The Washington times., 1918-08-04
BERNSTORFF'S.
AGENTS BURN.
WAREHOUSES;.
IN NEW YORK.
Episode XIV.
Campaign Against Cotton

The story Of fhe Imperial Gernua1
Governments spies and plots in Amer
Aeo EoUeltsed By Courtney RyIey
Cooper, from foets furnished By WI
Hom J. FLYNN, recently rettred Chief Of
tie DATED States Secret Service.
: Bent upon discovering evidence OF
some other crime as a means of
bringing Heinric Won Lertz to the
bar OF Justice to expiate in part his
nendish attack upon the children OF
America by the scattering OF Infantile
paralysis germs, Dixie Mason fairly
haunted the spy.
1t was not many weeks before Dixie
became certain that another plot on
the part of imperial Germany against
America was in the planning or al
redy In progress. Numerous tele-
grams and mail messages began ~
arrive at the former offices Of Franz
Won Papen, where Won Lertz and Wolf
Won Igel made their headquarters, all
from one city in Mexico. Numerous
answers were sent and q great num-
Der Of messages to Southern cities in
the United States were dispatched
from the New York office.
Goes After Ev1denee.
Il am going South" she said one
day to Harrison Grant during one of
their numerous meetings for the pur=
pose of conference. 81 haven't much
to guide me after 1 get there, but
an satisfied of one thing, that what
ever the new plan or germany the
center of activity will be somewhere
below the Mason and Dixon line.
am half inclined to believe that IL
is another attack upon the cotton in
dustry, but what form II will take
this time Il beyond me. 1t is evident
that Germany is badly pressed for
cotton, but ] cannot think of any
feasible plan by which agents here
could hope to get any past the Brit
,ish blockade"
Z Neither can l." rejoined Grant,
'but there is this to remember. II
there was no cotton forthcoming
from this country the Allies would be
a. badly off through lack of IL as Is
Germany. II Germany could con-
ceive any plan for stopping the ship
ping of cotton from here she would
do So"
"Wait a minute" interrupted Dixie
excitedly. "Do you know of any way
in which il would be possible to de-
stroy the cotton in America? II there
is, the facts are suspicious All the
messages which Won LertZ or Won
Igel have sent, aside from those to
Mexico, have gone to important
growing or shipping centers for the
cotton industry"
'T believe you have hit II, Dixie"
declared, Grant "Only this morning
there are dispatches published from
New Orleans that the boil weevil. tne
deadliest enemy there is to growing
cotton, has made its appearance in
yRrfous isolated sections. II German
agents are engaged in scattering this
little insect throughout the South it
is time we knew il, for it would mean
the destruction OF this years crop,
which has not as yet been har-
vested"
Il start for the South tonight" :"
was Dixie's answer. why don't you
come also?"
1T may develop that may be OF
greater use right here in New York"
said Grant. AT the present time
there Is as dirty a little mess brewing
as ever resulted in good. Won Bern
storff is again in the grip OF his
greatest weakness and this time the
object of his infatuation is the beau
tiful wife of an INSCRIPTIONS Wall
street broker. The husband is anx-
fous to have his wife enter into closer
relations than a respectable woman
can, with the German ambassador. in
hopes that she can learn secrets from
him in regard TO German plans for
destruction of American property. so
that the advance tip can be employed
to advantage in the stock markets"
what a despicable wretch" burst
out Dixie, "but the wife--is she the
sort OF a woman who would lend her
self to such a scheme?'
No." answered Grant "but she has
been bullied so long by her hus-
band that she has very little resis-
tance left toward any of his schemes"
"WeIl, the best OF luck to you" said
Dixie. II will have to hurry to make
the train as II is"
Grants heart-prompted desire for