on the lookout. Now he begins to flash. Take the message also,
Watson, that we may check each other. A single flash--that is A,
surely. Now, then. How many did you make it? Twenty. Do did
In. That should mean T. AT--that's intelligible enough.
Another T. Surely this is the beginning of a second word. Now,
then--TENTA. Dead stop. That can't be all, Watson? ATTENTA
gives no sense. Nor is it any better as three words AT, TEN, TA,
unless T. A. are a person's initials. There it goes again!
What's that? ATTE--why, it is the same message over again.
Curious, Watson, very curious. Now he is off once more! AT--why
he is repeating it for the third time. ATTENTA three times! How
often will he repeat it? No, that seems to be the finish. He
has withdrawn form the window. What do you make of it, Watson?"

"A cipher message, Holmes."

My companion gave a sudden chuckle of comprehension. "And not a
very obscure cipher, Watson," said he. "Why, of course, it is
Italian! The A means that it is addressed to a woman. 'Beware!
Beware! Beware!' How's that, Watson?

"I believe you have hit it."

"Not a doubt of it. It is a very urgent message, thrice repeated
to make it more so. But beware of what? Wait a bit, he is
coming to the window once more."

Again we saw the dim silhouette of a crouching man and the whisk
of the small flame across the window as the signals were renewed.
They came mor rapidly than before--so rapid that it was hard to