The Harrison times., 1911-10-28
CHAPTER II.
Mr.. Campbell and the Gable.


manufacture watches, and another
mans business to peddle shoe-strings,
40 II was Mr. Campbells business TO
know things. He was human card
index, a governmental ready reference
posted TO the minute and backed by
ell the tremendous resources OF ma
tion. From the little ONCE 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
no man realized more perfectly than
ne Just how little OF all Of It he did
know.
In person Mr.. Campbell was not un'
IKE a retired grocer who had shaken
the butter and eggs from his soul and
settled back to enjoy life Of placid
idleness. He was little beyond mid
die age. pleasant OF face, white Of
hair and blessed with gulleless blue
eyes. His genius had no sparkle to
it; II consisted solely OF detail and
system and indefstigabilIty, coupled
with a memory that was well nigh In.
fallible. His brain was AZ serene and
orderly as a cash register; one almost
expected TO hear II click,
lie sat at his desk lntently studying
n cable despatch which lay before him,
IL was In the Secret Service code,
Leaning over his shoulder was MIR,
.Grlmm--the Mr. Grimm of the bureau,
Mr., Grimm was an utterly different
type from his chief, Io was younger,
perhaps thirty.one or two, physically
we'll proportioned, little above the
average height, with regular features
and llstless, purposeless eyes re-
plica OF hundred other young men
who dawdle idly In tho windows Of
their clubs and watch the world hurry
by His manner was languid; his
dress showed fastIdlous care,
Sentence by sentence the bewllder.
ing intrloacies OF the code gave way
before the placid understanding OF
Chief Campbell and word by word,
from the chaos OF Il, translation
took intelligible form upon q sheet
OF paper under HIS right hand, Mr.
Grimm. looking on, exhibited only a
most porfunctory interest IN the cx.
traordlnary message he was reading
the liatlese eyen narrowed 4 little, that
was all, II was special despatch
from Lisbon dated that morning, and
signed simply "Gault" Completely
translated IL ran thus;
"secret offensive and defensive nj.
lance OF the Latin against the Eng
lish.gpeaking nations OF tho world Ia
planned, Italy, France, Spain and
two South American republics will
soon algn compact In Washington,
Proposition just made 70 Portugal,
and may be accepted Special en-,
voys now working In Mexico and Cen
trail and South America Germany In.
vlted TO Join, but refuses as yet. Civ
ing, however, tacit support, attitude
of Russia md Japan unknown TO me,
Prince Bonodctto d'Abrulz believed
10 be In Washington Ot present has
absolute power TO slgn for Italy,
France and Spain Profound secrecy
enioined and preserved learned OF
n by underground Shall inform our
minister Cable instructions"
80 muchl" commented Mr. Camp
boil
lie elaaped HIS hands behind hls
hoad lay back IN bis chair and eat
for n long time, staring With steadfart,
thoughtful eyes into tho mpaasye
faoo Of HIS subordinate Mr. Grimm
perohed himself on TIE edge Of the
desk and with his legs dangling read
The despatch second time. and u
third
~, he observed slowly. M any 9th.
ar man than GOult had sent that I
should have said he was crazy
"The peace Of the world Is IN peril,
Mr. Grimm" said Campbell imprea.
eiyely, at last. ut had to come, OF
course, the United States and Eng.
land against large part Of Europe
and oil Of Central and South America,
II had 20 come, and yeti
lie broke eft abruptly, and picked
up the reoeiver Of his desk telephone.
"fhe White House, please" he 70
dNeated curtly, and then after n mo.
mont "lIollol Please aek tho preal,
dent n he viii receive Mr. Campbell
Immediately, Yes, Mr. Campbell Of
zoe Secret Service" There was a
lAuae. Mh urImm removed bis i'm.