Daily Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1918-191?, 1918-04-12
'',|Croup 81"
I: =
q: BY Joseph.s Eksns Asdenoa
scspyrishI i,ii. western Nsvspspsr Usios.


Group 81 was apportioned to M
rs my special charge, and l saw tn
other man In the ONCE regard me rs [
I possessed a new sense Of Importance
Interest. pity-I knew not which,
I was handed an envelope containing
detailed instructions.
You must know that the junctur'
had arrived In the Affairs Of the gov
eminent when excise. smuggling, coun
terfclting ever were relegated to th'
rear for the time being. Treason
sevused to snap 10 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
wns really doing to undermine the
home integrity Of the loyal ones.
had Joined the secret service be-
cnuse 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 a stenogra-
pher." Uncle Arson referred TO the
fact Just once. drop the girl. or me-"
81 shall marry Miss Warren some
day." I told him firmly. As firmly he
ordered me never TO darken his door
way again.
I fancy Uncle Arson did not miss
me much. The great foundry plant he
,vned had been turned 10 an immense
,,rofit in making munitions, and he
sas a hlde-bound money-grabber. II
vas new business TO me, and at The
start the pay was that Of a novice.
As. however | was graduated into
laNre important work than running
Town mall complaints. became inter
ssted In my task. For over a month
{ had been attending secret meetings
)f certain clubs where II was suspect
d the sympathies OF the crowd were
with enemies to the country.
Two shops had mysteriously gone up
q flames, some barges blown up and
.hree large steel plants. There seemed
20 be some system to these doings OF
The vandals. II was decided that some
twenty different groups" In as many
locations should be placed under strict
surveillance. ] knew something about
Group 81. Their leader was a man
named Brosul. He had been an ex-
pert blnst furnace worker and was not
4 citizen. and for over q year had
spent most Of his time In saloons fire.
,uented by iow-down foreign ele-
nent. Opening my instructions. l
found a number aud knew that there
was some record Of him I was 10 con-
-1lt nj the Identification bureau.
An odd character had charge qf that
department. an old man named Dur.
kea. He was absorbed In his work
from morning until night, and was
famed rs one Of the best-posted men
in his line. As I gave him my instruc-
ton number, his hand moved as II me
.hanicnlly In the direction OF one box
smong the thousands In a cabinet COW
erfne one whole side OF the room. he
1rew OUT a picture ana handed II 10
me- On It's paek was written In INK
the criminal record OF the man-our-
gary. arson manslaushter'
when you nail Brosul," observed
old Durkea' III you nall him. see TO II
that have chance to Interview him"
They say redhot pineers cannot In
nuence him TO speak one incriminat-
ing word. ! said.
"Tll make him speak. Once" and
q retrospective look came into Dur
kea's eyes. u was a travelling mounte'
bank. you wise fellows would call II.
Not 80. I made speciality Of hypno-
tism when public exhibitions OF such
were new. Very well, then. OF all sub
1ects hired. the one most impressibi'
was this Brosui. III II comes TO "hnl
he might tell. land him here, VII
your"
"Yes, II ! can ever mud enough
/. a.laas hin. n "