Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-18

there was not man In the empire wIl>
skeleton In his closet. no matter how
high his station. who did not live with
heart - -, ~ -
But the habit OF mind OF suspectlns
everybody, while u had placed him upoi,
NE SAFE side Of every equation, had also
sentimental, IN eliminating the more d.
rect contacts with human nature To
Judge man by his possibilities for
venality Is like Judging rose by the
The weakness Of this cynicism had been
apparent to the keen intellect Of Won
StromberE. and he had been hndinR OF
late rare pleasure In triflng with his
conVlctions, admitting into the stored
cavern OF his mind for experimental pur-
roses an occasional ray Of optimism. At
me present moment he was analyzlng
the result OF his summons to Herr Ham
,uersley 10 come TO Germany al once and
the communication from Herr Rizzio
loyalty TO Germany. Won Strcmbere
had known Herr Rizzio for years and
ned done him more than one service IN
linaing ways to cater TO his passion for
coliectinE objects of art. II was Ger
man social influence secretly exerted
that had helped to make easy Rizzio's
rise In favor at the court of ST. James
mere had been a possibility that some
I."F 'phh fNicniu fnlknt Oe OF terNtCe 10
Won Strombers and 10 Germany. Ana
Won Stromberg had long been LAYING
the plans which had made his system Of
espionage the most perfect in Europe.
Won Stromberg had found Rizzic's weak
ness and had traded on N. saving his
most tempting bait for his greatest serv-
ice. the betrayal of the home OF his
adoption: He weighed Rizzio content
odly sure of his own power over him
and despising him for having been so
NagtlN bought Rnhpnefd fnecront
the Cross There were. fortunately.
other Rubenses in conquered territory,
some very good ones that John Rizzio
might like. Won Stromberg had made
list of them. He had learned that II
was as necessary to he provided with
hribes as with threats. Fortunately
Riszio himself had given him material
Tor the latter. Raclally. the great coun-
cllor did not like Latins. and he was quite
sure he cared less for Italars u1w than
be did before the procis nation OF
neutrality. They We're not to he trusted
by good Germans. If Rizzio had played
false to the country of his adoption for
the safe of paltry picture. II was within
the bounds of possibility that he could
he false to Germany IL the necessity
arose for even smaller consideration.
Yesterday morning before leaving Ber-
lin for Windenberg. Won Stromberg had
told of his departure on his yacht from
Scotland for Bremen This was curious
also interesting Rizzio was needed
in England and was useless In Ger
many. Why was he coming? Had
something been learned of him at Scot
land Yard Or had his depar rture to
do with the case OF Herr Hammersley? :?
Whatever the visit meant, II was nec-
essary. very necessary, to have Rizzio
and Hammersley together at once so
he had deemed II wise TO send orders
TO Bremen TO have Rizzio caught on the
wireless and when he reached port sent
through at once to Windenberg.
Won Stromberg smiled in self-gratula-
ton. There would he no loose ends
about this affair. Merely as precau-
tion in so important matter he had
set one agent to watch another BY
field had been watched by Hammersley,
who In turn had been watched by Rizzio,
who had been watched by Herr Max
well. an agent long In Won Strom-
berg's service. Rizzio had been given
the power and credentials TO use his
discretion with Hammersley. why had
not Hammersley relinquished the Gig
arctic papers to Rizzio? Hamnersley
should have good reason for his refusal
Was there reason for Hammersley to
suspect Rizzio? Herr Maxwell. who had
been set to watch Rizzio was silent, This
was puzzlng: What had happened to
Herr Maxwell?
General Won Stromberg threw his f,n-
ished cigar into the fire and got up.
rubbing his hands together. oh. IL was
very interesting-.very. The situation