O'Grady,
14 Bellamer Street, London, England.
Why no answer? Reply chances of doing business.
NERO.
"Of course, it was impossible for me to tell what this meant. I was not in my father's confidence, and I had no notion who his mysterious correspondent might be. But as the doctor had distinctly stated that to allow him to consider any business at all would bring on a relapse and probably kill him, I placed the message in a drawer, and determined to let it remain there until he should be well enough to attend to it without danger to himself. The week following he was not quite so well, and fortunately there was complete silence on the part of his correspondents. Then this second message arrived. As you will see it is also from Chicago and from the same person.
Reply immediately, or remember consequences. Time presses, if do not realize at present price, market will be lost. NERO.
"Following my previous line of action, I placed this communication also in the drawer, and determined to let Nero wait for a reply. By doing so, however, I was incurring greater trouble than I dreamt of. Within forty-eight hours I received the following message, and upon that I made up my mind and came off at once to you. What it means I do not know, but that it bodes some ill to my father I feel certain. I had heard of your fame, and as my husband is away from home, my father unable to protect himself, and I am without friends at all in England, I thought the wisest course I could pursue would be to consult you."
"Let me look at the last cablegram," said Klimo, putting his hand from the box, and taking the slip of paper.
The first and second message were simplicity itself; this, however, was a complete enigma. It was worded as follows:
Uneasy--Alpha--Omega--Nineteen--Twelve--today--five --lacs--arrange--seventy--eight--Brazils --one--twenty--nine.
NERO.