The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1911-05-18
CHAPTER II.
Mr.. Campbell and the Cable.

mans business to peddle shoe-strtngs,
SO it was Mr.. Campbell's business to
know things. He was human card
index, a governmental ready reference
posted to the minute and backed by
all the tremendous resources Of ma
tIon. From the little office in the Sc
cret Service Bureau, where he sat day
after day, radiating threads connected
with the huge outer world, and en-
abled him to keep a firm hand on the
diplomatic and departmental pulse OF
Washington. Perhaps he came near
er knowing everything that happened
there than any other man living; and
he Just how little Of all Of it he did
know.
In person Mr.. Campbell was not un-
like a retired grocer who had shaken
the butter and eggs from his soul and
settled back to enjoy life Of placid
idleness. He was a little beyond mid
die age. pleasant of face, white Of
hair and blessed with guileless blue
eyes. His genius had no sparkle to
it; 1t consisted solely of detail and
system and indefatigability, coupled
with a memory that was we'll nigh in
fallIble His brain was as serene and
orderly as a cash register; one almost
expected to hear it click.
He sat at his desk intently studying
a cable despatch which lay before him.
1t was in the Secret Service code.
Leaning over his shoulder was Mr..
Grimm-the Mr.. Grimm of the bureau.
Mr.. Grimm was an utterly different
type from his chief. He was younger,
perhaps thirty-one or two, physically
we'll proportioned, little above the
average height, with regular features
and listless, purposeless eyes re-
plea of a hundred other young men
who dawdle idly in the windows Of
their clubs and watch the world hurry
by His manner was languid; his
dress showed fastidious care.
Sentence by sentence the bewilder-
ing intricacies of the code gave way
before the placid understanding Of
Chief Campbell, and word by word,
from the chaos of 1t, translation
took Ineligible form upon sheet
of paper under his right hand. Mr..
Grimm, looking on. exhibited only a
most perfunctory interest in the ex-
traordinary message he was reading;
the listless eyes narrowed little, that
was all. 1t was a special despatch
from Lisbon dated that morning, and
signed simply "Gault." Completely
translated it ran thus:
Secret offensive and defensive al
lance of the Latin against the Eng
disappearing nations of the world Is
planned. Italy, France, Spain and
two South American republics will
soon sign compact in Washington
Proposition just made to Portugal,
and may be accepted. Special en-
voys now working in Mexico and Cen
trail and South America Germany in.
vited to join, but refuses as yet, Civ.
ing, however, tacit support; attitude
of Russia and Japan unknown to me-
Prince Benedetto dAbruzzi, believed
10 be in Washington at present, has
absolute power to sign for Italy,
France and Spain. Profound secrecy
anjoined and preserved. learned Of
st by underground. Shall inform our
minister? Cable instructions"
$50 much!" commented Mr.. Camp
bell.
He clasped his hands behind his
head, lay back in his chair and sat
for long time, staring with steadfast,
thoughtful eyes into the impassive
face of his subordinate. Mr.. Grimm
perched himself on the edge of the
desk and with his legs dangling read
the despatch a second time, and a
third.
'If," he observed slowly, eff any 9TH
er man than Gault had sent that I
should have said he was crazy"
"The peace of the world is in peril,
Mr.. Grimm" said Campbell impress
sively, at last. TT had to come, of
course, the United States and Eng
land against large part of Europe
and all of Central and South America.
1t had to come and yet"
He broke off abruptly, and picked
up the receiver of his desk telephone.
"The White House, please" he re-
uuested curtly, and then, after mo-
ment: Hello! Please ask the presi-
dent if he will receive Mr.. Campbell
Immediately. Yes, Mr.. Campbell OF
the Secret Service" There was a
pause. Mr.. Grimm removed his i'm
maculate person from the desk, and
took chair. Hello! In half an hour ?
So much"
The pages of the Almanac de Gotha
fiuttered through his fingers, and final.
Iy he leaned forward and studied a
paragraph of it closely. When he
raised his eyes again there was that
in them which Mr. Grimm had never
seen before-a settled, darkening
shadow.
"The world-war has long been q
chimers, Mr.. Grimm" he remarked at
last. but now-now! Think of 1t! OF
course, the Central and South Ameri'
can countries, taken separately, are
inconsequential, and that is true, too
Of the Latin countries Of Europe, ex
cept France, but taken in combination
under one directing mind, the allied
navies would be--would be formid
able, at least. Backed by the moral
support of Germany, and perhaps ia
pant Don't you see? Don't you
T see?"
He lapsed into silence. Mr.. Grimm
opened his lips to ask a question
Mr.. Campbell anticipated It unerr
ingly:
THE purpose Of such an alliancei