human
Now that you boys know the nature of the work I have been engaged on, I may as well tell you that confidential reports from Washington have warned me to be on my guard, said Captain Simms.
gpt
It was in reply to one of these that I sent a code dispatch to-night.
human
But I should have imagined making up a code was a very simple matter,
gpt
That is just where you are wrong, my boy, smiled Captain Simms.
human
A commercial code, perhaps, can be jumbled together in any sort of fashion, but a practical naval code is a different matter. Besides dealing in technicalities it must be absolutely invulnerable to even the cleverest reader of puzzles. The new code was necessitated by the fact that secret agents discovered that an expert in the employ of a foreign power had succeeded in solving a part of our old one. It was only a very small part, but in case of trouble with that country it might have meant defeat if the enemy knew even a fragment of the wireless code that was being flashed through the air.
gpt
Have you nearly completed your work?
human
Almost, was the reply,
gpt
At any rate I'm mighty glad we followed that Jarrow,
human
And caught enough of their plans to put you on guard,
gpt
Yes, and I am deeply grateful to you boys, was the rejoinder.
human
Judson apparently wishes now that he had not been so anxious to secure that contract as to promise the naval code as a sort of bonus,
gpt
I don't doubt it, answered Captain Simms.
human
Now that I recall it, I heard rumors that Judson, who once had a steel contract with our government, is not so sound financially as he seems. I judge he would go to great lengths to assure a large contract that would get him out of his difficulties.
gpt
I should imagine so, replied Jack.
human
What was the reason he never did any more work for the government?
gpt
The inferior quality of his product, I heard. There were ugly rumors concerning graft at the time. Some of the newspapers even went so far as to urge his prosecution.
human
Then we are dealing with bad men?
gpt
Unquestionably so. But I think we had better break up this council of war and get to bed. I want to get an early start in the morning.