IV
THE CODE MESSAGE
Stepping back, Don Winslow stared at his friend aghast.
"Not everything--not ALL the machinery, I hope, Red!" he groaned. "Manalive! The Scorpion's weather mapping machine alone was a pricelessinvention. If they've blown that up--"
"They didn't, Commander, so put your mind at rest!" interrupted the richbrogue of Michael Splendor from the doorway. "I hope you'll forgive mefor wheelin' in on ye unexpected, gentlemen. What with the explosionsand the pitchin' of the ship in that tidal wave, 'tis no wonder yedidn't hear me knock!"
Don Winslow turned to grip the crippled man's big hand.
"We'll forgive you, Mr. Splendor," he smiled, "provided you tell uswhat's been happening ashore since yesterday. By the looks of the gangon the beach, a little while ago, there was a lot of work going on--morethan just laying a dynamite charge."
"There was indeed!" nodded Splendor. "Captain Riggs' lads have beenworkin' the whole night tryin' to salvage the machines of the Scorpion'sinvention. They've got most of them aboard ship now, includin' yourprecious weather map. What they blew up just now was little more than anempty shell. I came in especially to tell ye that, and to bring ye thisbundle before the doctor comes in to bother ye."
With a broad wink, the big man produced a large package from under theblanket which covered his crippled legs. Ripping off the paper wrapping,he disclosed a pair of officer's uniforms.
"I had to guess at the sizes when I borrowed them, lads," he chuckled,"but they should fit better than what ye're wearin' at present. Lookunder the after part of me wheel chair for another bundle of shirts,shoes, and whatnot. Ye see, I thought if the doctor saw ye both dressedand about the decks he'd not have the heart to order ye back to bed. Iknow how hard it is for an active man to be kept on his back whenthere's work to do!"
Don Winslow took the package of clothing in wordless gratitude. Somehow,this middle aged cripple's thoughtfulness touched him more deeply thanhe could express.
Lieutenant Pennington's pleasure, however, was quite outspoken.
"You're a lifesaver, Mr. Splendor!" he cried, seizing the bundle out ofDon's hands. "I'd have died of shame if I'd had to finish this voyage ina bathrobe and pajamas. I feel a hundred per cent better already. Justwait till I get these on...."
"What news of Miss Colby, and the seaman Jerry?" asked Don, as Redretreated behind the locker door. "That is, if it's not too early forthe doctor's report."
"They're both on the mend," replied Splendor, his blue eyes twinkling."Especially the young lady. Her cabin door was open as I came by, and Iheard her askin' the medical officer when you would be well enough totake her for a stroll on deck! But that isn't all the news I have totell ye, Commander. Lieutenant Darnley brought back a bundle of papersfrom the chartroom of the underground base. Unless my old eyes deceiveme, there's one item among them the Scorpion would prefer we didn't knowabout."
Don, seated on the edge of his berth, leaned forward tensely, his eyesalight.
"Great work, Mr. Splendor!" he exclaimed. "Red Pennington and I wentthrough those papers in a hurry without finding a thing of interest.What was it you picked out?"
"A mere bit of paper tucked away in a small notebook," answered thecripple, fumbling in a pocket of his loose coat. "'Tis no wonder yeoverlooked it; but with me nose for smellin' out secret codes, I wassuspicious of the thing immediately. Now, then--here it is! Aninnocent-looking message, is it not? But with the code key right therein the notebook, it becomes something else entirely."
Red Pennington, now dressed in a fresh shirt and trousers which fittedhim surprisingly well, edged up to the wheel chair. His eyes were fairlypopping with curiosity and excitement.
"G-golly!" he said huskily. "To think we both had this note in ourhands, and never suspected anything queer! Mind if I look over yourshoulder, Don?"
"Read it aloud, Lieutenant!" urged Michael Splendor, glancing up with anod.
Red Pennington bent closer.
