The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-08-02
The Secret
Message
By AUGUSTUS sHERwrN

By AUGUSTUS sHERwIN
FIFTY against the dosl" shouted
MatteO the marksman. tt' SIS
Taken" in q mere careless dr1wl
came the reply from Arvidl tho
gameSter. So 3
1t was a typical Mexican scene
the interior Of the chief gambling
den at Tnlro and q critical stage
Of the game in progress. -
Marvin Howe happened to b
present amid the swarthy crews
Coating quantity In the general SIT.
uation involving warfare, anxious
to get North and out Of 1t, and the
opportunity just that day with =
decidedly favorable change In for
tune If he carried out secret In
structlons given to him.
The position was this: The COM
mandant Of the sectional insurgents
wished to send a particular mes
sage to co-patriot one. hundred
miles away. 1t involved a junction
Of the two forces The intermedi-
ate forty leagues of Territory, how
ever, were occupied BY a dangerous
enemy. The chief at Truro was
surrounded by enemies aud spies.
He had hired Howe to do some
translation and had confidence In
him.
Howe engaged to cross the dan
ger line and deliver his message.
He was to try and find some free
lance who would accompany him
and bring back reply, while he,
we'll rewarded, returned to shome,
friends and fiancee-Neilie Duryea,
the only Nellie in the world to him
beyond the unsettled border line.
Howe had thought of Matted and
hat was why he was now an in
mate Of the noisy gambling den.
Howe had found him at the card
table pitting his money recklessly
against the most daring gambler In
Truro. Howe saw his last dollar
60. A handsome ring was staked.
then his watch and now his most
faithful friend and companion, the
Jog. Everybody who. knew Matteo
knew also his dog. The animal
was tiny, but fearless and very In
telligent. - .,,....
The cards went the rounds again.
Matteo lost. Howe saw a strangely
desperate CLINT in his eye as he
arose unsteadily from the table. He
turned slightly pale. Then he
shrugged his shoulders and walked
over and kissed the little dog asleep
On pile of newspapers. Straight
as a soldier then. he walked from
the room.
1T will break his heart to lose
his FRIEND" Howe told Arvidi quick
". MAY l redeem himT' and he
proffered fifty dollars In paper
money.
"All right" nodded the gambler
and then Howe snatched up the dog
and rushed after his master. Howe
J overlook him at the street door.
Yours" he said, placing the lit
tie pet in his arms.
Matteo stared ut Howe IN a
dazed. uncertain way. Then his
fingers gently caressed the dog. His
voice broke as he compfehended
what Howe had done.
amigo" he said. holding Howe's
hand In a fervent grasp, when nv
fortune turns I shall know how to
repay YOU"
II can help 1t turn just now" re-
marked Howe significantly. He told
him that he was authorized to pay
royalty for his guidance and d.
rection.
Il can pilot you safely" Matteo
said-I am your man." .n
The morning they left Truro
Howe had noticed man he had
seen hanging around the chiefs
quarters DIGGING his footsteps. He
| had called the attention of Matted
to this. who had carelessly asserted
/ that II he was one Of the numerous
spies In action they "would soon
lose him." y,
However, twice in two DAYS af.
ter they had started on the trail
they caught sight Of distant fig-
ure remindful of the man they had
observed at Truro.
1t was early in the morning that
Matted suggested a plunge into q
near creek before they lit a little
fire and cooked their frugal break
fast. They had disrobed and were
dlspOrting themselves In the cool.
sparkling stream, when an OMNIBUS
sound echoed out es
CEcki
Then. to the CONSERVATION Of
Howe, turning, he saw q man. the
man who had Swallowed him in the
city. Just rushed away with q
camera. ~ "a g. s,,...s.
'Matteo" shouted Howe. quick.
ly-"the spy. He has photographed
the message on my back!"
"So| observed Matteo, speedily
springing ashore to where his
clothes lay. It was to seize his re.
volveP.
Crack!-followed 4 SURE, steady
aim. W sf,PA g; f~ n~s..s ~
Crack la second sharp explosion
followed. Dropping the wrecked
camera and, holding his wounda(i
hand, the spy disappeared. tats
"The message is written partly n
CIPHER" explained Howe, "but that
man might have been able to make
it out after close study" ~
HE Is doubtless one of the nm.
scrupulous crowd infesting the
province, ready to blackmail, sell
secrets or betray his best friend
acceded MatteO. er ~
They reached the end Of their
journey in safety and the secret
message was Transcribed.
Matteo returned to Truro with q
rich reward awaiting him. Marvin
Howe crossed the border. bound for
home and his waiting -f1ancee. pref.
| ty. Nellie Duryea.
n 1924 " .atern NevanA MO- Sfneoo =