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During all this time Webster was gathering information from every quarter concerning the secret plots and movements of the disloyal citizens, and promptly conveying it to me, and for this purpose he made frequent trips to Washington for verbal instructions, and to report in person the success of his operations.
Sometimes he would be accompanied by one or more of his intimate associates, and these occasions were not without profit, for when thus accompanied, although necessarily prevented from reaching my office, he was enabled to increase his acquaintance with the traitorous element of Washington, and finally was enabled to unmask several guilty ones whose loyalty had never been impeached or suspected.
Once, on returning to Baltimore, after a longer absence than usual, his friends greeted him warmly.
“ By Jove, Webster, we had begun to think you were in trouble,” one of them exclaimed.
“ No danger of that,” was the laughing response.
“I have no intention of being trapped before I fulfill my mission.
I have some valuable work to do for the Southern Confederacy before the Yankees can get the upper hand of me.”
They were in a saloon — a favorite rendezvous of these men-and Webster was in the midst of his crowd.
He was telling them about some imaginary “points” which he had picked up in Washington, and assuring them he would in some manner transmit the information
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