The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1917-02-09
A BEARER OF
DISPATCHES
His DifficuIties'I In Reaching
His Destination.
By ALAN HINSDALE

out offered my services to the war
department Of Great Britain for secret
service. My reason for doing 30 was
that was travelling abroad and found
myself strapped In London, commune
cation with my native land, America,
having been cut of, and was unable
to get funds, will admit however.
that always had desire to try my
hand at secret service work.
My fitness to serve the British at
this time and In this field was that l
am an American and had an Ameri-
can passport.
/ made my offer through an official
in the office Of the foreign secretary
who knew something of my anteced-
ents and was In a position to vouch
for me. There was plenty OF work to
be done and plenty of would be work
men, but the main trouble with the
government was to know whom to
trust.
One day received a note from my
friend In the foreign office TO call upon
him in his Office in Downing street.
Upon my reporting to him he led me
TO one OF the chief men IN the foreign
department, who asked me number
of questions about myself with view
to establishing my trustworthiness. l
doubt If be. would have employed me
had 1t not been that | told him my
mother had been born In Canada and
lived there till she was twenty years
of age. That seemed to satisfy him
He knew the strong affection for the
British flag among those who have
been born and raised under 1t and
agreed that man would not be likely
TO turn traitor to a cause with which
his mother sympathized
When he had satisfied himself with
regard to my fitness for the work he
said 10 me:
we wish some one 10 take certain
important instructions to our ambassa-
dor at Athens. You are probably
aware that there are certain Balkan
nations for whose support both the en-
tente and the central allies are strug-
Cling. Greece Is one of these countries.
We desire to offer to the king of Greece
certain advantages for his support in
case we are victors in the great strug-
gle upon which we are entering. If
knowledge of what we offer should fall
into the hands of the Teutons 1t would
give them certain intentions of ours
which they would at once endeavor to
forestall London, every route TO
Greece and the capital of that country
is beset with spies. We are not sure
but that we have them right here
among our clerks in the government Of
fees You are liable to be watched,
waylaid. possibly murdered on the
way"
The commission was given me, and
accepted It Had there been no risk at
tending it / should not have been in
terested in It. / was handed two pack
ages, the one somewhat bulky, inclosed
In an official envelope and bearing the
official seal; the other simple letter,
evidently written on thin paper.
How the spies got ON to the fact that
q communication was to leave the for
eign office and / was to carry It was
and Is mystery to me. ! was told
that no one was employed to copy the
paper, which was written by the under
secretary himself. Nevertheless the
matter was known TO some one who In
formed the proper person outside, who
at once set in motion certain agencies
to get possession of the document
carried. or at least prevent my deliver
ing II.
AS to my route, 1t was uncertain |
might go all the way by sea, but there
was some danger of being subma rined.
/ could go through southern France
and Italy. bat IN the beginning Of the
war no one knew how the Italian cat
would jump. Italy did not join the
allies for a year after the beginning of
hostilities. resolved to go through
France to Marseflles, then determine
by what route 1 would continue my
journey.
had scarcely seated myself In the
train for Southampton proposed to
cross the channel from there to Eavre
than I noticed man in the same
as myself casting furtive
glances at me. ] surmised at once that /
he was aware of tho fact that was
what I was, bat believed that he would |
not have let mo see him observing me. |
bad I anything 30 fear from him per-
gpnally. It was much more probable !
that he was intending 30 draw my at
tention 10 himself while my real DAN
ger lurked elsewhere During the ride
opened my suit case and felt for the .
bulky document as though to MAIZE sure
L was there. He left the train at South
ampton. and did not see him again
ill I was on tho boat gteaming for the
French coast.
On reaching Havre. stood holding
my baggage, suit case. IN the crowd
of passengers waiting to leave the boat
tor the dock. Suddenly ] felt the suit /
ease wrenched from my hand. Turn
ing, looked for the person who bad
aiken Il, but saw no one near, Those
behind me were comparatively quiet
Convinced that my enemies plans for
making way with my baggage were
perfect, made no motion 10 recover
L It was doubtless passed from one
-