The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-12-09


found Dicky' fat and bursting
with health in his quarters at the
internment camp. He only knew
that Francis had disappeared. When
I told him of my meeting with Red
Tabs at the Bath Club. OF the lat
ter's words to me at parting. ana
OF my own conviction in the matter,
he whistied. then look grave.
He went straight to the point IN
his blunf, direct way.
II am going to tell you a story
FIRST, Desmond" he said to me. then
I'll show you q piece OF paper
Whether the two together Mt in
with your theory as to poor Francis
disappearance will be for you TO
Judge. Until now-I must confess
II had felt Inclined TO dismiss the
/. only reference this document ap-
pears to make to your brother as
a mere coincidence in names. but
what you. have told me makes
things inteFesting-by Jove. IL does,
though. Well. here's the yarn hrst
of all. So
Your brother and have had
dealings in the past with Dutch
man in the motor business al
Nymwegen. name of van Urutius.
He has often been over to see US at
Coventry in the old days and
Francis has stayed with him at
NymveEen once or twice on his
way back from Germany-Nym-
weKen. you know, Is close to the
German frontier. Old Urutius has
been very decent to me since I have
been in Eaol here and has been
several times. generally with box
or two of those nice Dutch cigars"
'Dicky." I broke in on him, get
on with the story. What the devils
all this Eotisto do with Francis:
The document
- STEADY; my boy was the imper-
turbabIe reply, '1et me spin my
yarn my own way I'm coming to
the piece OF paper
@we1I. then. old Urutius came to
see me ten days ago. All I knew
about Francis had told him.
namely. that Francis had entered
the army and was missing. 1t was
no business OF the old Mynheer IL
Francis was in the Intelligence, so
/ didn't tell him that Van U. Is a
stanch friend of the English. but
you, nsU the. saying that II q man
doesn't Know he can't split
; NY, old Dutch pal, then. turned
up here ten days ago. He was bub-
bling over with excitement Mr.
AIIerton,' he says, I hat had writ
ing. a most mysterious writings
writing, I fink, from Francis Oke-
wood
: At sat tight. II there were any
revelations coming they were to be
Dutch. not British. On that was
resolved.
az haf received the old Dutch
man went on. from Gairemany q
parcel OF metal shields, plates
what you call 'em-of tin, helm.
What / haf to advertise my busi-
ness. They arrife las week.
open the parcel myself and on the
top Is the envelope with the in
voice
.'Mynheer paused: he has a good
sense of the dramatic.
well I said. did it bite you
or say ''Gott strafe England or
what?
Van Urutius ignored my Zip
pancy and resumed. I open the
envelope and there in the invoice I
find this writing-here"
And here. said Dicky. diving
into his pocket, sis the writing""
And he thrust into my eagerly
outstretched hand a very thin half
sheet OF foreign note paper you
get in cafes on the Continent when
you ask for writing materials.
Three lines OF German, written In
fluent German characters in purple
ink beneath the name and address
Of Mynheer van Urutius that
was all.
NV heart sank with disappoint-
r,ont and xyretchednesS as l read
the inscription.
Here Is the document:
Heern wiIIem van Urutius,
Acknowledgements,
Nymwegen.
Alexander-Straat 81 bis
Berlin, Item JUL. 16.
O Eichenholz! o Eichenholz!
VIE Ieer sind define Blatter.
VIE Achilles in dem Zelte.
wo Zweie SIGH zanken
Erfreut sich der Dritte.
CTranslation)
Mr.. wiIIem van UrutiuA
A'.'o-oobile Agent
Nymvegen.
d bis Aexander-Straat.
Berlin. LIST July, Is.
O oak-tree. o Oak-tree!
How empty are thy leaves.
Like Achilles in the tent.
When two people fall out
The third party rejoices.
I stared at this nonsensical doc
ument in silence. My thoughts were
almost too bitter for words.
At last ] spoke.
whats all this rigmarole got to
do with Francis, Dicky?" l asked,
vainly trying to suppress the Bit
terness in my voice. This looks
like a list of copybook maxims for
your Dutch friends advertisement
cards"
But returned to the study of
the piece OF paper.
Not so fast. old bird" Dicky re-
piled cooIly, "let me finish my
story. Old Stick-in-the-mud Is a
lot shreWder than we think.
when read the writing he
told me. L think he Is all robbish,
but then | ask myself, who shall
put rObbish in my invoices? And
then | read the writing again and
once again and then l see he II =
measare'