Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-06
THE MAN WITH THE CLUB FOOT
Bv
By VALENTINE WILLIAMS

ventive arrest. She would be in gaol (she
doesn't know it, but that His Majesty was
unwilling to put this affrNnt the Rach-
wtz family in their great affliction"
The Countess Rachwtz has nothing what
ever to do with me-" rather a foolish
lie, l thought to myself too late. as I was
in her house.
But Clubfoot remained quite unperturbed.
Il shall take you into nry confidence, my
dear sir" he said, ito show that l know
you to be stating untruth. The Countess,
on the contrary. Is. 10 use a vulgar phrase.
in 1t up to the neck. Thanks to the amaz-
ing imbecity of the Berlin police was
not Informed Of your brief stay at the Bend
ler-Strasse, even after they were called in
by the invalid American gentleman in the
matter Of your hasty flight when asked to
have your passport put in order. But we
are systematic, we Germans; We are pains
taking; and set about going through every
possible place that might afford you shelter.
In the course of my investigations
came across our mutual friend, Herr Kore
A perusal of his very busness-lke ledgers
showed me that the day following your
disappearance from the Esplanade he had
received $500 marks from a certain E.2
- all names in his books were in cipher
Under the influence of my winning per-
soma ity. Herr kore told me all he knew: I
pursued my Investigations and then discov-
cred what the asinine police had omitted to
tell me. namely, that on the date in ques-
tion an alleged American had made hurried
flight from the Countess Rachwitzs apart
ment In the Bendler-Strasse. An admiral BILE
fellow Max or Otto or some name like
that . anyhow, he was valet to Madame 8
invalid brother. was able to fill In all the
lacunae and I was thus enabled to draw UP
very strong case against your well-meaning
but singularly ill-advised hostess. BY this
time the lady had left Berlin for this charm
Ing old-world seat, and promptly took meas
ures to have her placed in preventive arrest
while tracked you down.
You got away again. Even Jupiter mods
you know my dear Captain Okewood and
I frankly admit overlooked the silver badge
which you had in your possession I must
compliment you also on your adroitness in
leaving us that false trail to Munich 1t took
me in to the extent that I dispatched an
emssary to hunt you down in that delight
full capital but. for myself l have a certain
flair in these matters, and I thought YOU
would sooner or later come to Bellevue You
will admit that I showed some perspicacity?"
You're wasting time with all this talk"
Clubtoot raised hand deprccatingly.
Il take a pride in my work." he observed
half-apol logetically. Then he added:
you must not forget that your pretty
Countess Is not an American. She is a Ger
man. She Is also a widow You NAV not
know the relations that existed between her
and her late husband but they were not.
/ assure you, of such warmth that the Rach-
WITT family would unduly mourn her loss, Do
you suppose we care fig for all the AmerI-
can ambassadors that ever left the States?
My dear sir I observe that you are still
lamentably ignorant of the revolution that
war brings into international relations In
war, where the national interest is concerned
the individual is nothing. If he or she must
be removed, puff you snuff the offender out
Afterward you can always pay or apologize,
or do what Is required"
I listened In silence; l had no defense TO
offer in face of this deadly logic, the logic
OF the stronger man.
Clubfoot produced Il paper from his pocket
Read that" he said. tossing 1t over TO me
ut Is the summons for the Countess Rach
witz to appear before a court-martiaL Date
blank, you see. You needn't tear II IN
I've got several spare blank forms
- one for you, tool"
I felt my courage ebbing and my heart
turning to water. I handed him back his
paper in silence. The booming of a dinner
gong suddenly swelled into the stiffness of
the room, Clubfoot rose and rang the bell
Here's my offer, Okewood !" he said You
shall restore that letter to me In its integrity
and the Countess RaChwitz shall go free pro
vided she leaves this country and does not