The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-12-14

counted to myself: one, two. three.
four. one. two. three. four; while
my heart hammered out: keep-cooI.
keep-cool. keep-cool. And all the
time I remained erouehing behind
the nrst two refuse bins nearest
the door.
The waiter humned to himself
the melody OF his little diity in
deep bourbon as he paused a mo-
ment at the door. Then he ad-
vanced slowly across the area
Would he stop at the refuse bins
behind which ] covered?
No. he passed them. =
The third? The fourth!
No.
He walked straight across the
area and went TO the bin beneath
the stairs.
I muttered a blessing inwsrdIy
on the careful habits OF the Ger
man who organizes even his refuse
INTO. separate tdbs
The man had his back to. the
door.
Now or never was my chance.
crawled round my friendly gar
bage bins. reached the area door on
tip-toe and stepped softly into the
house. As I did 80 heard the
clank Of tin as Karl replaced the
lid OF the tub.
A dark passage stretched out in
front OF me. Immediately 70 my
right was the scuIlery door wide
open I must avoid the scuiIery At
all costs. The man might remain
there and could not risk him driv--
ing me before him back to the en-
trance hall Of the hotel
/ crept down the dark passage
with hands outstretched. Pras-
emily they fell upon the latch Of Z
door. 1 pressed II. the door opened
inwards into the darkness and
passed through. As softly closed
the door behind me I heard KarPs
heavy step and the grinding Of the
key as he locked the area door.
stood in q kind OF cupboard IN
pitch darkness, hardly daring 70
breathe.
Once more I heard the man sing
ing his fdiotic song. 1 did not dare
look out from my hiding place, for
his voice sounded 50 near that I
feared he might be still in the
passage.
So I stood and waited
must have stayed there 10. an
hour in the dark. heard ths
waiter coming and going In the
scullery, listened to his heavy
tramp, to h4s everlasting match 81
song. to the rattle Of iatenafIa. As he
went about his work. Every minute
OF the time ! was tortured By the
apprehension that be would come
to the cupboard in the passage.
It was cold In that damp subter-
ranean place The cupboard Was
roomy enough, 30 thought / would
put on the oyercoaf / was carrying.
As stretched out my arm, my
hand struck hard against some
kind Of projecting hook In the wall
behind me.
-Damni" swore savasely. un-
der my breath, but I put ont my
hand again to md out what had
hurt me Ny fingers encountered
the cold iron Of s'lateh- pressed
1t and IL gave.
A door swung open and / found
myself In another little area with
q flight OF stone steps leading to
the street
was IN . narrow lane driven
between the tall sides Of the houses
II was . eul-de-sae. At the open
end I could see the Klimmer Of
street lamps. Il had stopped rain
ing and the air was fresh an1
pleasant Carrying my bag I vain
briskly down the lane and presently
emerged m . quiet ShoroukAfArO
traversed BY . eanal-prooably IT,
street. thought, that I had 80
from the windows OF my bed roo0
The Hotel Stxt lay TO the rfxaa9 e
the lane: struck out 10 tho la
and In . few minutes found myUSR
IA an open square bektnd -
Boursa
There I found . eaA-rnak UA
three or four cabs drown DmRA
the horses 0omnolent, the drives
snoring inside their vehieloaL 7
stirred up the first and bads O.
driver take me to the Cafe Tar
nowski.
Everyone who has been 10 L.
land knows the Cafe farnowEAi -
Rotterdam II Is an Immense place
with hundreds Of marbIe-toppOd
tables tucked away among palms
under vast glazed roof. Day -
night IL never closes: the walters
succeed each other in shifts: day
and night the great hall resounds -
the cry OF orders, the pattsr Of the
walters feet, the click OF dominoaS
on the marble tables
Delicious Dutch cafe an lAft, q
beefsteak and fried potatoes, most
sueculent of all Dutch dishes, crisp
white bread, hot from the midnight
baking. and appetizing Dutch but
ter. largely compensated for the
thrills OF the night. Then sent
for some more coffee, black this
time, and 4 railway guide and
lighting a cigarette began to frame
my plan OF campaign.
The train for Berlin left Rotter-
dam at in the morning. u was
now ten minutes past 2, So had
plenty OF time. From thai night
onward. told myself. ] wat Ger.
man. and from that moment I set
myself assiduously to feel myself
a German as well as enact the part
Its no use dressing part"
Francis used to say to me; "you
must feel II as well. II were going
to disguise myself as a Berliner.
should not be content to shave my
head and wear a bowler hat with a
morning coat and get my nails
manicurcd pink. I should begin by
persuadinE myself that 7 was the
lord Of creation. shat bad manners
Is y sign Of manly strength and that
dishonesty Is the highest form OF
diplomacy"
Poor old Francist How shrewd