The Tracer of Lost Persons
"I believe so."

_Exactl_y. Here's the seal

Cryptographic symbols

Now I'll mark the one, two, and three by crossing the lines, like this: one, two, three, 

Cryptographic symbols

Now, eliminating all lines not crossed there remains:

Cryptographic symbols

and the zero--

A sudden excitement stirred Harren; he leaned over the paper, gazing earnestly at the cipher; the Tracer rose and glanced around the room as though in search of something.

"Is there a telephone here?" he asked.

"For Heaven's sake, don't give this up just yet," exclaimed Harren. "These things mean numbers; don't you see? Look at that!" pointing to a linked pair of seals,

Cryptographic symbol

"That means the number nineteen! You can form it by using only the crossed lines of the seal.

Cryptographic symbol

Don't you see, Mr. Keen?"

"Yes, Captain Harren, the cipher is, as you say, very plain; quite as easy to read as so much handwriting. That is why I wish to use your telephone--at once, if you please."

"It's in my bedroom; you don't mind if I go on working out this cipher while you're telephoning?"

"Not in the least," said the Tracer blandly. He walked into the Captain's bedroom, closing the door behind him; then he stepped over to the telephone, unhooked the receiver, and called up his own headquarters.

"Hello. This is Mr. Keen. I want to speak to Miss Borrow."


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