Evening star., 1925-04-24
Continued from Yesterdays Starr
CHAPTER Nv.
i Plunge Into Deeper Waters.

w =.
Before approaching the door, took
stock of the house. 1t was tall and
thin, dating, so far as 1 could judge,
from the eighteenth century. The
windows were dark and shuttered and
no light was to be perceived anywhere.
Finding that l could gain little infor-
nation outside, / walked up to the
door, a massive oak affair with a
brass knocker shining duly from the
center. 1 remembered the signals
given by Elsa IN the Rue Etienne Du-
mont, and thought it well to knock in
the same manner. Accordingly, /
seized the knocker, gave one heavy
rap, then a series of light ones and
finally two short, sharp knocks. A
panel which 1 had not previously re-
marked slid sideways behind a small
grille, and two eyes moved shiftily
behind the bars.
"Ephesus,' I said.
They are not dead but sleep" re-
piled the individual on the other side.
A moment later the door was
opened, and I found myself at the
foot of a narrow fight of stairs, at the
Top of which stood an oil lamp, reek-
ing foully, it's dull flame casting weird
shadows on the walls and ceiling of
The landing.
Maj. Adler is above, sir" said the
man who had admitted me. But we
were expecting Prof. Kreutzemark."
He has been delayed" I answered
shortly and turned to the stairs.
l was halfway up when the man
called after me.
And the car, Herr Lieutenant"
IT shall not need it again" l re.
, piled.
Very good, sir" he said. You will
find Maj. Adler on the first floor, sec
ond door on the right
] nodded and proceeded on my way
and the next moment was knocking
on the door in question.
Herein" said voice which / rec
pgnized as that of my Uncle Fritz.
Entering the room, / found him
lying on a settee drawn up close to a
big stove-one of those porcelain af-
fairs common to Germany and Swift
zerland, and ornamented with a pro-
fusion of figures and designs-a beau
tiful and valuable specimen Of the old
art of faience making, brought to per-
iection by the Nuremburg craftsmen
of the fifteenth century. The room
was lighted by half a dozen candles
and was consequently shadowy in the
corners. 1t contained, so far as !
could see, some old oak furniture and
large writing desk in front of a
window. 1t was very hot. all the win
dows being closed and shuttered.
At the other side of the room sat
Schreckermann. sprawlins in huge
chair. his waistcoat undone, smoking
one of those pipes dear TO the German
bourgeois. with a stem about a foot
long and a bowl of china modelled to
represent a skull.
A table stood between the two men,
nf
beer. Uncle Fritz and Uncle Uric
were evidently taking their ease after
the labors of the day.
Adler looked up at me as | entered.
so" he said, gruff1y, you've ar
rived
I clicked my heels and drew myself
10 attention.
ia, Herr Major" 1 answered.
had decided. while driving through
the streets of Basel, that with Fritz
f1attery was my best cue. He had
seemed to me to be the type of Prus-
sian who can most easily be managed
by playing up to him, and l deter
mined to conduct the interview as
much as possible on orderly room
lines. 1 would be the eager but dis
ciplined young officer. deferrinG re-
spectfully to the crusty old major, to
whom all the problems of life were as
an open book.
"B-but wh-where's the Professor"
stammered Schreckermann.
I had expected this and was ready
for it. Taking a pace forward, which
brought me into the shadow, L drew
myself up and repeated my next words
in as toneless and official voice as /
could muster.
THE Professor, gentlemen, is COM
ing later" l said. He has charged
me with the following message:
HE regrets that pressure of work
has prevented him from leaving &C.
neva this evening. He hopes, how
ever. to be in Basel by tomorrow at
midday"
Fritz gave an exclamation of annoy.
ance. and I hastened to soothe him.
He bids me congratulate Maj Ad
Ter and Herr Schreckermann on their
excellent work. | added, in the man
~