“It can only be boy,” he announced. “That gives us a working start of eight letters. Add to that the fact that this character is printed twice consecutively in three different places”––he pointed to the figure [. as he spoke––“which confirms the supposition that it is l, and you have this result immediately.”
Blaine handed the pad across to Morrow, who read eagerly:
Dear Old Boy.
B-- -o-ey -o---- -o yo- -ro- old --ore le-- ---a-d --a- ---y --are -or -olle----- -or yo--o r--- --ll -all o- yo- ---r-day a- -o-r -e-.
The operative started to speak, but checked himself, and listened while Henry Blaine went on slowly but steadily.
“Each letter gained helps us to others, you see, Guy. For instance -o-ey must be money; the character following yo three times in different places must be u; the word ––-r-day can only be Thursday; -all is call; a- is at; and -o-r is four. That gives us eight more letters, and makes the message read like this.” Blaine wrote it down and handed the result to Morrow, who read:
Dear Old Boy.
B-- money com-n- to you from old score left un-a-d -hat -s my share for collect-n- for you? No ris- --ll call on you Thursday at four. -en.
“It looks easy, now,” admitted Morrow. “But I never should have thought of going about it that way. I suppose the sixth word is coming. That gives us i and g.”