The Dermott news., 1916-09-14
"Roping' the Smugglers of Jamaica

Copyright by W. G. Chapman

Special Agent Billy Gard sat In the cafe of Fun Ken. that wealthy Orien- tai who had pitched his resort among the ferns of the Blue mountains which look down upon Kingston. the capital city of the tropical and howery island of Jamaica Many drowsy afternoons had he spent here with orange juice and a siphon at his elbow and the best of Havauas in his teeth For Billy, in the opinion of every man he met in the islands. with the single eXception of the American consul. was retired manufacturer, with money to spend and time hanging heavily on his hands As a matter of fact. his table at the cafe was chosen because 1t gave him an opportunity to observe Fun Ken and his satellites. whom he suspected of being a part Of huge conspiracy for the smuggling of opium and Chinamen into the states.
 This afternoon he had thus silently gained a reatijrmation of his beltef that Fun Ken was q part of the or. Eanization with which Inc had already associated Nilmcr Peterson, whose ae- quaintauce he had been culuyating He had seen Peterson alight from the electric car that passed the door. The American had gone through the cafe and out at the back. .un Ken, who was at the time presiding at the cash. ier's desk. had immediately disap, Ieared Half an hour later Fun Ken was again on the cashiers stool and Peterson shortly thereafter returned to the cafe This occurrence had been witnessed for three days in succession by the special agent, who regarded il as a convincing indication of collision between these two men.
 or Peterson's operations, Card al ready had abeolute proof This he had gained at Port Antonio. the ship. ping pejHt for fruit at the other end of the island He had been sent 10 tho Caribbean because of the difficulty the United States Was having In pre- venting the smuggling of both opium and of Chinamon not legally entitled to enter the country
 It was suspected that Jamaica was tho base of operations fer these snug glcrs. and thr government wanted 10 understand ihe ease rom the inside.
 Card assumed tine rele of a retired glass HapstactHrer who had time 10 louuEe tb. winter away about tho southern seas For eve weeks he hai luHur.ated about the lI6tei fiteHts}a. in Port Antonio. and changed his clothes efteuar than auy Eaeli5hman in the place There he had noted the clumps of idle ChiUameu who made headqaarters near the wharf. and the occasional st,althy American who was particularly in evidence when there were freichtors in the harbor
 Gard soon became familiar figure about the hotel lobby and bar room. where he spent money freely. Like wise was his boat to be seen on the buy for many hours ot the day. for he made rowing his diversion.
 "nou't buy dri ks for that bunch. Mir Gard. Hogan. the bartender Ut the TitchHeld. admonished him They are nothing but a lot of smueglcrs
 This was his first lead. That night Gard rowed late on the bay, skirted q banana boat that lay tied to the wharf and scrambled up unseen to a side door of the customs house To this door he had key llo let himself iii. Whore the customs house faced the wharf were large double doors throush which freight might he taken directly to the boat tied thgre. Tho special agent unlocked these doors and made a crack just large enouah for obSerTa- tion and for eayesdropping, but still se small as not to attract attention rom the outside Here he waited from eight to eleven o'clock
 In the stiffness of this late hour the skipper of the banana boat and te- terron. the smurslor, held . confer euce
 ~I have room for ten men" said the skipper
 "I have the men ready to come aboard said the smuggler
 And the mouey?' suggested the man of the seas
 The cash is ready; SEQ for each man when he is slowed away You will land them at Mobile
 At Mobile" asscnted the captain.
 See me next trip at Kingston said the smugElcr T leave for that point in the morning
 Thus was gained the first peep into the methods of the smueslcrs Gard reported to the American consul who sent a message that would result in the seizure Of the banana boat when it reached Mobile,
 The special agent now had the thread ot his work well in hand His intentions were to get at the very bot tom Of the affair however. and not merely to uprrehend an individual like Peterson That gentleman should be induced 10 show tho way Peterson should be "ropcd That most effec- tive. vet most difficult task of work ing into the confidence of a culprit