The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1918-02-08

(Copyright, 1917. Western Newspaper onAon'S
Group 81 was apportioned to me
as my special charge, and ! saw the
other man In the Office regard me as II
possessed a new sense Of Importance,
Interest, PITY knew not whlch-as
/ was handed an envelope containing
detailed instructions.
You must know that the Juncture
had arrived in the affairs or the gov
eminent when excise, smuggling, coun-
terfeiting ever were relegated to the
rear for the time being. treason
seemed to snap in the air ut every
turn: the public never knew OF the
tons of seditious literature suppressed
and destroyed, Of the marked men
warned to get out, who got out, OF the
hidden ornaments and explosives
traced down, and Of what secret WORK
was really doing to undermine the
home integrity of the loyal ones.
I had Joined the secret service BE-
cause abruptly the within, prejudice or
peryersity Of Arson McLeigh had
thrown me squarely upon my own re-
sources. Briefly, had fallen In love
with Edna Warren, "only stenogra-
pher." Uncle Arson referred to the
fact Just once. drop the girl, or me.
~ shall marry Miss Warren some
day." I told him firmly. AS firmly ne
ordered me never to darken his door,
way again.
/ fancy Uncle Arson did not miss
me much. The great foundry plant ne
owned had been turned to an immense
profit in making munitions. and ne
was hide-bound money-graDDer. II
Was new business to me, and ut the
start the pay was that OF novice.
AS, however, was graduated INTO
more important work than running
down mail complaints, became inter-
ested in my task. For over month
/ had been attending secret meetings
of certain clubs where 1t was suspect
ed the sympathies of the crowd were
with enemies to the country.
Two shops had mysteriously gone up
In flames, some barges blown up ana
three large steel plants. There seemed
to be some system to these doings OF
the vandals. 1t was decided that some
twenty different groups" in as many
locations should be placed under strict
surveillance. I knew something about
Group 81. Their leader was man
named Brosul. He had been an eX-
pert blast furnace worker and was not
q citizen, and for over year had
spent most Of his time in saloons RE
uuented by a low-down foreign ele-
ment. Opening my instructions, l
found a number and knew that there
was some record of him / was to con-
suit at the Identification bureau.
An odd character had charge of that
department, an old man named Dur
ken. He was absorbed in his work
from morning until night, and was
famed as one of the best-posted men
In his line AS gave him my instruc-
ton number, his hand moved as If me-
chanically in the direction OF one box
among the thousands in cabinet COW
ering one whole side of the room. he
drew out a picture and handed 1t TO
me, On It's back was written in ink
the criminal record of the man-bur-
glary, arson, manslaughter.
"When you nail Brosul," observed
old Durkea, "if you nail him, see to 1t
that have a chance to interview him"
"They say redhot pincers cannot in
Auence him to speak one incriminat-
ing word" 1 said.
"TH make him speak. Once" and
a retrospective look came into Dur
kea's eyes. 81 was travelling mounte-
bank, you wise fellows would call it.
Not so. l made a speciality of hypno-
tism when public exhibitions of such
were new. Very well, then. OF all sub
jects / hired, the one most impressible
was this Brosul. If it comes to what
he might tell, land him here, will
your"
ayes, If 1 can ever find enough
against him to warrant an arrest"
agreed. $50 far he has been the
slickest of the crowd"
l made up for a typical representa-
tion of the down-and-out man, and ate
free lunch in the saloons which Brosul
and his cohorts favored as meeting
places. Trailing him to his possible
den of refuge, / was completely baf-
fed. Brosul made turns and windings
and false leads that threw me COM
pletely off the trail; but the fourth
night / landed him, and the next af-
ternoon prepared to find out why he
had chosen a top room in an old, half
occupIed factory building as his place
of shelter.
I had managed to find hiding place
under a dark stairway covert and
planted myself there At one end Of