The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-02-05

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Copyright. 1917. Western NewspapeT Uniea,l
Group 81 was apportioned to me
as my special charge. and I saw the
other man in the Office regard me as Il
l possessed new sense Of importance,
Interest, PITY knew not which-as
l was handed an envelope containing
detailed instructions. ~
You must know. that the iunctufe
had arrived In the affairs of the gov
eminent when excise, smuggling. ceun-
terfeiting ever were relegated to the
rear for the time being. Treason
seemed to snap in the air at 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
perverslty Of Arson McLeigh had
thrown me squarely upon my own re-
sources. Briefly. had fallen In love
with Edna Warren, "only stenogrs-
pher." Uncle Arson referred to the
fact just once. drop the girl, or me-"
81 shall marry Miss Warren some
day." 1 told him firmly. As firmly no
ordered me never to darken his door
way again. r
1 fancy Uncle Arson did not miss
me much. The great foundry plant be
owned had been turned to an immense
profit in making munitions, and he
was a hide-bound money-grabber. 1t
was new business to me, and ut the
start the pay was that Of a novice.
As, however. / was graduated into
more important work than running
down mail complaints, became inter
ested in my task. For over a 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 DIP
in flames, some barges blown up and
three large steel plants There seemed
to be some system to these doings OF
the vandals. It was decided thattsOCne
twenty different groups" in as many
locations should be placed under strict
surveillance. I knew something about
Group 81. Their leader was. g. man.
named Brosul. He had been an ex--
pert blast furnace worker and was not
a citizen, and for over q year had
spent most Of his time in saloons ire
quented by q low-down foreign eie-
ment. Opening my instructions. 1
found a number and knew that theirs
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
kea. He was absorbed In his work
from morning until night, and was
famed as one Of the best-posted men
h his his him him iis
ton number his hand moved as II me
chanically in the direction Of one boz
among the thousands In a cabinet COW
ering one whole side of the room. He
drew out picture and handed Il to
me. On its back was written In Ink
the criminal record Of the man-bur.
Slary, arson, manSlaughter. {
"When you nail Brosul." observed
old Durkea, IF you nail him, see to it
that have a chance to interview him."
''They say redhot pincers cannot In.
lueuce him TO speak one incriminat-
ing word" said. ss.
"I'll make him speak. Once" and
retrospective look came into Dur
kea's eyes. II was travelling mounte-
bank, you wise fellows would call 1t.
Not so. I made speciality of hypno-
tism when public exhibitions Of such
were new. Very well. then. OF all sub
iects hired, the one most impossible
was this Brosul. II II comes to what
he might tell, land him here, will
you?"
Eyes, If I can ever find enough
against him to warrant an arrest" l
agreed. $50 far he has been the
slickest of the crowd"
I made up for a typical represents
ton of the down-and-out man, and ats
free lunch in the saloons which Brosul
and his cohorts favored as meeting
places. Trailing him to his possible
den of refuge, I was completely baf-
fled Brosul made turns and windings
and false leads that threw me COM
pletely off the trail; but the fourth
night l landed him, and the. next .af-
ternoon I prepared to find out why he
had chosen a top room in an old, half
occupied factory building as his place
OF shelter.
l had managed to find a hiding place
under a dark stairway covert and
planted myself there At one end of
side corridor was q sink Rrosui
came out to get some water In a tin
pail. AS he was out of view for the
space of half minute / glided tn the
half-open door of his room. The one
entered was where he ate and slept.
Beyond it. guarded by heavy steel
door, just now ajar. was small dem
of place, with no ventilation except
small IL by IL window from which
the sash was missing. There was some
soft coal, hatchet and some kindling-
weed in corner. .tf&
The room partoOk Of the construe-
ton Of vault. In q measure. be-
lleved that upon his person or >secreted
IN his Gen this man had documents
plaus, some evidence that would in-
criminate him and his fellow plotters,
and be of value and assistance to the
government. lodged behind cur
tain that screened cot where Brosul
evidently slept. From there / watched
him.
Brosul did some puzzling and inter
esting things. He picked from a table
a tiny bow made Of thin whalebone and
strung with a strand Of fine wire. i
saw him put himself In range Of the
little window. He lifted out its sash.
About fifteen feet across narrow
court was a high warehouse. One OF
the windows on the top floor was open