Evening star., 1925-04-24

to talk, particularly of recent events
in Geneva.
Perhaps, Major, you would tell me
how you managed to obtain the docu-
ment?" / said, as an elderly Individual
wearing an apron of brown Sacking,
entered bearing a large jug of beer
and some cold ham, sausages and
bread on a plate.
My suggestion was evidently most
acceptable. Fritz seized the jug, re-
filled the tankards, and poured me out
a welcome drink. Then he raised his
mug on high, and, looking toward us,
said
'Prositr'
We raised our tankards in response
and drank.
Fritz stretched himself on the settee
and began. He and Schreckermann.
on leaving the Professor, had ap-
parently dressed themselves in the
uniform of the Genevese police. Thus
attired, they had gone to the secre-
! tariat, where they had asked for the
establishment officer This individual
was the official in charge of the inter
nal administration of the secretariat,
and as such would naturally be the
person to be approached by the po-
lice. He was a Swiss. it appeared. and
Fritz had experienced but little diff
Guilty in perSuading him that he was a
member of the Genevese police, who
had called with the object of obtaining
clues in connection with the murder
OF NJ. Lavelle. He desired, he said, to
examine the office of the murdered
man. The establishment officer had
accordingly conducted him to that
room, where he had made a super.
ficial examination. Before starting for
the secretariat, Adler had scrawled on
a piece of plain quarto paper the fol-
lowing words: From my examination
OF the letters contained in file No.
4-9O347-S1756, L" He Succeeded in
slipping this sheet, unobserved bv the
establishment officer, beneath some of
the litter on Lavelle's desk. and then
turned over the papers until he came
to 1t. He had discovered it with an
exclamation of surprise and interest
seized 1t, read it and Immediately de-
manded to see the dossier in question.
pointing out that the incompleted
note seemed to indicate that IIavelle
had been working on this dossier lust
before his death and that il might
provide clue. The establishment
/ oincer had at once sent for the file. and
on its arrival Fritz had succeeded in
nnd1ng and extracting the document
without being detected He and
Schreckerman had left the building q
few minutes later and taken the road
FOR Basel, removing their disguise AT
the hrst opportunity. 1t had all been
perfectly simple.
L was forced to admire the cunning
ana audacity of man who had com
mitted a murder but the day before
array1ng himself as a member of the
ponce force and going to search
through the effects of his victim.
Throughout the narrative I had
been busily engaged on the cold ham
and sausages. / loathe leberwurst
but L felt that Karl probably had a
Keen appetite for it, so / worked awav
until l had finished the plate. endeav.
orlng to look as though l relished the
vile stuff.
Now that 1 had secured the docu-
ment was filled with a sense of
qulet eXhliaratlon. The journey was
nearing its end. Neither Schrecker
mann nor Fritz had questioned NV
lmpersonation for moment. I had
only to get out of the house. find
Gaston and Rehmy, and we should
| soon all three of us be on our way to
Paris.
suitably congratulated Fritz on
his success and glanced at my watch.
1t was half-past 8.
IF the Herr ajor will permit me Z"
l said, Il should like to make a few
eii ohSC SCiiiclilS lOI my uepdrtufe, and
l rose to go.
Have you finished your s.sup
per?" asked Schreckermann
replied in the affirmative
BE off with you then" said Fritz.
and please don't murder the chauf
| feur on the way to the railway sta
ton"
He chuckled at his friendly little
jest at my expense.
Il hope it won't be necessary" 7
replied, in the manner of a schooIbov
squirming under the chaff of his
betters
"One moment" he added, as turn.
ed to leave the room.
l paused and he went again to the
desk and fumbled among the papers.
He returned bearing a sealed en-
velope.
Here are your instructions" he
said, Ito be opened when you get to
Hanover. Don't fail to fulfill them.
| You may have friends in high quar-.
ters, but you will kindly conform to
! Your official orders
They will be obeyed to the letter"
said formally, and clicking my heels
l turned and left the room
l found on reaching the street that
the car had disappeared, but there
was a servant waiting with my suit
| case. / went up to him and took it
| from his hands.