The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-10-23
How She
Was Bribed
By PAUL WHITCOMB


for the United States government to
send to the American representative
there document of great Importance.
There We're Mexican spies in those
days who were attempting to thwart
the efforts of the Washington govern
ment and who worked very adroitly.
They had their confederates In the de-
partments who posted them as to what
was taking place.
Paul Willard clerk in the state de-
partment, was intrusted with the docu-
ment and warned to guard it carefully
lest he be dispossessed of 1t. He was
a young man recently married and,
taking his dispatch home, told his wife
of his mission and asked her to pack
a suit case, the only baggage he in
tended to take with him.
Now, the Mexican secret service men
at Washington, knowing that Paul
Willard was a clerk in the office of the
secretary of state and had access to
secrets, had tempted his wife with
Jewels TO get Information through her.
She had not yielded, but, being shrewd,
had pretended to be half inclined to
consent. She said nothing to Paul
about having been sounded, but when
he told her of his mission she went
out on pretense of making a purchase
and told the person who had tried to
buy her that her husband would start
THE next morning for Mexico with an
fmnortant dispatch
Before going to bed that night she
asked TO see the document. which was
contained in an official envelope and
sealed with the seal of the United
States. She told him that it would be
wiser TO put it into a plain envelope
addressed TO an assumed name. lie
asked her TO do ii, and she took II into
another room for the purpose, bringing
II back relnclosed.
Willard next morning babe his wife
uoodby and started on his journey. AS
NAV be expected, he was watched by
the Mexican secret service employees,
who were intent on waylaying him,
but he took precautions always TO be
where there were others about him.
and they found no opportunity. Avery
pretty woman was sent on the trip.
which was made by sea, to fascinste
him, but Paul, besides being faithful
husband, was no fool, and he refused
10 be duped by her.
During the voyage his stateroom was
entered and his suit case examined.
But he had taken the dispatch and
placed II IN the breast pocket OF his
coat, where he could constantly feel its
bulk. Then the conspirators. feeling
sure that he carried It on his person.
made efforts 20 get him by himself 80
that they might get 1t into their posses
sion. on one occasion a man spoke en-
Enthusiastically OF phosphoreecent lights
at the stern OF the vessel. suggesting
that be 40 with him to see. No one was
there. and Willard declined TO 20. This
attempt put him on bis guard. and for
the rest Of the voyage he took care
never 20 he caught alone.
On arriving at Vera Cruz he took a
train for Mexico City. Being now In
the enemys country, he felt that be
was IN more danger. And he was. The
Mexicans were doing pretty much as
they pleased. and so long as Huerta's
men knew that Paul carried an impor-
tant document from the United States
government AZ was a fOregone cOnclu-
slon that be would be robbed Of H.
True enough. at the FIRST station az
which the train stopped several men
entered the car where Paul sat and
passed through II. evidently looking for
some one. on reaching him they took
him into the baggage car and had no
trouble IN finding the package IN his
pocket Then they permitted him 10 re
turn 20 his seat IN the car be had left
Paul was naturally very mach cast
down. He regretted that be bad a.
tempted 90 carry the document through
without protection. What puzzied him
was that any one could have E0t Wind
81 his going No one knew the sesrtt
except a. assistant secretary who hnd
given him the dispatch. Mr. Mniard
and himself surely the department
must - fuil % sTsies.
on reading Mexieo Cliv BE- det-r-
mined 70 r. % she United States en-
bassy and repart BE loss He uas
hooking Tor q cab when = velied lsdy
ssffinr On enc bseckuued - him 90 go
a.. Al frst b. refused. then. renern
i.e-lrr thst hnsiuE last his disTstdh.
further pTecnufign wHs Unnecessary
sbd not seeinF Smother csb Ht Ms dis-
gsgsel he ruilserte-d
where o. rsu wish ts roY~ nske<
tie lafT 81 Eustsh. ar wlfh q suan-
tst anF~rt
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