The Harrison times., 1914-11-07
Copyright, 1914, by the Wheeler Syndicate, Inc)

far they have progressed, and how
far they are prepared to go in this
Balkan affair, If you cannot get In
Belgrade the desired Information
and absolute accuracy Is imperative
60 to the Bulgarian capital, But-and
this is important--no time must be
lost-not an hour. A definite insight
of the inner workings of the situation
must be in my hands at the earliest
possible moment-the very earliest
Here, indeed was task,
Understand" continued Won STAN
mer, you will have the assistance in
this case Of Austrian secret service
employees. But, as need not point
out to you, 1t is inadvisable to take
any Of them with you, as all the Aus
trian agents are known to the Rus
sian agents down In the Balkans.
suggest that you stop at Budapest and
get all connecting links Of possible
help to you. You will obtain these
from Kasimir Kowalsky an Austrian
agent whom you will find at Donau
strasse "a, BY the way do you know
him?"
/ said no.
Mission That Did Not Appeal
In this case" went on Won STAN
mer, 81 shall give instructions to facil'
itate matters. 1t Is necessary for you
to have passports, Have you any
reason to fear your previous mission
to the Balkans?"
He referred to an incident In 1908,
a week previous to the assassination
Of King Alexandra and Queen Draga
OF Servia--an incident | don't like to
think Of, for It landed me against a
blank wall looking into six ugly Maui
ser tubes
considered that there were only
two men In the Balkans who could
have placed me from that incident
One, Colonel Niglitch, was dead, lie
was slain at the time Of tho double
assassination the other was STAN
boulof, and he was no doubt moving
In the circles whore my mission
would take me. No was In no way
koen to undertake this mission, My
previous experience In the Balkans
had given mo a thorough dIstaste OF
tho people there. There Is no mix
ture OF races 80 dangerous, Based
on my experiences, nearly every man
there Ia for n small sum traitor and
potential assassin, ! had had a
taste Of Balkan methods, and ! didn't
want another,
Won Stammor must have noticed my
hesitation, for he grinned and saId'
Nervous about it?"
was, and frankly told him 80,
"Yos, understand your attitude
Besides, you have been on tho 20 for
quito several months and should have
rest, | beg Of you 10 consider
though that you are the only man we
have at our disposal who can zee this
thing through"
He then began to hint In such q
way that II became plain to me that
refusal on my part would not be at
all TO the liking of the Wilhelm ltrasse
Refusal would mean loss of favor and
with Il the choice Jobs As an added
lnducement, Won Stammer promised to
double the usual remuneration, Frank
ly, this was n point. considered that
the mission would not take mo over
three or four weeks and he had
agreed TO pay me $4,000 aside from
tho bonus always attached to success
ful and quick work.
Stll, ! wasn't sure that | wanted to
40, | knew there was the danger Of
recognition, and | knew the kind OF
hot headed people was going among
II was far more difficult far more hasi
ardous, than any mission | had ever
undertaken in England or France
oven the tremendous responsibilities
Of the affair IN the Black Forest car
ried with them none OF the personal
dangers that this did, Pressed for a
decision, requested some little time
to think things over Asking me to
telephone hls home before one o'clock
nj the latest and let him know what
| was going TO do, Won Stammer do
parted,
Matter Of Solitaire.
hope | am still u Christian, but
contact and intercourse with the
myetloIsm Of Africa ana India have
made mo superettloua, have a
curious habit at moment0ue times Of
indeeIaion Of taking two full packages
OF cards and playing Napoleon'B soil.
talre, II | get Il out once IN three
tlmea generally go Into the matter
In hand without aueatlon, II never
has failed me- Twice In my life
went against III twice had bitter
cause for regret
Well, | didn't give Won Stamef hls
decision on the moment because !
wanted to try the old tost Kim pro.
duood the cards and began 10 play,
got II out tho second time Going
TO the telephone, called Won STAN
mer and told him ! would undertake
tho mission lie asked me 10 come
NJ once 20 hla house, and there re.