IRTY-THREE-DOLLAR GUESS

As the two young officers entered the admiral's quarters the curtains
were closed behind them by the marine orderly.

Admiral Timworth was seated at his desk. Beside him was Captain Allen,
commanding officer of the battleship "Hudson," flagship of the
Mediterranean Squadron.

Lieutenant Totten and Cushing were also present.

"Good evening, gentlemen," was Admiral Timworth's greeting, after
salutes had been exchanged. "Accidentally, you became spectators this
evening, at a little drama connected with both the diplomatic and the
secret service of your country."

The admiral paused, but both young officers remained respectfully at
attention, making no response, as none was needed.

"You are aware," continued the admiral, "that Mr. Cushing was knocked
down and robbed of an important government paper. Now, it happens that
this paper was the key to a code employed by the State and Navy
Departments in communicating with naval commanders abroad."

This time Dave actually started. The loss of such a code would be
vitally important. The State and Navy Departments almost invariably
communicate with naval commanders by means of a secret code, which can
be read only by commanders possessing the key. Thus, when cablegrams
are sent from stations in foreign countries, their import can be
understood only by the officers to whom the communications are
addressed.

"That strikes you as a most serious loss, does it not?" asked Admiral
Timworth, smiling.

"Why, yes, sir; so it would seem," Dave answered, bowing.

"The code that was stolen to-night," laughed the admiral, "will be of
but little value to the government into whose hands it may fall. The
code in question was one that was used in the year 1880, and has not
been employed since. Nor is it likely ever to be employed again."

Captain Allen joined in the admiral's laugh.

"We had every reason," continued the admiral, "to believe that an
attempt would be made to steal that code ere Mr. Cushing delivered it
to me. In fact, our government allowed it to be rather widely known
that Mr. Cushing had left Washington to turn over to me a code. So, of
course, Mr. Cushing has been followed. As a matter of fact, the code
that we have been using for the last six months has not been changed.
I was delighted when I learned that Cushing had been assaulted and
robbed. Mr. Cushing himself took the loss seriously, for he did not
know, until he came aboard a few m