Evening star., 1927-11-10
BY WEBSTER.

any other explanation or II, OUT IL -
Impossible. May / read it to you all?"
Janet's voice had grown very stern
and although she did not glance at
Angie Kerr that lady started slightly.
1--WE are gathered here to clear up
this whole mystery. Miss Dane" HIS
Excellency replied for the rest.
please tell us everything"
"It was on the yacht when Mrs.
Kerr was bringing me down from
Albany" Janet began slowly. Il
heard the wireless going and ;hen y
crumpled paper was blown in the
portfolio .of my stateroom. 1t reads:
Ebony oak testers won kings daugh.
ter but girl was captured safe nins
two Jacks wire cage with bird came to
me queens one six three delivered
maple will try ten four red guard
threaten to torture elm seven doubts
deep well blue rubies green make fire
till pink emeralds ransom shot evade
help dog give fathers chance receive
deny signal fly ideal rescue perfume
ocean information game carry nook
train alarm cloud eight clay sail retort
mercy kill message five diamonds.
The first significant thing was Ebony
testers that could only mean
Black Joker's.' l therefore took the
first word, omitted one. took the third.
omitted two, took the sixth. omitted
three and so on. This is the message
Mrs. Kerr sent: Ebony testers daugh-
ter captured. Wire me. VIII torture
make give information-kill.'"
"Oh, that is wrong! Wrong" Mrs.
Kerr rose, wringing her hands In dis.
tress. Good heavens. have /. with.
out knowing 1t, made that double
code? No wonder. my poor. child. you
ran away from me and you have treat
ed me so strangely ever since i came
here! / wrote down the message !
intended to convey to Mr.. Afford and
filled in the words at sheer random,
as they happened to occur to me.
The real code is more complicated
than the one you evolved, but it starts
the same, with the first word. omitting
one, then the third. then omit four.
then two. then five. three, six. four.
seven, five, eight, six, nine. seven.
Try it and you will find the message
reads: Ebony TESTERS girl safe with
me. Will guard well till fathers res
cue. Eight Diamonds
Janet glanced hastily down at the
paper. then dropped it and held out
both hands.
"Oh, Angie, how could have doubt
ed you! But l was in such q maze
of secrecy and reticence and deceit!
Dear little Janet, it was only the
| most extraordinary of accidents and
no one could blame you!' Mrs. Kerr
kissed her warmly. Everything has
| ended we'll. thanks to you. The game
of the human cards has been played
and through His Excellency's elem
ency no one is the loser!'
Rather, oil bets have been paid
inquire. merely as a matter Of persona
| interest, just what the members OF
your organization propose to do in the
| future to make life interestingly"
Mrs. Kerr laughed.
81 shall take up bridge again anc
re-enter society, with Charlie. my
faithful chauffeur. still at the wheel OF
my little town car. understand tina,
Ranny Sawyer means to open q
brokerage Office and Nat passenger
| plane service. OF the others you know
Of in connection with this affair car
not speak"
II cam" observed Richard Dane
Clinton Hollis is going to devote
himself seriously to the bank or wnic!
| | had him made president some time
age, to give him-or-a secondar,
profession. Four Of clubs over there
| has gone back to his farming. but or
| a more extensive scale, and Alfort
| tells me that after the experience:
| through which he has passed he reels
that life insurance will be his proper
| field. Durant Is putting new type
| Of motor cycle on the market, II m
isn't killed demonstrating it, and the
| rest of us shall retire. l had thought
to devote myself to the profession o
being q father. but 1t seems that th'
responsibility OF caring for my little
daughter is to be taken out OF my
| hands soon."
He glanced toward Marriott, wht
flushed slightly and laid his hand ovel
the small one so close to his own.
"I hope, sir, that I shall prove
worthy of it," he said very gravely
"Well. we'll" His Excellency arose
$50 there Is to be an alliance as wei
as a truce. eh? My heartiest congratu
lations, young people. Dane fprovet
more than a match for you In thu
past. Marriott, and IL his charmins
daughter. as I shrewdly suspect. ha
inherited his resourcefulness and dar
ing courage you will have your worl
cut out for you to keep pace will
her! Dane, il you are ever at loos'
end come to Washington: we ma,
have need of you there"
| IcSs Osluuy' JdHcL CHlulCu IL
eagerly. His Excellency has beef
telling me what splendid work you ant
the-the pack of cards have done II
international diplomacy. preventin,
disputes and wars and helping small
countries to maintain their rights! !
was wonderful | am almost sorr!
that you have all decided to retire.
His Excellency coughed delcatel!
and Richard Danes face was study
but he replied suavely:
| Cnncluded in fnunrrnM,a Sfnrl