The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1913-04-04
The Eye of the
Government
By RYLAND BELL

ing through their domains. Not that
tourists are today ignored, but the
methods are not now so obtrusive as
they were then.
In 1862 William Starkweather Of AL
bany, N. Y, while in Berlin was fol-
lowed about by a man who was I'M
dOubtedly spy of the government.
Ten years later he had occasion to
again visit Berlin. He remembered his
previous experience and wondered If
it would be repeated. He saw nothing,
however, to excite his suspicious till he
was leaving the city. He stepped into
a compartment of a coach-each COM
partment was separated from the 9TH
ers at that time-in which there was
no other passenger. Just before the
train started a one eyed man carrying
a valise entered the compartment and
as he did so eyed Mr.. Starkweather
sharply.
Here he is thought the American.
He has but one eye, but for spying
purposes it is quite as good as two"
The man took seat as far away
from Starkweather as possible, and in
stead Of putting his valise in the rack
overhead placed it in the seat beside
him.
Starkweather reached a satchel from
the rack, took out book and began to
read. He had perused several pages
when, looking aside, he saw the single
eye-the eye of the government he
called it-looking at him.
AS Starkweather looked up the man
put his hand on the valise beside
him, and, since his expression indicat-
ed that he was ready to fight if neces-
sary, the American thought that he
was intending to open the valise and
take out brace of pistols. Stark
weather, who kept what money he
had with him in his right hip pocket,
involuntarily put his hand there. The
man started and put his own hand to
his hip, keeping that single eye of his
on his fellow passenger. Starkweath-
er, inferring that the man supposed
he had reached for a pistol, withdrew
his hand in way to avoid, so far as
possible. giving that appearance. New
ertheless he dreaded lest the man, ex-
pecting that he would draw weapon,
should do so quicker than he and send
bullet crashing through his brain.
However, when the other saw his emp
ty hand he, too, withdrew his own and
without anything in it.
By this time Starkweather, being
alone in a compartment with man
whom he believed had been sent by
the police to watch him and shoot him
down if he attempted to play any des-
perate game, considered it quite time
to disabuse his antagonist of his sup
position as to his character. Fortu-
nately he spoke German very well and
/ thus addressed the one eyed man in
that language:
Since you seem to be interested in
me, sir, l take it that you think me q
revolutionist. l assure you that have
no interest in this country whatever.
am citizen of the city of Albany, in
the state of New York, In the United
! States of America. l beg you, there
+ fore, to cease your attentions and let
me alone"
This brief speech seemed to have a
contrary effect on the one eyed man
! to what was expected. He glared at
i Starkweather, clutching his valise In
one hand. while he kept the other un-
| der his coat in the region of his hip
When Starkweather had finished he
made no reply, but looked about ap-
parently for some means Of stopping
the train. Starkweather lost patience
/ with the fellow and, forgetting to
speak In German, blurted out in first
rate American:
! what in thunder is the matter with
you?" =
What in thunder is the matter with
you?" was the reply in the same Ian.
i guage.
You understand English?"
."Of course do. | don't understand
anything else"
"Not what l said to you just now IN
German?"
mo Who are you?"
Pm William Starkweather Of Al
bany, N. Y. U. S. A"
"Then you know me and have my Sc
cret."
II don't know you, and neither nave
nor wish to have your secret
'T'm from Albany myself-145 6
street. / live around the corner from
you. suppose you learned Of my mis-
sion there and have followed me to get
the securities"
what securities?"
"That I'm taking home for the state
government"
Starkweather burst into laugh.
what are you grinning at?' inquired
the other.
do you know I've been taking you
for spy Of the Prussian government
who suspected me of being revolu
ionist?'
"Why did you think that?''
"You looked at me when you entered
the coach as if you had spotted me-"
81 didn't like riding In a compart
ment with one other man, having 500.
900 in bonds in my valise."
"Oh. that's the explanation. Is it
What's your name?