The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-01-26
Has fiction helped to make fact.

, Has fiction helped to make facts
once moro? ~
Every reader of Rider Haggardss
books remembers that interesting
story. :'Mr Nelson's WILL" in which
a greatly needed will was tattooed on
a girls back. became the t~cstator,
wrecked on a. desert island. had no
paper on which to write An actual
episode has Just occurred in Germany
beside which Mr.. Nelson's case be-
comes commonplace.
Lieut.. johann Schorvcdor was a
bright and attractive young officer in
the German army. Unfortunately he
lacked money and the influence to
procure him advancement. He had a
strong taste for all the good things Of
life n very little opportunity. Of
gratifying it.
He was desperately in love with q
charming young girl named Ida Null
lerthal. but the German army rcgula.
tons say that a suhaltern officer may
not marry until he has. satisfied his
superiors that he has income enough
to keep Il wife. Schorvcdcr could not
do this. 49,
Debts pressed him on every side. /.
1t any wonder that he should have
yielded to temptation: -
Just at the critical moment the
tempter appeared. on the scene in the
shape OF a secret agent of the Russian
army seeking information about Ger.
man military plans. S~chorvcdcr hap.
pened to be stationed in Posen, the
capital OF German Poland. the coun.
try which would first be invaded by
Russia in casc Of Il war with Germany,
h Russian spy knew S~chorvedcr's
troubles and financial difficulties. and
that is Just why he approached him.
VIII DiI'a N.n1t Inn nnn rna~i
s2n.ooo) for the plans OF the forti1-
cations. of Posen.' said the Russian
tcmpter to the poor fellow.
S~chorNedcr hesitatcd. and that
meant that he was lost. He thought
over his difficulties. and that $4,000
a an irresistible lure.
Then tho. question was how to get
n plans away. lie knew that all tho
officers of the garrison were watch
It's strategic position. lie was an OBJ
!ert Of especial watrhfulne$s on ac-
count OF his known financial cmbar-
easements. 1t was not likely that he
could carry or send such ii thing as
a plan of the Qualifications out of the
province without lacins discovered
Discovery would mean death or life
Imprisonment.
In his pcrpleNity he confded in Ida
Mnllcrthal. and she agreed to do any
thing to help him, like a true woman
having no idea OF right or wrong be-
You'd her lords wishes.
Make the drawings. and | will car-
rN them to Russia myself" She sug-
gcstcd. -
You would probably be found out"
said Schorveder. "Thev know our re-
lations. and We are watched by the
government. Discovery would mean Il
long term of Imprisonment for YOU, or
even worse"
Then have it, cried Ida. You
shall tattoo th" plans on my skin. and
Will go to Russia with them. They
will discover them there
Schorveder agreed to his sweet
hearts fantastic scheme. That very
night he began picking out the details
of the Notifications of Posen upon her
fair skin with needles and indigo mix.
For days and weeks they labored.
and at last the work was finished.
IL was easy for Fraulein Mullerthal
to obtain a ticket for Russia. The Sc
.crct agent had notified the Russian
authorities that this had a
message for them. The Russian gem
eral in command at Warsaw received
her graciously.
Where are the plans" he asked,
after he had led her into Il remote and
secluded chamber of the fortress.
They are on. me-" stammcrcd the
blushing girl
Produce them" said the general.
Immediately.
shirtwaist a little. Here they are"
she murmurcd.
Then the puzzled general realized