Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-03-27
THERE ARE NO MYSTERIES
By WILLIAM J. BURNS.

their employ. he did not recognize tn.
writing.
All this took place in the presence OF
the manager OF the company. thank
ed h chief operator for his kindness
IN going over the matter, and we botf
lelt the presence of the manager, who
expressed his regret that he was no,
aple to locate the writer.
Cutslde the managers office, l turn
su 10 the chief operator and assured
MIN that had not been deceived by his
statement that he did not know the
IDENTITY of the writer. 7 told him tina,
he did know. ana that 1 knew he did
Al this positive statement the chief
operator appeared very much aba shed,
ana promptly admitted that he did
KNOW the writer out that he did not
care to involve the man in so serious
a matter.
After some persuasion. he agreed To
introduce me to the writer when he
reported for work that evening. AS vou
can imagine. did not propose to sleep
on the Job, so kept that particular of
ice under surveillance until the man
was located.
then wired Chief Wilke that I had
my man. and asked for Instructions as
10 "hat should do with him. suppos-
ing: OF course, that he would be ar
rested for improper use OF the mails
You may imagine my surprise when /
received q telegram from the Chief
stating that Lord P~auncefote did not
ueslre TO prosecute. and asking me to
turn the nan loose. The man. how
Yer. had not been placed under arrest.
The Ambassador had lost interest in
.iie inatter as soon as he found that
ms NE wasn't in danger. and wanted
ohiS 10 know how the wonderful mys-
tey was %unraVeled.
what do you want to do with him ?"
the Ambassador vas asked.
10 with him!" exclaimed his lord
him." u" VIII"
YOU want him prosecuted?',
on. no." said his lordship. But Z
am intensely. interested to know how
they found him"
On receiving this information. Z
pao!nptly directed the man to write a
letter of apology to the Ambassador.
and dropped the case.
Government Secrets for Sale.
Une OF the most interesting and
important anonymous letters I've ever
come across was written just after the
war. 1t was in that
PERIOD When 1t was still undetermined
what standing a person living in Cuba
aad as a citizen of the United States.
"A man oy the name of Nicely had been
placed by the United States in charge
of the postal department of Cuba. had
1T OF severe hundred thousand
dollars, had been arrested and his case
was then pending.
me department of justice was called
upon by the war department. which
was prosecuting the Nicely case, to de-
the strong and weak points of
the governments side. and the matter
vas placed In the hands of James NJ.
Beck, then the chief assistant to the
attorney general. who looked it up and
wrote a very able brief. Just how
that brief would have been to |
attorney, you can imagine.
And. one day. Neely's attorney. who
was a prominent New York lawyer, |
an anonymous letter asking |
II ne would care to have a CODY of the |
nrief; the price named was $1,000. He |
called up the attorney gen.
erais office and told them of his let |
ter. The office was thrown into a
panic. 1t meant that some person in |
lnelr employ. or in the insular division |
OF the war department. was ready to |
sell the secrets of the government.
Inc department of justice imme- |
llately got into touch with the war de- |
partment. and. after a conferences. the /
was referred to Chief Wilkie of
the secret service division. was then |
wired to come in. Secretary of War |
had told Chief Wilkie that he |
would set aside $50, 200, to run the mat |
ter to a successful conclusions: thai he |
wanted to get the faithless employe in
the war department or whatever de- !
partment he might be in.
Watching the Postoffce.
We arranged a reply to the anony-
York attorney. had it mailed to the
delivery at Washington, ID. c.,
according to the writer's Instructions. |
then took up a watch on the general
delivery.
The following morning, about 9
o'clock. a short. stocky. smooth-faced
nan came to the p%ostoffice, walked in |
tapped his mail box. took out
! letter. and then. while apparently
'eadlng 1T, glanced around, sizing up
situation. MY mani" thought /.
The fellow walked out OF the post. |
9ffice. still reading his letter. and went
the street about 40 yards. Then
turned. re-entered the p~ostoffice,
md walked up and down the corridor |
until he had satisfied himself that |
verifying was all right. Then, at last,
ne went up to the general delivery |
Ind for the letter under the as !
sumed name given in the anonymous |
He put 1T in his pocket. went to the |
door. and again looked about careless |
~. but closely, to gee If he was being |
He walked out, ooked up
ana down. went down the street a
block. turned back again. and started
on. BY this time he was satisfied that
he was not being Swallowed.
He tore h letter epen-it was one
of acceptance-and, tearing up the Ell
velop, scattered the pieces in the street.
After he read the letter he put it in
his pocket. walked down Pennsylvania
to Fifteenth street, apd up
street to Pennsylvania ave-
When he turned toward the war
1t was plain where he was
bound for.
He hurried along, and. as he reached
the door of the var department, he
stopped. turned, and looked about
carefully to see whether he had been
followed. He evidently far nA.eooAl,,