The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-17

Sad disappointment of the Clerk Who Pill
fered the Greedy Letter.
Snecial in Phiindelnhia .Times-

Sad disappointment of the Clerk Who Pill
fered the Greedy Letter.
Special in PHILADELPHIA Times.
To-day brings the very latest from Howgate.
A private letter signed ''H. w. H., us alleged to
have been found on Lieutenant Greeiy's desk at
the department. A clerk in search of some pa
pers stumbled across it by accident. The clerk
recognized the hand writing, started, hesiiated,
probably cast IA fugitive glance under the tables
and chairs, then thrust the precious document
into his pocket and disappeared. The notsVTas
found to bear the well-known initials H. W.
H." and was an urgent request for the loan of
$500, addressed to his dear friend Lieutenant
Greedy. The clerk bore his discovery to the
Capitol and laid it before his congressman. The
congressman was startled--was, in fact, dumb
founded. He, too, recognized the familiar han d.
writing. He pulled out some /. o.. us signed
"H. W. Fl. +" the only legacy Howgate had left
him after a more or less intimate acquaintance
at short cards, and verified it.
They were on the trail. these two bloodhounds.
They jumped into a hack and were driven at a
rapid pace to the Signal Office and disappeared
in an inner chamber. 1t was a secret chamber,
where only the very worst weather IS concocted..
The sharp ring of the telephone and a "Hello,
there" were The only sounds that could be heard
at the keyhole. They had probably hung a
towel over it.
In a few minutes a close carriage dashed up ~
the foot of the granite steps and threw mt !
over the new election overeoat Of a State Depal
ment clerk. Two men alighted, looked at tn
building, nodded at each other and passed lei
surely in. They were government detectives at
$40 a day and expenses. Half an hour later a
signal officer, the clerk and Congressman and
two detectives at $40 a day and expenses came
out and conversed in the open ar. The foul
weather chamber was too small in which to
wrestle with their awful secret. Then the entire
party sought the War Office and one more dis
appeared, this time within the gorgeous apart
ments of the Secretary Of War. The case was
unfolded with due solemnity. The note was
produced. So were the I. o. US.
Secretary Lincoln smiled as he ran his eagle
eye over them. Tie haG some himself.
''The letter bars no date" he said, 'al-
though it appears to have been written from Ne
braska."
The clerk turned pale under the concentrated
gaze of the two government detectives at ten
dollars a day and expenses.
''This may be several years old, suggested the
Secretary.
The clerk turned red and the two government
detectives at ten dollars a day and expenses
whistled softly. 1t will be charged in their &C
count and allowed by the Department Of Justice.
The congressman buttoned up his overcoat, care
fully put away his l. O.. US and begged to be
excused. as he had promised to take a Treasury
lady to the matinee. He was followed by u crest
fallen clerk and two governmentdetectives at ten
dollars a day and expenses.
Lieutenant Greedy will look over his old How
gate letters in private hereafter. AT least So
the story goes.