Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-08


s. ACH" she calculated and in her
Avoice was all the world Of admiration
that u German woman feels for brute man.
"The Herr Englander came into your
room and he died. So, so But one must
speak to Franz. The man drinks too much.
lie il always drunk. lie makes mistakes. 1t
will not do. | Will ..,
81 wish you to do nothing against Franz
I said. This Englishman spoke German
well Karl will tell you
"As the gentleman wishes was the
woman's reply in a voice so silky and SO
servile that felt my gorge rise.
"She looks like a slug | said to myself
as she stood there, fat and sleek and nor
rble. =.
Here are his passport and other papers
said bending down and taking them from
the dead's mans pocket. "He was an EnGlSh
officer, you see?' And | untolded the htue
black book stamped with the royal arms
She leaned forward and was all but stllleu
with the stale odor of the perfume with
which her faded body was drenched.
Then. making a shcaf Of passport and per
nit. | held them in the flame of the canaie.
"But we always keep them" eNpostulated
the hotelkeeper. =,
.,rhis passport must die with the man,
7 replied firmly "He must not be traced |
want no awkward inquiries made, you under
stand Therefore ." and flung the burn
ing mass of papers into the CRATE.
Good good :" said the German and put her
lamD down on the table There was tele-
phone message for you" she added. ito say
that der Steze will come at eight in the morn
ing to receive what you have brought.
The deuce. This was getting awkward
who the devil was Steze?
Coming at eight Is he?' said, simply lot
the sake of saying something.
"Jawohl :" replied Frau Schratt. He was
here already this morning. He was nervous
oh very, and expected you to be here. Al
ready two days he is waiting here to go on
80" l said. "he is going to take 1t
on with him, is he?" U knew where ne was
"going on" to, well enough: he was going
10 see that document safe in Germany)
There was IL malicious ring in the woman's
voice when she spoke of Stelze. though
| might profit by this. So l drew her out
$50 stelze called today and gave you his
orders. did he?" I said. "and and took
charge of things generally. eh?'
Her little eyes snapped Vicously.
Zach - she said, der Stelze Is der Stelze
He has power; he has authority; he can
make and unmake men. But / In my
time have broken a dozen better men thar
be and vet he dares to tell Anna Schrat,
that that
Sbe raised her voice hysterically, bu
broke off before she could finish the sentence
| saw she thought she had said too much:
"He won't play that game with me-
said Strength is the quality that every
Gorman man, woman and child, respects, ant
strenrth alone My safety depended my
chewing this ignoble creature that | received
orders from no one you know what he Is
one runs the risk, one takes trouble one
is successful Then he steps in and gathers
the laurels No, / am not going to wal
for him.. !,
faded face all ravaged by the shadow of Q
great fear.
You wouldn't dare :" she said.
"I would" I retorted. i've done m,
,yorI, and I'll report to headquarters and tc
no one else J!
"Now, what are we going to do will
tbis?" | said. ''You must help me. Frat
schratt. This is serious. This must no
| be found here
she looked up at me in surprise.
"That?" she sad and she kicked the body
| with her foot. "Oh that will be all righ
| r,Ith die Schratt 1T must not be founC
| here" (She mimicked my grave tone.) Il
viii not be found here, young mani"
And she chuckled with all the full-bodieC
good humcr OF a fat person.
81 mean what I mean, young man, an,
what you mean" she replied. when the,
| are in a difficulty, when there are compli
! cations, when there is any unpleasant
ness like this they remembe
| die Schratt die fesche Anna as they call
/
and 'gnadige Frau there and diamon
bracelet or a pearl ring, II only I will d
| the little conjurng trick that will smoot
| cyerything over. But when all goes wei
| then | am old Schratt,' old hag,' 'o
| womar,' and ] must take my orders an
| beg nicely and bah!'
| Her words ended in gulp which in an
other woman would have been a sob
| Then she added in her hard harlot's voice
| "You needn't worry your head about hin
| there, Leave him TO me! It's my trade
| Al those words, which covered God onl
| knows what horrors of midnight disappear
| ances. Of ghoulish rites with packing -cas
| and sack, in the dark cellars of that ev
| house | felt that, could l but draw bac
| iron, the enterprise to which | had so rashl
| committed myself, j would do so gladl!
| 0nly then did l begin to realize somethin
| of the utter ruthlessness the cold calcu
lating ferocity OF the most bitter and MOI
oowerful enemy which the British Empir
| has ever had.
| But IL was too late to withdraw now Tt
die was cast Destiny, knocking at my doc
had found me ready to follow. and | wa
committed to whatever might befall me
| my new personality.
The German woman turned to CO.
Der Stelze will be here at eight. then
she said. II suppose the gentleman will tai
his early morning coffee before"