Q W E R T Y U I O P

A S D F G H J K L ;

Z X C V B N M , .

Shift      space bar          Shift
Key                           Key

This diagram represents the “lower case” or small letters, capitals being made by holding down one of the shift keys on either side, and striking the other letter at the same time, there being two symbols on each metal type key.  As only small letters were used through the code Shirley did not bother about the capitals.  He realized at last, that if his theory of substitution were correct the writer had struck the key to the right of the three frequent letters.  He had the inception of the scheme.

Starting with the first line of the sentences so jumbled on the page for January 7, 1915, he began to reverse the operation, copying it off, hitting on the typewriter the keyboard letter to the left of the one indicated in the order of the cipher.

The result was gratifying.  He continued for several lines, having trouble only with the letter “P.”  At last he realized that the only substitution for that could be “Q.”  In other words, “A” had been used for the space letter throughout, and for all the other symbols the one on the right had been struck, except “P” which being at the end of the line had been merely swung to the first letter on the other end of it!

No wonder Warren had been so confident of its baffling simplicity!  Many of the well-known rules for reading codes would not work with this one, and had it not been for Shirley’s suspicion, aroused in the library of the arch-schemer the night before, he would hardly have given the typewriter, as a mechanical aide, a second thought.  Warren’s desire to drop the subject of machines had planted a dangerous seed.

Laboriously Shirley typed off the material of the entire page for the fatal Thursday, and his elation knew no bounds as he realized that here was a key to many of the activities of his enemy.  He donned his hat and coat and hurried over to the Hotel California to show his discovery to Helene.  She invited him up to her suite at once, where he wasted no words but exhibited the triumphant result of his efforts.  He handed her his own transcription, and this is what she read: 

“January 7, 1915, Thursday.

learned from bank de cleyster drew six thousand in morning monk assigned to taxi work for tea shine assigned to fix generator margie fairfax date with de cleyster at five, shine and joe hawley covering game jake and ben assigned black car for me paid phil one hundred covering special work job finished riverside drive at eighty third sharp deposited night and day four thousand safe deposit fifteen hundred lent dolly marion two hundred for dress for party with van cleft next afternoon advanced shine one thousand to cover option of yacht sunbeam paid to broker that night ordered provisions telephone for yacht two month cruise monk