Evening star., 1916-09-24


narrow window OF the old Prison de
Ia Sante When he again faced the
officer there We're traces of tears in
his black eyes. He nodded his head.
THE woman" said he. slowly. The
woman"
Typical Career as Spy.
Costa was not much of spy. Not
enough of a spy to ever figure in in
ternational history. But his story is
interesting because it runs SO abso-
1utely true to spy pattern.
He became spy for the reasons that
impei most other spies. He was trap
ped by another spy, as most other
most other spies do-he betrayed his
associates. as all other spies do when
they are trapped.
His tale might serve as a permanent
model for the writer's of spy litera-
ture. 1t is bit grubby and soiled
in places perhaps. but that must be
expected in a story of spies.
A year ago the French authorities
began to suspect that some one was
senuing out some fairly good infor-
nation about what was going on in
Paris. They are used to spies here,
of course Every one of the allied
cities reeks with them. The Germans
are rather proud of their spy system.
II
about finding out who this successful
spy might be no one knows. but it is
permissible to guess. They put a spy
on the spy's trail. 1t was not hard to
of the centers of German espionage
themselves
Through Switzerland the word
came in the end. He is a CONNER
ctal man..
Search Not Difficult.
So the spies began to watch the
Swiss gates. Many a commercial man
has undoubtedly thanked the good
this pleasant traveller or that pretty
girl
After all, the search was not as diff
hcult as it would seem to be. 1t was
narrowed down to those who visited
Switzerland from France often.
One of these regular travellers wa.
Constantin Condonyannis. who dealt in
sponges. Thirty-eight years old. alert
erect. fond of glass and good story
every one liked him. The train guards
knew him well for the good cigars he
carried
One of them spoke to him one day:
DO you speak English?" he asked
Because there is an English girl in
trouble in the next compartment"
She was blue eyed, pretty. and young
l.
TO take care of herself under ordinary
conditions.
These conditions were not ordinary.
She had lost her papers and she feared
she could not pass the frontier.
The remainder of the episode is urin
teresting, except that Constantin fell
In love with her. They were to have
been married some time this month
and settle down in Paris.
Constantin said he might have to
travel a good deal. but after the wal
his business would be better. He ha6
an Office at 11S Boulevard Haussmann
but he only visited it nowadays to ge
his mail
II have found something better Will,
the war lasts said he.
Reveals His Secret.
Eventually. of course, he told what tn,
something better was. After years spen
in making money and spending it, in ev
cry quarter Of the globe, he had settled
down in Paris just before the war.
When he found himself ruined he di,
not take kindly to the hand to- moutf
busting OF his earlier years He hat
become accustomed to good hotels ane
good dinners and vintage wines.
But It DID not occur to him to become
spy until he went broke in Berlin. H,
almost starved there.
The one thing he did not sell was hi
best suit of clothes. II helped him t.
make connection with the Wilhelmstrasse
where such talents as his are appreciated
60 TO Antwerp" he was told, land re
port yourself to Mime. Doktor.'.
That, of course, Is a nom de guerre
mime Doktor' is the head of on
branch of the German spy system. Blu
where else except In the dosier Of Costa
case as NINE. Doktor.''
Her next door neighbor in Antwerp ma.
think her as pleasant little old lad,
,HrS4 h Iucirr for
widow mourning her husband killed II
the war No one here knows who Nine
Doktor is. except the secret service Off
GERS charged with finding out more abou
her than Costa told.
Sent to Paris as Spy.
Mime. Doktor gave him 1000 franc
and sent him to Paris. with the usua
instructions to report the movement 0
troops and boats and the state of popu
lar feeling, and any other odds an
ends of information he came across.
At first he was high in favor with tn
woman chief Of spies. He furnished he
some excellent Information. Later h
began to get timid. although the Gel
man government had seen to II that h
was furnished with papers of identit
which gained him admission almos
everywhere.
You are afraid" said Nine. Doktol
Bring me more information Or"
Mime. Doktor smiled. There wa
something in that smile that alarme
Costa. Spies fear many things. becaus
SO many things happen to spies. H
promised to do more to take NOR
chances-to get about in forbidden ter
ritory.
1t was on his return to France that h
met the pretty little English girl. TIL
rest of the story unIolls itself on con
ventional lines.
He even fought the guards ths
wakened him at o'clock in the morn
ing 20 stand before the rifles at Win
cennes. He tried to curl up his toes, s
they could not get his shoes on, an
struggled to keep them from thrustin
him into his coat-anything to gain on
little sordfd hour of life.
Spies usually do. they say. They sci
dom die we'll But In the end he brace
up. even to giving the firing squad tn
word.
As he stepped out of the fourgon-
the wagon that haals the condemned I
tho place where they are to meet deaf
-he turned to the priest who had bee
muttering rapid prayers in his ear.
Eendarme heard him speak:
Now" said Constantin Condonyan
nfg. Il know why she wept SO whom sh
satd goodbye"