The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-07-14

Won Lertz graSped the yellow en-
velope and FASTENED into the former
private office Of the military attache.
There he took a long list Of cities in
America from his pocket and put q
check after Buffalo. Then he tore
open the telegram.
20. K. at Wilmington" read the
/ printed message.
And throughout the day similar
messages continued to arrive from all
parts of the country, each denoting
the destruction by FIRE or explosion
/ Of American property and in many
| instances American lives. Many were
4 from the West. for Franz Won Bopp
was busy. As proof after proof came
/ to his hand that the crimes were pro-
, ceeding unmolested, showing that the
Secret Service had been totally I'M
warned. Won Lertz thought Of Nine.
stephan
II must see her tomorrow" he told
himself, and he closed his desk late
that night. Perhaps there is a mis-
take, but ! am tooStired tonight"
He oversight the next morning and
arose too late 10 stop at her apart
ments before he was due at his Of
fee. and by this little chance happen
| ing the entire course OF Franz Won Pa
penis reign OF terror for America was
changed. Nine. Stephan. following
her recovery from the FIRST shock of
the accusation. had set herself to
thinking clearly. She knew Of the
mental process of Heinric Yon Lertz.
and as she noted the success of the
plot she felt there was hope for her.
When the morning papers Of the fol-
lowing day showed more explosions
and more fires. she became almost
! cheerful. Then the noon editions Of
the daily papers dashed her hopes to
the ground.
Franz Won Bopp's office in San Fran
cisco had been raided by the secre.
service. The papers limited that much
documentary evidence Of German plots
had been seized. Many prisoners. had
been taken. But Dixie Mason who had
caused the raid. was uneasy. Evidence
lad been gained OF plots for explosions
and fires on the western coast. but ex.
plantations Of the crimes in the East had
no. been found. AM the little secret
sCINIet operative knew THAI but half her
work had been lone.
The effect Of the news upon Madam
Stephan was startling. She dismissed
any hope Of being able to prove her in
nocence to such a man as Heinrie Won
Lertz She thought Of how different Il
vould be n he were q man OF the tyre
OF Harrison Gram. Then in a fash the
whole truth burst upon her. She re-
allied In twinkling the entire falsity,
the utter worthlessness of a system
which could elevate a man OF Won
Lertz's calibca to the position he &C.
cUpied. She appreciated the vileness
OF the crimes in which she. hal par
ticipated. and gained an understanding
Of the glorious things for which Anleri-
can ideals stood. With the thought
came a decision based upnn the fine.
ness of her nature which she had sup
pressed during her entire life. She call
ed for her wraps. II was A.; \ woman
new born that she left her apartment.
She was a woman arrayed on the side
Of humanity as against ira1esial Ger
many.
Madame Stephan cOnfessea-
She made her way straight to tie
Criminology Club. AZ she walked she
wondered how she could ever have
thought that the thing she was about
to do was abhorent. how she could ever
have thought OF II as anything but her
bounden duty to humanity. At the club
the announcement that she WAS await
ing him made Harrt' n Grant start
eagerly.
For two nights he had gone with
out sleep. working necessarily trying
to get some clew which would expose
the whole OF the plot. He knew Of
the messages which were being re-
ceived by Heinric. won Lertz. but the
coincidence Of each being from a city
in which q IRE or explosion had TAX
en- place was not sufficient evidence
to warrant a raid. The news of the
raid in San Francisco had not arous-
ed hppe. for he had received a long
message from Dixie Mason telling or
everything found in the OFFICES and
he realized that he still had before
him his work OF stopping the reign OF
terror in the east, without aid to be
expected from anywhere. So he
grasped the outstretched hand OF
Madam Stephan eagerly.
You came in response to my let
teri" he asked.
II had scarcely thought OF that
responded Madam Stephan. ct have
come ~ , true friend OF the German
peo-h Mr.. Grant. I love my people
ap14 my country. Events OF the past
10 days, OF which you need never
know. have shown me that il is only
through the destruction of Imperial
Germany, can take the place I want
them to have in the world. Mis-.
guided as they have been from birth
they cannot throw on the yoke, With
Americas help IL can be done. So III
am here to aid America I will be
compensated IL I bring the day of
Germany's salvation, the day upon
which the horizon OF humanity is re-
vealed to the German people. as II
has been revealed to me today, one
hour nearer"
She then related quickly all that
she knew OF Won Papen's plan for a
reign OF terror In America
"Heinric Won Lertz will not wait
until the day set for the destruction
Of the Bethlehem Steel Works to at
tempt It" she said. 1.-THE news from
San Francisco will cause him to at
tempt the climax OF the plot planned
by Won Papen before II Is discovered.
Even new he may be starting on it"
She then gave him the address of
the artisan in Harlem who was in
serting explosives in the hollow
Jumps OF coal for use at Bethlehem.
Grant tarried hardly longer than was
required to express his thanks after
receiving this information and hur-
ried away.
But he and his men arrived too late.
Evidence a plenty was found to prove |
that Madam Stephan's description of
the work that was being done had
been true. But the three men who
had occupied 1t were gone.
They left but a moment since, sir"
volunteered a woman who lived on the |