Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-28
Hi j. j. BOSDAN.

mat city most circumspcctly. and with
out the slightest ostentation. All the
more so because he carried in his bag
papers and memoranda of the most
ihcriIninatinS nature, since they out
i'htu schemes to destroy munition fac
tories and incitc labor troubles in
Nt'cry war work industry of the coun-
Try The agent also carried in the
same bag credits with pro-Gcrmar
bankers to the extent of S7,000.000.
Inc bag also contained authorizations
ior the extension of these credits up
ward to Soo,Q00.O00.
me Nscal agent registered at the
Ritz and went directly to hs room.
concentrating himself. no doubt. that
ne had successfully escaped observa-
tion, as he had. AS far AS l could find
out he had slipped by all the secret
services OF the allies without being
LoeIed dangerous"
i)r. Albert had been instructed most
minutely AS TO his preliminary move
ments in this country, as his CORE
hpondencc later showed. He had been
\ en1oined in particular not TO begin his
activities until Ambassador Won Bern
cloth himself had made him thorough
~ familiar with conditions in America
ana had advised him as TO the weak
spots, as far AS labor conditions Went.
i" me armor of the munition Industry.
In the Land of "Idiotic Yankees"
80 Or. Albert lost no time in inform
When dinner VAS served TO him in his
room Oh this Friday night he was
sealing an envelope on the front OF
which In fine delicate hand was the
name and address OF the German am
eassador at Washington.
The fnanCier personally carried this
letter 10 tho mail chute. where ne dis
covered that he had forgotten to
stamp ii. lie sjgnalcd the elevator boy.
ana with the letter in his hand hur-
ried down to the desk. Then. seeing
that IL would require at least minute
to gain attention TO his want, the
Doctor. stu carrying the letter In his
hand Suddenly recalled his dinner
He thrust the letter into his pocket
and rushed back TO his room. where
his secretary and several members of
his staT were waiting for the dinner
TO proceed
ono man in the lobby OF the hotel
had had the letter almost thrust into
MS face as DR.. Albert swung his arms
alternately on his way to the desk
This man noted the words German
Embassy on the envelope. They
aroused mis- curiosity. but on scrutiniz-
ing the register the name Albert"
ineant nothing 70 him. and. although me
was in the employ OF foreign power
10 note arrivals and departures OF
dangerous" Germans and Austrians IN
New York. the man chose 10 ignore
Dr.. Albert.
II was shortly after O'Clock when
the good appetite OF this arch plottcI
was fully satisfied. For while the
doctor sat in the lobby. once ne
strolled into the bar. He went 10 bed
early.
The letter reached Washington mex,
day through the usual pos, office cham
: nels. and few minutes after noon was
J delivered AT the embassy.
Enemy Agent at Hun Embnssy.
Long before Dr. Albert had left Ger
MANI an egcn; had been planted" in
the Office of Count Won Bvrnstorm. Tn
less some one commits gross breach
OF confidence the world Will never
know who that agent was. y score o.!
Wild runlors have grown up about his
identi,y Nearly every allied power
in Washington has AT some time or
Other been credited With having per-
formed the almost inuredt BILE coup OF
planting" him.
Not in all the history OF diplomatic
intrigue and espionage, written and un-
written. Was An ambassador SO COM
, p!ete!y duped AS WAS Count Won Bern
storh 10y this secret agent Day by
day. he performed "A great part OF the
confidential work of the emba ssy. Ere
Quently ne relieved the amba ssadors
j personal stcnographer and took die
ta,ion OF the most invaluable informa-
tonic the allies.
His part in the coup" was one that
any secret agent would almost have
bargaincd his soul TO have 1layed Eut
only one man in thousands could have
played II so successfully 10 the end
without detection as did he. 1t called
for an absolutely nawless knowledge
of the German language. 'unimpcach-
able" references and in short the
combination OF the highest grad. OF
, acumen and cold -hlooded nerve it is
obvious that this man-"Mr. Rolls
qualified.
Especially unfortunate for Herr Dr.
Albert. mir. Rolls" was intrusted with
the opening Of the amba ssadors per-
sonal and confidential mail
"Ar. Rolls" faccx kniscrism.
a, 1880 o'clock on this Saturday af-
ambassadors Office with DR.. Alberts
letter in his hand.
He was alone, the ambassador had
left early that morning for week END
In the Adirondacks. AS was customary
on Saturday, the other members of
in the morning. And as was custo-
mary with him, the secret agent had
delayed his departure to look over the
mail uninterrupted, an opportunity that
. was possible only on Saturday.
Chance, and chance alone. guided the
hand of the secret agent to the letter
Z First. when it lay on the top of the
newly delivered pile: second. when
memory withheld his hand from cast
ing it 30 one side. The handwriting
was vaguely familiar TO him, Tut as
he poised the letter in his hand he
racixed his brain in vain to identify it,
Without further thought. he inserted
his thin ivory opener under the Zap
The flap lifted easily and withou:
tearing Undoubtedly mir. Rolls"
whistled in surprised pleasure.
The usual policy OF secret agents Is
never to precipitate a climax by their
own efforts. They prefer 10 sit back
and permit their victims to bring the
climax on to themselves. following the
truism Of that well-known old saw to
che effect that il YOU give man enough
rope he will hang himself.
Albcrt's Letter.
This occasion. however, was made to
order for the secret agent. EIe was
the only man-as far as can be ascer-
tained--who knew that some tremen-
dous significance lay behind DIR. AL
bert's arrival in America. Once he had
heard the amba ssador speak of .Alberts