Evening star., 1922-04-16

Berlin and I will come and be your
guide"
IT should be most delighted" said.
for surely such a handsome guide few
men had ever enjoyed. Little did
think of what the outcome Of that
ingenious invitation would be.
WELL" she said. rcome to Ger
many soon. Here Is my card" And.
taking from her gold bag little
case, she gave mo a card. upon which
was her name and address. You
see, live in Essen, but am often in
Berlin"
That day spent with my friend.
Hubert Johnson. on board his yacht,
and 1t was midnight before I re-en-
tered the villa Igiea-the Villa OF
Health. I went straight to my room.
but hardly had / entered it than the
handle turned and Dick entered un-
tremendously.
BY the expression upon his counte-
nance I saw that something unusual
had happened.
Look here. Billy" he said with
hard determination, 'if you remain
calm and play your cards well. you've
a soft thing-something which will
be Of interest to both Britain and
France"
"Why?' I asked. whats up?"
'Up- he echoed. why, can't you
guess who the baroness really is7'
'Is that q conundrum?' inquired.
IF 90, it's too late tonight"
"Conundrum! No. you blockhead.
All, you don't understand"
mo. Dick. really don't" I said.
leaning back in q soft chair in my
pajamas.
tHIIAL. that woman il a darned
w clever woman" he declared.
"She's not only sent hero on financial
deal by the German government. but
she holds one of the most RESPONSE
BILE positions 1t IL possible for any
woman to hold"
"Oh! That's interesting"
Yes It ought to be very inter-
esting to YOU" he added. Then, low
ering his voice. he went on: THE
fact is, she's the confidential secre-
tary to the chief director at Krupp's
at Essen!''
"oh, OH" I calculated in amaxe-
ment and with sudden interest.
"Yes, boy. she is. And every plan
of new guns constructed at Krupp's
passes through her hands Get on
the right side of her, my dear Billy.
and you ought to know a lot which
will be highly interesting to your
friends at the Quai 6Orsay"
1 held my breath. Was 1t possible
that such good luck should pass my
way? The Baroness Leopoldine had
been very affable toward me. but I
confess that she had not hitherto In
terested me. She was of a type that
I mot year in and year out in conti-
mental hotels. and at first 1 confess
that did not quite realize Gretton's
suggestion.
PLAY your cards we'll. Billy, and
you can do it, know-and you'll get
into her good graces," he said. She's
not at all happy. I've found out. But
why can't yet discover. Now" hs
added, "Pve given you the clue.
Carry out the affair in your own
way Count Won Stubel, the notorious
Potsdam junker and friend of the
emperor, Is the chief director Of
Krupp's. He has palatial ofiices in
the Leipsigerstrasse. II she is his
confidential secretary, then she GER
tainly knows many secrets Of arma-
ments and would have access to many
plans"
"Just 30. boy. That's what I'm
thinking"
Later on he left tho room and re-
turned to bed, where I lay thinking
and trying to devise plan. My first
object was to gain her confidence, and
with that in view I next day tele-
graphed to Paris that could not
leave Palermo. and later invited her
for q stroll beside the sea.
The morning was glorious, though
very hot yet she looked cool and
dainty In her fiimsy summer gown.
what an amusing fellow your
friend. Mr.. Gretton, Is" she laughed
as we walked together. "He is such
Z nice type Of American"
'Yes. he is," agreed. We've been
friends for . great number of years,
and we are fellow travelers." id