| Figure 25 Preparation of Slips Index....... 1 2 3 7 8 9 13 14 15 6 12 18 5 11 17 4 10 16 36 35 34 30 29 28 24 23 22 31 25 19 32 26 20 33 27 21 1 2 3 7 8 9 13 14 15 6 12 18 5 11 17 4 10 16 36 35 34 30 29 28 24 23 22 Block 1...... R R T A V E T A D O U B A K E H B P P E T D I L R R A T A C S O R G I E R R T A V E T A D O U B A K E H B P P E T D I L R R A Block 2...... U E E N E S R A N B I K S D U O F S V T O B O S Y I T L X N M T J A U A U E E N E S R A N B I K S D U O F S V T O B O S Y I T Block 3...... A G D A N K O D X E S N A S D E S F X E X E L N R A O H R G R A O A A A A G D A N K O D X E S N A S D E S F X E X E L N R A O |
letters. These nine strips are prepared all in one set-up, the details of which can be examined in Fig. 25. In Fig. 26, the strips of Fig. 25 have been cut apart and rearranged in such a way as to bring out plaintext on the top row of every block; this is, of course, the first full row, as pointed out in each case by the four asterisks. It will be noticed that the top row of cell-numbers is arranged in strictly ascending order (our strictly horizontal route of writing-in). If the third row be now examined (as pointed out by two asterisks), it is found that this, too, carries plaintext, merely written backward, and that here the cell-numbers are arranged in strictly descending order.
Now, to read the cryptogram: Each full row of numbers includes all cell-numbers belonging to some one of the four units, and any one of these four rows of numbers is a key to the grille, since it shows exactly what cells were uncovered when the corresponding unit was written in. To obtain the grille, we have only to select some one row of numbers, as 12-36-10-16-34-9-26-32-13, and clip out these particular cells in a square numbered as we saw it in Fig. 21. The student who cares to know what “instructions” were being sent might also satisfy his curiosity as to whether or not this new cryptogram could have been deciphered rather than decrypted.
| Figure 26 One Correct Adjustment of Slips ┌────┐ ┌────┐ │ 9 ├────┬────┤ 13 │ ┌────┐ ┌────┤ 17 │ 8 │ 7 │ 4 │ ┌────┤ 1 ├────┬────┤ 3 │ 28 │ 11 │ 5 │ 24 │ │ 2 │ 6 │ 14 │ 15 │ 18 │ 20 │ 29 │ 30 │ 33 │ **** │ 12 │ 36 │ 10 │ 16 │ 34 │ 9 │ 29 │ 32 │ 13 │ │ 35 │ 31 │ 23 │ 22 │ 19 │ 17 │ 26 │ 7 │ 4 │** │ 25 │ 1 │ 27 │ 21 │ 3 │ 28 │ 8 │ 5 │ 24 │ │ 2 │ 6 │ 14 │ 15 │ 18 │ │ 11 │ 30 │ │ │ 12 │ 36 │ 10 │ 16 │ 34 │ │ 29 │ │ │ │ 35 │ │ 23 │ 22 │ │ E │ │ │ T │ │ │ │ │ │ │ E │ V │ A │ H │ │ │ R │ │ │ T │ L │ K │ A │ R │ │ R │ O │ A │ D │ B │ R │ I │ D │ G │ **** │ U │ P │ B │ P │ T │ E │ O │ S │ T │ │ E │ T │ R │ A │ C │ E │ V │ A │ H │** │ A │ R │ I │ E │ T │ L │ K │ A │ R │ │ R │ O │ A │ D │ B │ │ I │ D │ │ │ U │ P │ B │ P │ T │ │ │ │ │ │ E │ │ R │ A │ │ S │ │ │ R │ │ │ │ │ │ │ U │ E │ N │ O │ │ │ U │ │ │ E │ S │ D │ S │ Y │ │ E │ B │ A │ N │ K │ J │ O │ B │ A │ **** │ I │ V │ F │ S │ O │ S │ T │ M │ R │ │ T │ L │ I │ T │ N │ U │ E │ N │ O │** │ X │ U │ U │ A │ E │ S │ D │ S │ Y │ │ E │ B │ A │ N │ K │ │ O │ B │ │ │ I │ V │ F │ S │ O │ │ │ │ │ │ T │ │ I │ T │ │ K │ │ │ O │ │ │ │ │ │ │ D │ N │ A │ E │ │ │ A │ │ │ D │ N │ S │ A │ R │ │ G │ E │ D │ X │ N │ O │ L │ E │ A │ **** │ S │ X │ S │ F │ X │ K │ A │ R │ O │ │ E │ H │ A │ O │ G │ D │ N │ A │ E │** │ R │ A │ A │ A │ D │ N │ S │ A │ R │ │ G │ E │ D │ X │ N ├────┤ L │ E ├────┘ │ S │ X │ S │ F │ X │ └────┴────┘ │ E ├────┤ A │ O ├────┘ └────┘ └────┴────┘ |
Concerning the grille cryptograms which follow, it seems not impossible that the student who has seen his principles applied only to a unit of 36 might find some difficulty in adjusting them to grilles of other sizes. A tip, then, on [Example 22]: Instead of the regulation nulls, its single unit was completed with a common Spanish phrase beginning with Q. And if it still resists: the author’s own name was used as the key for constructing the grille.
