The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-07-26

Monkeying With
A Signal Code
BY DONALD CIiAMBERLIN

did not spend bis time dawdling around
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 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 Turnle> commander Of the
-th infantry. Miss Turnlee under
stood his devices readily.
Now, the way Abercrombie knew that
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 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 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 |
Turnlee's 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 Judgment
there.
Upon my wordr" 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" {
II have never met" Abercrombie de. t
clared enthusiastically, lone who has t
taken in everything | have said SC r
readily" S
''She inherited it from her grand v
father. Admiral Turnlee." the mother
pursued. He wrote a book on coral v
reefs and another ON volcanic forma. +
tons. Children always take from theiI \
grandparents rather than their own n
fathers" il
Colonel Turnlee. who was cracking v
nuts, did not notice bis wife's asper fl
sions on his own generation. CT
do you think Miss Turnlee." said
Abercrombie. that if ] were to send b
you a message by my code from my h
yacht out in the bay you would under re
stand it?' W
Il think l would" replied the girl &,
Is, If it were not toe CO
long, fir
VERY we'll Look out for one tomor Oh
row afternoon e
How shall I reply? I have no sig I'll
nails" lft
You can write or. better, tele of
graph" sh
Miss Leila made no reply to this
Possibly she was timid at being put tc he
he test. fearing that she might fail. co
ion't know how she felt about It. a
,nly throw this out as suggestion. TO
Her mother had confidence that she VI
would understand the signal perfectly M
md furnish Abercrombie with fresh ty
violence of the brilliancy of her intel tn
ect. The colonel went on cracking on
nd munching nuts. but said nothing tn
When the dinner broke up he had t. it
20 over to see the commanding gen. or
raj, and Mrs. Turnlee received visit be
rom the majors wife. This left Aber no
rombie and Miss Leila alone together
or the rest of the evening. Aber
rombie in order to give her better
bance to pass the test to come off next Is
ay coached her a bit, asking her few
fading questions concerning 1t. he
iscovered that she did not know as
luch about the code as be had thought Ge
he did. He left her doubling that she pa
-ould be able to telegraph him cor. mi
sct answer to his message. str
The next day at 3 there were evi, OBJ,
ences on the Theta of desire to com. Tn
unicate with some one. Abercrombie int
Imself was hauling up little flags and inf
inning them down again. His mes gul
Ige was, you are a very bright girl" val
hen the signaling was over Aber. tor
ombie waited for her telegram. II ing
d not come, but later Colonel Turn. roa
ELS orderly brought note. 1t read: 4
Your fiattering offer OF your heart and pro
nd comes so Unexpectedly Mat 1 should tur
We time. But my own heart says now ,Ia
d always YES" -"
Abercrombie read the missive with a
are. He married Miss Turnlee. but lN,ii
en- as his wife she would never tell "h