The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-06-07

Saturday.
Chance, and chance alone, guided
the hand of the secret agent to the
letter. First, when it lay on the top
of the newly-deIivered pile; second,
when memory withheld his hand from
casting it to one side. The hand
writing was vaguely familiar to him
but as he poised the letter in his
hand he racked his brain in vain to
identify it. :
Without further thought, he insert
ed his. thin ivory opener under the
flap. The flap lifted easily and with
out tearing, Undoubtedly, 'Mr. Rolls
whistled softly in. surprised pleasure.
The usual policy of secret agents is
never to precipitate a climax by their
own efforts. They prefer to sit back
and permit their victims to bring the
climax on to themselves, following the
truism of that wel1-known old saw
to the effect that if you give a man
enough rope he will hang himself.
AIbert's Letter.
This occasion, however, was made to
''S~D
the only man-as far as can be ascer-
tained-who knew that some tremen-
dous significance lay behind DR.. AL
berts arrival in America. Once he
had heard the Ambassador speak of
Albert's ability both as a financier and
as a diplomat and that If the great
man should come to America it would
mean that Won Bernstorff would no
longer be hampered for want of funds.
Contrary to the general impression,
Won Bernstorff did not have enough
funds to carry out all of his plans and
he was constantly nettled by the i'm
plications of his own people in Amer
lea that he was grating"
Truly it was a situation made to or
der The secret agent decided upon
instant action. No one in the employ
of the Embassy could learn of DR.. AL
bert's arrival unless they knew him
personally and happened to meet the
fiscal agent in New York-a remote
possibility He was free to act as he
chose.
'Mr. Rolls" swept the mail into a
drawer, put DR.. Albert's letter to Count
Bernstorff in his pocket and stro1led
down the Embassy steps. He calmly
beckoned a taxi. At the Union sta.
ton he went into a telephone booth
In foreign language code he appriseG
his chief of his plan. The latter
approved it.
ga Blonde, Baby-faced Young Man
At a rendezvous in New York the
same evening, 'Mr. Rolls" was met b!
a blonde, baby-faced young chap, whC
greeted him in German as good as hi
own.
You're from the Embassy, yo1
know" 'Tdr. Rolls" explained. Albert
letter is sufficient to vouch for you
You'll find the personal card of on
of the secretaries in it. The Ambas
sador is away until Monday morning
but in any event would not see Dr.
Albert until late in week. In tn
meanwhile you are at his pleasure il
the way of apprising the AmTbassado
in advance concerning the full impor
of his mission"
There was nothing further in tn
way of instruction. The young blonde
baby-faced chap hurried to DR.. Al
berts hotel and sent up his card. Dr.
Albert's secretary came down and es
corted the young chap up.
Introductions to DR.. Albert and hi
staff followed. The agent spoke ia
HOW THE SECRETS
miliarly of His Ecellency, the Coun
gaining much-needed rest over tn
weekend in the mountains. tn
English were gaining ground in Amer
lea with their propaganda. The Faith
erland must strike some heavier blow
in order to offset it. Then, coul
: he speak with His Excellency in pr
vate.
The Great Herr Geheimrat Duped
you must understand, Herr &c
heimrat, that the Embassy above a.
things must be discreet" said tn
youngster, apologetically, when the
+ had withdrawn to another room. az
n cannot meet, let alone speak will
+ anyone unknown to it personally. c
4 course, Count Won Bernstorff had tn
! honor of previous meeting with 20
: but I-well-pardon me, Your Exec
= lency, but you will perceive that it
compulsory on my part, much as it
"a. against lnClludllOn- 10 IeQue;
e proofs that you are the DR.. Albert {
+ this letter.
- Thus was enacted a rare bit of psy
Geological drama, such as would hay
delighted the heart of Professor Hug
h Muensterberg, a little greater, perhap
= if the roles were reversed. For by tt
production of a personal card and tt
letter the German fiscal agent ha
himself mailed to Won Bernstorff tt
night before, the young agent had e.
s tablished in the mind of DR.. Able
n the conviction that this blonde, bah,
h faced young enthusiast was all that /
represented himself to be.
d The card alone would not have bee
: sufficient But the letter in II
= hands of the young man left no roo,
= for doubt since it was impossible fl
It it to have gone elsewhere than to i
s destination. There was no thinking {
It the part of the doctor. His accep
o ance of the agent was automatic.
n Then, to be suddenly confronts
n with a demand that he prove his oN