The Pinkerton Labor Spy. 15
The secret operative who is but a novice, and even the veteran, is essentially a workingman, and retains all the characteristics of one. The new operative may make mistakes by being officious, over-zesJous or lazy, while the veteran is likely to commit a blunder by being careless or over-confident. Both are apt to say or do something, at any time, which might endanger the success of the operation, and entail the loss of a valuable client.
A secret operative must be on terms of friendship and confidence with his fellow-employees, in order to obtain the information desired. He must act naturally in all things, so that his comrades will see in him a fellow-workingman with common likes and dislikes, and a trustworthy brother whose hopes and interests are identical with their own.
Occasionally the Agency is fortunate enough to secure the services of a secret operative who is a model ; but the average operative is a positive trial from the day he enters the service until he resigns or is discharged. He is always doing something foolish or imprudent, and is a constant source of anxietv to the Agency.
The chief trouble with the secret operative is, his disinclination to work at his trade, although his doing so is of paramount importance to the success of the operation, and wards off the danger of arousing suspicion as to his real identity. The operative's propensity to loaf is mainly due to the fact that he is not permitted to retain the fruit of his labor, which is credited to the client, but must be content with the salary he receives from the Agency and the extra allowance from the client to cover his living and other expenses.
It also happens that a secret operative, in his fear of detection, particularly while working against a union, impersonates the union agitator and trouble-breeder so very naturally that the client becomes alarmed and threatens to discontinue tfie work.