Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1919-02-19

X
4;
Il (Copyright, 1917, Western Newspaper Union
|| Group 81 was apportioned TO me
as ms special charge, and l saw the
4 other man In the Office regard me as If
I possessed a new sense of Importance,
Interest, PITY knew not which--as
III was handed an envelope containing
d detailed Instructions.
q You must know that the junCture
q had arrived In the affairs of the gov
eminent when excise, smuggling, coun-
te.feiting ever were relegated to the
rear for the time being. Treason
seemed to snap In the air at every
i 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
4 traced down. and of what secret work
was really doing to undermine the
home integrity of the loyal ones.
had Joined the secret service be-
cause abruptly the within, prejudice or
perversity of Arson McLeigh had
thrown me squarely upon my own re-
with Edna Warren, "only stenogra-
pher." Uncle Arson referred to the
fact just once. Drop the girl, or me-"
Il shall marry Miss Warren some
day. l told him firmly. AS firmly he
ordered me never 10 darken his door
way again.
I fancy Uncle Arson did not miss
NE much. The great foundry plant he
owned had been turned to an immense
profit in making munitions, and he
was hide-bound money-grabber. 1t
was new business to me, and at the
start the pay was that of novice.
As, however, was graduated into
aore important work than running
down mail complaints, l became inter-
eSted In my task. For over a month
1 had been attending secrec meetings
OIL 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 names, some barges blown up and
three large steel plants. There seemed
\ 70 De 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 ii. Their leader was man
named Brosul. He had been an ex-
pert blast furnace worker and was not
cltizen, and for over year had
spent most of his time In saloons fire.
quehted by lew-down foreign ele-
meht Opening nay instructions, /
iouhd a number and knew that there
was some record of him / was to con-
sui at the Identification bureau.
An odd character had charge of that
department, an old man named Dur
hea- He was absorbed in his work
run morning until night, and WIS
neu as one of the best-posted men
49,, nH me As gave him my instrRc-
.,oh number his hand moved as If me-
eH"'i'caiiy In the direction of one box
among the thousands in a cabinet COW
srihs one whole side of the room. He
urew out a picture and handed It to
me On its back was written in ink
sie criminal record of the man-bur-
s'ary' arson, manslaughter.
when you nail Brosul" observed
..u purkea, "if you nail him. see to II
or, nave chance to Interview him.
Ihey say redhot pincers cannot in
nuence him to speak one incriminat-
ing word" 1 said.
lh make him speak. Once" and
= retrospective look came into Dur
~ eyes Il was a travelling mounte-
M. you wise fellows would call it.
w. w. 50. made speciality of hypno-
u asm when public exhibitions of such
,oa new Very well. then. OF all sub
~ hired, the one most impressible
was this Brosul. If it comes to what
yOuP MN here' VIII
Yes, if I can ever find enough
asainst him to warrant an arrest /
A y, $50 far he has been the
Shckest of the crowd"
), made up for typical representa-
i'h OF the idown-and-out man. and ate