The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-01-17
SPY OF THE REBELLION
Continued from first page1

Continued from first page1
May the right prevail. and death and
confusion attend its enemies" -ambiguou
in that it as much represented his real
sentiments as it also met the approval OF
his secession friends
After the party had drank they sep
arated, agreeing to meet later in the even
ing. Curtis himself was starting for a
stroll about the town. when the stranger,
who had last joined the party on the We
randa, approached him and said: Il have
Just drank the toast you proposed, and
Judging from it and your conversation up
stairs | take you to be, at least, friend
to the South. if indeed you are not q
Southern man. L should like much to
have your company for Il short stroll
about the city. My name." he added,
lis Leroy, and I hail from Baltimore
Il shall be glad to accompany you, MIR.
Leroy" said my operative, heartily. Il
| was just thinking of going for a walk
alone, but | assure you / shall be only
too glad to have n companion. And since
you have so kindly told me your name,
may as well tell you that mine is George
Curtis, and l am from Washington. But
before We start" he added, ''let us have
a fresh cigar"
| He then ordered the cigars, and they
| started for their walk.
They had not proceeded far before his
new companion revealed the fact that he
also was i'll the cantraband trade. and
Slngularly enough, was on his way to
Richmond on precisely the same business
my operative had represented himself as
engaged. OF course, Curtis reciprocated
| the confidence of his new-found friend
and with such results that he not only
returned from his walk much better post
ed on how to get goods through to Rich
I tIUUf not
an enterprise to furnish their goods in
large quantities to the Confederate Gov
eminent, provided they could succeed in
making satisfactory arrangements with
MIR. Benjamin, the Secretary of War.
They returned to the hotel, where they
had long talk, completing their plans
1t was arranged that my operative should
! leave his horse at Petersburg, and in the
morning they would proceed on their way
to Richmond by rail.
| The following morning he arose early,
and after breakfast proceeded to call On
Gen. Hill at his quarters and obtained his
pass, also the letters he was to carry for
him to parties in Richmond. They then
took train for the rebel Capital, and by
noon found themselves in that city.
! The day following his arrival, in COM
pany with Leroy, he called on Mr. .Benja-
min and succeeded in closing contracts to
furnish large quantities of their goods to
his Government, and ut prices that were
highly satisfactory to Mr.. Leroy, who
Jovially remarked, as they left the Sec
| retarys presence, that if they only had
good luck their fortunes were made. Cur
tbs, however, felt highly gratified over the
| result of the interview, more from the re-
Election of the aid it would give him in
prosecuting the real object of his visit
than from any financial benefit he expect
ed to derive from it. He had received a
pass from the Secretary that would enable
him to pass in and out of Richmond at his
pleasure, most important privilege, and
one that really removed all practical
hlndrances and left him free to more fuisy
accomplish his work.
CONFEDERATE INTELLIGENCE OFFICE.
He had not been in the city a week be-
fore he discovered that through some
source the rebels had almost daily news
from the front concerning the movements
and plans of the Union troops This he
now determined to ferret out and the
next day he in careless manner inquired
of his friend Leroy how it was they OBJ
tanned news so promptly from the front.
Why" replied his friend, IaughingIy.
haven't you heard of the subterranean
headquarters"
Il confess 1 have not" replied the de-
tectiye.
Then come along with me-" said Le-
roy. Il ought to have told you about this
before, as it is intimately connected with
our business
lie then led the way to the very hotel at
which they were stopping. and conducted
Curtis to q large and elegantly furnished
room on the third floor. and in which were
seated number of gentlemen-some read
ing, while others We're engaged in writing
at little tables that were arranged about
the room.
Here said he, laughing. "are the sub
terranean headquarters, although they are
above the top of the ground instead of
beneath it. L need not tell you" he added.
that the name is given as much to mis-
lead as for any other purpose
They then took seats at one end of the |
room where they were alone, and he pro-
ceeded with his explanation
First he said, you must know that |
this is bureau of intelligence. and is |
managed partly by the Government and |
partly by wealthy merchants here and at |
Baltimore. Besides being used in getting |
information concerning the movements of /
the Federal troops, it is also used by the |
merchants in getting our goods through |
from Baltimore. We employ" he contin-
ued, nearly 30 persons, some of whom |
are constantly in the field carrying dis
patches, gaining and bringing in informa-
ton from the Yankee lines These persons
are all under the control of a chief. and |
are all known to that man yonder," point
ing to gentleman seated at a desk at the
opposite end of the ROOM
Strange as it may seem to you," he |
right here in this hotel we
have the most exclusive privacy You no.
ticed that man standing in the hall when
we came in, the same one now sitting at
the desk?"
Curtis nodded, and he proceeded: ''Well,
he knew me- and consequently he know
you were all right. Had you come alone
that door would have been closed, and
would not have opened, had you tried it.
Now" he said, Il will call him here and
introduce you"
Touching small bell that stood on the
table. the gentleman to whom he had al
luded instantly answered its summons and
crossed the room to where they were sit
ting.
Mr. Wallace" said Leroy, ''this is my
friend and partner, Mr.. Curtis" The two
men bowed and shook hands, and Wallace