Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1912-10-04
CHAPTER II.
Mr.. Campbell and the Gable.


Just as 1t Is one mans business to
manufacture watches, and another
mans business to peddle shoe-strings.
so II was Mr. Campbell's business to
know things. He was a human card
index. a governmental ready reference
posted to the minute and backed by
all the tremendous resources of a ma
ton. 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 On
abled him to keep firm hand on the
diplomatic and departmental pulse Of
Washington. Perhaps he came near
or knowing everything that happened
there than any other man living; and
he Just how little OF all OF II he did
know.
In person Mr.. Campbell was not UNI
like 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
Il; II consisted solely Of detail and
system and indefatigability, coupled
with memory that was well 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
cable despatch which lay before him.
II 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, a little above the
average height. with regular features
and listless, purposeless eyes a 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. aud word by word,
from the chaos OF II. translation
took Ineligible form upon sheet
of paper under his right hand. Mr..
Grimm. looking on. exhibited only a
most perfcnctory interest in the ex-
message he was reading;
he listless eyes narrowed a little, that
vas all II was a special despatch
rom Lisbon dated that morning. and
Iigned simply "Gault" Completely
translated II ran thus:
Secret offensive and defensive al
lance of the Latin against the Eng
ish-speaking nations Of the world is
planned Italy. France, Spain and
wo South American republics will
Ioon sign compact in Washington.
Proposition Just made to Portugal.
md may be accepted. Special en-
'oys now working in Mexico and Cen
raj and South America Germany in
'ited to join, but refuses as yet. CIV
nE, however. tacit support; attitude
4 Russia and Japan unknown to me.
Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi, believed
o be in Washington at present has
Ibsolute power to sign for Italy.
Trance and Spain. Profound secrecy
njoined and preserved. learned of
t by underground Shall inform our
ninister7 Cable instructions"
$50 muchl" commented MIR. Camp
,ell.
He clasped his hands behind his
lead. lay back in his chair and sat
or a long time, staring with steadfast
thoughtful eyes into the lmpassive
ace Of his subordinate. Mr.. Grimm