"'Proceed with original contract,'" he read, "'for delivery October ornot later than the first of the year. We will expect San Francisco orderon schedule as this Empire contact is highly important. Our telegraphoperator advises that many messages suggest Cho-San as the ideal salesname for our delightful produce which suggests China Seas and thatcatchy name brings orders.'"
"Say, Don!" the red-haired lieutenant commented. "If that's in code,it's a loo-loo! Sounds just like an ordinary business letter, orsomething!"
"You're right, so it does!" chuckled Michael Splendor. "But there's thecatch. Ye note that the message is typed in five word lines. Very well,take this pencil and cross out all but the first word in the first line,the second word in the second line, and so on through the fifth. At thesixth line begin again with the first word. When ye've finished, read mewhat ye have left."
With a low whistle of comprehension, Don Winslow took the pencil and,stepping over to the cabin's desk, swiftly made the indicated changes. Afew seconds later, he read off slowly the words which remained:
"'Proceed--October--first--SanFrancisco--Empire--contact--Operator--Cho-San--for--ChinaSeas--orders.'"
"Well, I'll be keelhauled!" blurted Red Pennington. "That's a Scorpionmessage, all right. It sounds plain enough, too, except for the word'Empire' and 'Cho-San.' Do they make any sense to you, Mr. Splendor?"
The man in the wheel chair did not reply. While Don had been decodingthe message, the cripple had moved his rubber tired vehicle over to theporthole. He was now gazing out at the sunlit shore line, with anexpression of grim thoughtfulness.
Following the man's look, Don gave a start of amazement.
"Why, the shore seems to be moving!" he exclaimed. "I didn't realize theship was under way, did you, Red? We were both so interested in thiscode message. Where are we bound, Mr. Splendor?"
With a quick movement, the big man whirled his chair about, and facedthe two young officers. His broad, lined face had the look of a personjust waking from a heavy sleep.
"Excuse me, gentlemen!" he said apologetically. "I'm afraid me mind wasfar away when ye spoke. The name 'Cho-San' recalled things I'd like toforget, if this broken body of mine would let me. But this is no time totalk of me own troubles! Ye asked where we were bound, did ye not?"
At Don's silent nod, Michael Splendor's mood underwent another swiftchange. His strikingly blue eyes lighted with their irresistible smile.
"We're steerin' for Port-au-Prince," he stated. "'Tis meself persuadedCaptain Riggs to put us ashore there for a few days, while we're waitin'fresh orders from Washington. I've a big, cool, country residence of meown near the city, where ye and Miss Colby will be more than welcome tostay and recover ye're full health. Don't refuse, now, and disappoint anold shut-in who has little to live for except his friends!"
"Don't worry!" laughed Don Winslow, exchanging glances with Red. "We'veheard plenty about your famous country house, Mr. Splendor, and we'renot refusing! It's more like a palace than an ordinary dwelling, Iunderstand."
"That's fine, Commander," said Splendor, wheeling himself around towardthe door. "And now, if ye'll just hand me that code letter from thedesk, I'll be shovin' off."
Red Pennington stepped over to the desk, only to stand staring in blanksurprise.
"The paper--are you sure you left it here, Don?" he asked, stooping tosearch the deck beneath. "I'd swear you didn't pick it up again!"
With a puzzled exclamation, Don Winslow joined him in a hunt for themissing letter.
Every scrap of paper on the desk was examined; every inch of the desk'sinterior was covered. Don's own pockets were turned inside out.Frowning, Don turned to Michael Splendor, who had been watching them insilence.
"It seems to have vanished!" he declared helplessly. "That letter justisn't here; and yet, there's no place it could have gone...."
"Don't be too sure, Commander!" said the cripple, calmly pointing to thehalf-open door. "It _could_ have gone that way, wit
h no more troublethan a sneak thief would take to lift it. There were several minutes, yemind, when none of us was watching that side of the cabin. 'Tis me ownfault, for I should have been on guard. Not even a Government vessel issafe from Scorpion spies!"