San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-05-14
FRENCH SPIES.

years of his reign he brought the spy corps
to perfection. Outside of the criminal police
the emperor had thousands of political spies
in his pay No work was too degrading for
these men They had the contempt of the
regular police and the hatred Of all honest
men, but Napoleon increased their number
| and encouraged them in their big Oh handed
| measures He feared investigation, revolu
| ton. assassination. he believed, or pretended
| to believe that he lived over a slumbering
| volcano French sentiment was drifting to-
ward liberty, and he aimed to kill it, The
Russian masses are fifty years behind the
| French. When the time comes they will do
| Just as the French did, and the car and his
| spies and police will he helpless. Napoleon
smothered liberty by threats, insults, impris-
| onmentS, confScatiOn and other bulldozing
methods, but when the alarm came he was
helpless. In one single hour his power and
greatness fed away, his numberlcss spies
turned traitor or hid themselves, and the
people threw Off the yoke forever.
In the early days of the war was selected
by our government to perform certain mis-
sion in France. had Travelled all over that
country, could speak French like a native,
and President Lincoln honored me enough to
believe in my wisdom and discretion This
mission was connected with the attitude of
France toward this republic. If Napoleon
was not personally hostile to the United
States, and had not plans to further no
boundless ambition, he YVES at least causing
great anxiety in Washington by his hesitancy
and half-heartedneSs.
When landed in Havre was surrounded
with all the safeguards one could ask for !
lol n,,fA "a
passport, ii letter to the American minister,
and my movements were to be controlled
from his headquarters My departure from
Washington was known to less than half
dozen officials We had no ocean telegraph
in those days. There were Frenchmen among
my fellow passengers, but | had been very
discreet, | may have been over cautious. Ii
may have been for this very reason that
was spotted" as soon as | walked down the
gang plank, for spotted | was. | had been
engaged in detective ard secret service work
long enough to pick up a good many point.
ers had Swallowed men, and knew how
to detect shadow on my own trail AS
walked from the plank to a hack felt that
was an object of solicitude to some one in the
crowd. ] could not pick him out, but knew
he was there.
did not purpose going to Paris for several
days. drove to a hotel, registered plainly
and correctly, and went to my room. Al
most Immediately descended again, to find
spy and the clerk with their heads together
over the book, and | heard my name men
toned. The spy was a slim, spare man of 30
well dressed, black hair and eyes, and carried
a cane. knew from his ways that he wa
not detective connected with the regular
police and if SO he must be a political spy
returned to my room without being seen, ana
half an hour later had call from the man.
IL beg a thousand pardons, monsieur, bu;
you just arrived by steamerF' he asked
Il did"
II had friends, relatives. two sisters, who
were to sail by her from New York. They
have not arrived | am very anxious Per
haps you met themF
what is the nameF
Dubois, monsieur"
"Ah, yes Well, have sad news for you
They were swept overheard and drowned on
the third day out
He threw up his hands. uttered a sort CT
shrek and fled down the corridor He had
simply come to make sure that | was al
American, and to get a closer look at me
Els sisters were myths. AMI gave him tue
guy because | knew that such was the case.
We landed before noon After dinner
took walk about, and | hadn't gone four
squares before tumbloI To the fact that
was Swallowed. Ny spy had changed his ha
and coat and dOnned a red wig, but | knew
him by his build and gait Men can dis
guise their faces and bodies and draw on
gloves to hide scars on the hands, but no man
living can long disguise his gait He may
limp, toe out, toe In, or make any other
change, but he will unconsciously relapse
into his old gait after few minutes gave
the fellow no attention, and after little be
grew bold enough to almost walk beside me-
| was out for q couple of hours, and he
Swallowed me back to the hotel That even
ing went to the theatre, and he had a seat
not far away.
After breakfast next morning | received q
visit from the spy's superior. If | remem
Der right, he said he was chief of some di
vision acting under orders from Paris He
politely asked for my passport, and | not
only gave him that but some letters which
seemed to open his eyes very wide
"Oh, ly-excuse-excuse!" he
FASTENED to say Monsieur is a prominent
| American, of course. am very sorry, and
hope you have not been Inconvenience"
He went away seemingly satisfied, but when
| went but for drive the spy took up my
trail again. When went out after dinner it
was on foot, and the man had now become
very bold. He must have argued that
could not remember his voice nor penetrate
his disguise, for, as sauntered down toward
| the quays, he overlook me and said in French:
well, Julius, what brings you hereT"
IL think you have made a mistake" re-
piled, in English.
"Ahl 50 | have, a thousand pardonsln he