fresh
evidence of the brilliancy of her intel
lect. The colonel went on cracking
and munching nuts. but said nothing
When the dinner broke up he had to
go over to see the commanding gen
eral. and Mrs. Turalee received a visit
from the majors wife. This left Aber-
crombie and Miss Leila alone together
for the rest of the evening. Aber-
crombie in order 10 give her better
chance to pass the test to come off next
day coached her bit. asking her few
leading questions concerning it. 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 a 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