Evening star., 1925-04-09
Continued from Yesterdays Star.)


1t seemed not unlikely that the
document which had come into my
hands concerned one of these socie-
ties, and if this We're the case 1 had
become unwittingly involved in prep
arations for another putsch, whether
monarchist or communist 1 did not
know.
Moreover" I pointed out, "they
seem to have the money for this par
ticuIar show" In proof of which
told him of the astonishing purchase
of aluminium and bali bearings which
had recently been made by Schreck-
ermann, not to mention the evidence
I had seen in the files kept at the
Rue Etienne Dumont of other exten-
sive and costly transactions.
That's the really striking element
in the problem" said Lavelle. Your
document, as / have said, is signed
by the seven richest men in Germany
That alone gives 1t an unusual sig
nificance."
He unlocked a drawer, produced the
document, and spread it on his desk
in front of us.
All the time he was speaking, in
spite of my keen interest in what he
was saying, l was acutely aware OF
Beatrice. 1 was like a man suddenly
enchanted; and, as the three of US
bent over the desk to look al the
sheet of paper spread before us,
realized that l was far more aware
of her, near to me. and, as | felt, con
scious of q growing intimacy, than
of the mystery and peril in which
had so strangely become involved.
1 was recalled TO earth by Lavelle
saying:
at seems an ordinary enough
cipher, but I must submit it to va
rious tests before l can read it. Most
modern ciphefs, or, rather, most num-
Der ciphers, depend on code word
Did you by any chance hear anything
in the Rue Etienne Dumont which
might serve the purpose
II don't think so,' replied, hesitat-
ingly, trying to concentrate my
thoughts.
Try Ephesus," suggested Beatrice
at was your grandmother's password
and it was the word used by the little
jew"
We'll, let's try it," said Lavelle.
He took a sheet of paper and drew
square on it, which he subdivided
into a series of small squares, put
ting each letter OF the word Ephesus
into one square. He then made a Sc
ries of calculations, and soon the sheet
became covered with little groups OF
figures similar to those on the docu-
ment. He worked rapidly, whistling
under his breath as he did so, which
was trick I remembered him to
have had in the old days, while Beat
rice and l watched him in silence.
"Sapristi.' exclaimed Lavelle al
last, in an excited tone OF voice
You're right, Miss Harvel. Ephesus
is the code word. Look"
He took the document and copied
the first three groups of figures into
the large square which he had pre-
viously drawn on the paper. Then he
wrote down the letters OF the alpha
bet beside the figures in a certain or
der, and they automatically formed
the words. "Wir die Siebenschlafer
eve, the Seven Sleepers).
1 leaned forward eagerly, and La
velle bent down to resume his work
At that moment, however, the tele-
phone bell rang.
"Zut,' he said. Answer ii, will you
Miss Harvel?"
Beatrice went to the telephone and
took up the receiver.
Yes she said, m. Lavelle's secre-
tary speaking. Certainly"
She handed the receiver to. Laveue,
saying, as she did SO. the secretary
general"
Lavelle put the receiver to his ear.
Yes. it's Lavelle here. Yes. I'M
rnediately? Very good. I'll come down
at once"
He replaced the receiver
Sorry, old man." he said, ruefuily,