In adjusting his paper strips (when this is the method he prefers) it makes no particular difference what plan he follows, so long as it works. Some decryptors prefer to concentrate altogether on the strictly ascending series of cell-numbers, allowing letters to form their own sequences. Others will always have before them the set-up of squares, noting there some possible letter-sequence, finding (by means of their cell-numbers) the strips which contain these letters, and then observing results in other blocks. If the given strip cannot be found, then the cell must be already in use.
The shortest road is that of the probable word. For instance, the set-up shown as Fig. 26 was actually initiated by the solver at the letter J of the second block, this being a rare letter and almost invariably followed by a vowel. Of the several vowels immediately in sight (in the square) the correct one was promptly suggested by the sequence so plainly in sight, OB, suggesting the word JOB, one already used by these people in discussing their mysterious activities. The corresponding cell-numbers, 20-29-30, were found to be on three separate strips — a necessary condition — and when placed together brought out the straight sequences RID and OLE, with reversed sequences AVE, NEU, and AND. Another very probable word was suggested by the check-sequence AVE (HAVE), and the necessary H was found with cell-number 33, bringing solution to the point suggested roughly in Fig. 27, where attention was promptly focussed on the tetragram RIDG, suggesting BRIDGE, another word previously used. There were two strips carrying the desired E, but both refused to fit; and here the cell-numbers came into play. The last one found, 33, was large and suggested that its letter, G, might be the last letter of a unit; afterward, the building was continued on the left, with B.
| Figure 27 Straight Reversed 20 29 30 33 17 8 7 4 R I D G E V A H (Have) J O B A U E N O (one u) O L E A D N A E (e and) |
22. By PICCOLA. (Probable word: CRYPTOGRAMS).
T S T H E T T U S H O E D G F R D O E O G R I S A A M S N M Q E U G I
B R I E L N O S T H S I C L S E T S W A T H A B R Y P A E.
23. By DAMONOMAD and POPPY. (Probable word: RIGHT FLANK).
A E K D S P V T O O N N A A O N R O N P R O C T I E H T R E H N E T I
A F G S R H T N I L O V T E F F A L M K I E C L A A S N M.
24. By DAMONOMAD and POPPY. (Probable word: SPECIAL MESSENGER).
E Y U I S S N S F P A O P E R I S C O A M N R A I R G A A T A L I M N
E G E E I S O S N O S A D N B E I T N O N G U E P R H T E E W S R U A
S S K V Y P I T O N O U E Y S O C M W O T N S T E U O B D G.
25. By SAHIB.
R N I I I N G T F L A I L N N D E E T D R V E U S E S T H R E I G E Y
F I A N O U R R D L G Y T N H A E O N R N E K C D E E I S E Y B S E F
W Y P G R L O L O E U O F H P A T V E R E H E R A E D G M I T R H N E
E I S Y T Q T S I I S A U S G I E A I C A S L L K L L T T X H V H E A
R X A X.
26. By NEMO.
I K O T H N N E H N E E I R C R A G E L O R N O H K T W T C H O H E I
E S S W W T N E T R H A R E O L S P L A A G E A E R L D B R Y E U I T
R T R E N I D T H E I A D E I E N D P D A B R A E C R K E M T A O A U
T O T S Y N B P E S N U H E S R A H E S U P D.