Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-06-24
Why He
Left the Secret
Service.
BY Dan s. Griffin.

SCSSSSSSSSSSSSC
had often wondered why my friend
Charlie had left the secret service, and
one evening | asked: Charlie, why did
you leave the secret service? Didn't you
like it?
Yes, liked it." he replied. But had
little experience that Knocked me out.
| was detailed to go to Albany to find out
who was passing counterfeit money
there. | called on an old merchant, who
had given the information, to learn whom
he suspected, and he described a lady.
well dressed, dark haired. with u little,
bewitching curl on her right forehead.
He looked at me closely a moment, re-
read the letter of introduction had Civ.
en- him and then said, You will excus,
me, sir, but the last time l saw her she
was accompanied by gentleman who
very much resembles you | laughed at
his remark, obtained the details on which
he based his suspicious and went to my
hotel
That evening | went to the theater
and occupied a box ut the right of the
stage. After looking the audience oveI
several times | was pleased to observe in
the box opposite me a woman whose ap-
pearance answered the merchants de-
scription, and beside her sat one whose
countenance and dress, if photographed.
| would have taken for my own.
During the following week l attend
ed the theaters, public meetings and on
Sunday three different churches, but not
once did see either again. Finally, while
strolling through the capitol, l met the
lady face to face. She evidently mis-
took me for her companion and said:
Why, George, l am delighted to meet
you so unexpectedly! What has brought
You here at this time?'
Il replied: I've just obtained some in
formation, but have nothing on which to
make memorandum. Let me have one
of your cards, won't you?'
Certainly she said and gave me
her cardcase, from which 1 selected a
card. As l read her name and address l
felt so delighted with my success that /
smiled. Seeing my mistake, 1 stopped
suddenly, when she Immediately remark.
ed: SO you haven't forgotten how to
smile, ha you? l was about to ask
why you are so serious this morning. !
conclude from the note you sent me last
evening that you leave the city for an
CAtcAutu dUStuCe. hOW lOug 10 you ox-
pect to be gomez
Il replied, I have changed my plans
and shall not go for a week yet
How delighted l am! You will
therefore come to see me this evening
OF course you will, and l shall expect
you at s o'clock sure. May L?
Certainly / replied, and we sepa-
rated
No poor detective ever felt more
elated than l as / walked to my hotel.
Her friend was confederate, for whom
she had mistaken me, and if could only
play my cards right that evening would
know all that was necessary to complete
my work. / slyly drew the card from
my pocket and reread, Minnie e. Rush,
p - street, Albany, n. Y l expected
to be found out before the evening was
over, but thought that she probably
would, womanlike, let out something. In
the meantime sent a short, blind re-
port. which my chief would understand,
as follows: Two birds; mates; seen
both; meet one tonight
81 started early to reconnoiter the
premises. There was dim light at
first Soon, however, the front room
was brightly lighted. l walked by the
house two or three times and listened to
the piano, evidently played by an artist,
and-I could not believe it at frst-the
tune was 'Neafer, My God, to Theer
when I rang the bell the music
ceased, and in a moment she was there
to welcome me. Such a welcome! I
have recollections of greetings from girls,
but this greeting surpassed all my former
experience.
Il listened to her innocent prattle and
watched her closely. 1 had always
prided myself on my ability to read char
acter. In fact, my success, 1 believed,
had been due to this ability. was sat
isfied she was pure, lovely woman, and
to ease my conscience for my acts /
made up my mind, rashly, l admit. that
l would cut out that friend who looked
so like me if possible. 1 even allowed
myself to picture the joy would have
in introducing her to my mother as my
wife. But how could all this be brought
about? l concluded, I shall win her
first and then tell her everything, plead
my love and trust to Providence
81 was made confident could win her
when she said suddenly: oh, Georgei
You don't know how happy you make
me tonight. Do you know / have al
most wondered if it really is you? You
seem changed for the better, so like
what you used to be when we were first
betrothed.'
81 embraced her and swore that !
loved her. l meant it too.
1T was late before 1 left. The wee
sma' hour was near before succeeded
in tearing myself away. In a few hours
my whole being had been changed
Beautiful dreams were constantly be-
fore me, in each of which she and l
were in the foreground, a center from
which all else radiated. Before l re-