The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-06-09

in the wine goblets the pretty girls always
auizzed them earnestly about their regiments
when they were going to the war zonei how
many of them were goingi were there any ''se-
crets" they could telli and how many big guns
was England makingi etc. Under the spell Of
wine and sparkling eyes Nine. Trost's guests told
many things about England's war preparations
that Berlin was glad to know. It was many
months before Nine. frost was unmasked. She
was executed and half score of her pretty girls
were sent to cells for the duration Of the war.
It was from one of these girls that the authOri-
ties learned that Hans Lodi, the master spy, was
in England masquerading in an officer s uniform.
He was entertaining company Of army officers
in a London theatre when a British major who
sat in the stalls recognized him from the descrip-
ton of him given the War Office by the young
woman who had been Nine. Trost's shop girl.
The major stepped up to the disguised spy and
touched him on the shoulder. When Lodi looked
up into the officers face he realized his fate
had fallen upon him. He confessed his iden-
tity and his mission in England, but he re-
fused to betray his assistants-amOng whom was
Nine. Storch.
Nine Storch, in copying the methods Of Mme
frost, opened q shop where she might receive
donations of equipment, such as handkerchiets,
tobacco cases, toilet kits for service bags sweat
ers, ETC., for departing soldiers.
In this enterprise many prominent London
women came to the assistance of the wistful look
ing young widow. Two or three titles were
added to her list of patronesses by the nobility.
distinguished army officer contributed the
support of his name. The little reception rooms
where mime Hesqueth' met and chatted with
all who wished to drop IN and leave donation
for the comfort of the soldiers about to go to the
front became immensely popular.
Being the widow Of an officer, as Nine Hes
queth explained, she was especially attracted to
those who were engaged IN the Kings service
officers of the new regiments and officers at
tached to the War Department staff duties. She
was much interested. of course IN the plans for
the great offensive which was to drive the Ger
mans back to the Rhine or the mysterious prep
arations for an extension of the transport service
and the expansion of the general campaign to
the colonies Egypt and Palestine.
The young military men were vastly interested
in these plans themselves, and quite often they
talked of them more than they should, but with
a feeling that surely there could be no harm in
such discussions with the patriotic widow of an
officer who had given his life to the King:
At this time England's energies were being
most exerted in the great arsenalS at Portsmouth,
IN the OrkneyS and the Shetlands, Where new Dig
guns were being assembled and loaded aboard
ships for France, and at the munitions plants at
Beardsmore's and at Lerwick. pretty good
estimate of the British strength in artillery, both
actual and prospective could be gathered from
the little condolences Nine. StOrch as Nine Hes
queth. the widow, lured from ordnance officers
and officers from the batteshipS who were fond
of straying into her reception rooms, ostensibly
TO compliment her upon the good work she was
doing, but really to firt with her
Germany obtained in a short time all the infOr-
nation Nine. Hesqueth gathered from her Wis
itorS. II is probable Nine. Bertha frost pro-
vided the means of transmitting this valuable
information to Berlin. When Lodi was caught
it was learned that Nine frost had conveyed his
reports to the German General Staff.
Among those who visited Nine. Hesqueth'
shop quite frequently was the commander of
British regiment which had been incorporated
into 'Kitchener's army" for training previous
to its assignment to the expedition in France.