Evening star., 1928-10-21

for chambermaids and house servants
shoes that would not squeak as they
tiptoed to listen at the keyhole; stout
country shoes for peasants" who die
much tramping about in the vicinity Of
canals and highroads; sleekly shining
shoes for private secretaries" to pro.
vincial bankers. to newspaper owners
to government officials from small towr
mayors up to ministers to Napoleon
III; dainty ballroom Shoes for sirens
gaudy footgear for crude courtesanS;
diScreet-looking shoes for men in dis
guise as priests: over ornate shoes fol
others, masquerading as procurers-
But let US get on to the story Of
Stieber himself.
X X ~
LIE was young man In his early
- twenties when the working masses
of Germany began to do some organiz-
ing themselves. Workers all over Eu-
rope were beginning more or less vague
ly to feel that power resided in their
vast numbers, which, organized, could
play a vital role in society.
But it was characteristic of the Ger
mans that what others felt only vaguely
they should express vigorously in terms
of organization. Frederick William,
King Of Prussia, ruled his masses with
a scepter that bore heavily on their
backs Whereat the workers began to
organize for resistance.
They organized with Teutonic efi-
cheney, according to a deeuly thought
out scheme, complexly, in regimental
form, but they had to do it secretly
until such time as they should be ready
to come out in massive protest or, II
need be, in open revolt.
ftan
QSophy, the war manual and the hope
Of these workers.
Silesia, an industrial center, was the
hOtbed OF the growing movement.
And it was in Silesia that Stieber,
q. youth Of 90, made his appearance just
after graduating from law school His
was not an outWardly prepoSsessing ap-
pearance. He was medium sized, but
looked short because of an ingratiating
stoop to his shoulders and a bit Of
shanahle in his walk.
His hands were forever sleekly wash
ing themselves as if he were an obse-
quious clerk before a rich customer.
His ears were large and outstanding
So was his nose. His mouth was also
TOO ample for good looks, and his eyes,
of washed-out gray, were like win
dows which stare but through which
one sees only an empty interior.
In this respect, however. those eyes
we're deceiving. Behind them was a
richly furnished mind, well educated
already, but still richer with gifts crav-
ing employment. Young Stieber meant
at first to become lawyer.
But there is a compulsive power about
genius which disregards mans first
blundering choices of career and drives
him to use his real gifts as surely as
sprouting wings and fins in1pel flying or
swimming. And Stieber'S genius was
for spying.
He evidenced loyalty on the one hand
TO the growing secret revolt of the
workers and on the other to a King
who would pay well to any one who
would betray it from the inside.
So Stleber became mere factory
hand IN the great Schoffel iron works.
1T was not long before his voice was
heard IN the secret councils of the or
ganized workers of the Schoffel plant.
Like every born spy, Stieber had a
GLIB tongue and was a good mixer. Be-
hind his ability to talk we'll went his
lawyer training to build up a good case
Tor any side he espoused and an actors
talent to put passion into any lines he
chose to declaim.
He became an agitator among the
workers at the same time that he
courted the daughter Of one Of his en-
ployers. The workers finally elected
him high in their councils. And Herr
Schoffel gave Stieber his daughter in
marriage.
Stieber was now about ready to de-
liver goods to the highest bidder. The
only career the workers offered him
was the perilous one of revolution.
Whereas If he betrayed that revolu-
ton, there would be opened to him a
career as promising for prosperity as
that OF Prussia itself, which was then
teunchlng on a campaign which would
make it the ruling state of a united
Germany.
&TIEBRR secretly offered his goods
TO the government.
To begin with, Stieber went to work
to convert his wifes uncle to Socialism
That uncle was a warm hearted, high
spirited youth, romantic and trustful
Although wealth would be his as a
Schoffel, he listened to Stieber and
threw his fortune in with the workers
Then when the boy was deeply
enough. involved in the secret move
Into prison. Stieber was the first to
denounce that arrest paSsionately q,
workers meetings.
And so eloquent was he that the
workers elected him TO go TO Berlin
and lead the growing revolt there.
So powerful had the revolutionary
movement grown that In Berlin the
workers announced the day and the
hour at which they meant to parade
the streets of the capital in vast pro-
cession; and they challenged the King
TO show himself in public at that hour
The hour came The workers made
their promise good that they would fl
the main thoroughfares of Berlin like
a river at food. And Frederick William
answered the workers challenge by ap-
pearing IN public in a carriage at The
head Of his cortege.
In Dorothean Strasse the royal pro.
cession was cut in two by the turbulent
workers. AT the very head was Stieber
The royal carriage found itself sur.
rounded by mob and Stieber jumped
on the very step of the royal carriage.
Stieber could have been shot by any
one Of the royal party. But Frederick
William had a certain wisdom thai
matched his rashness and he let tht
young agitator talk as a sort of safety
valve.
What the workers Saw-there wa!
too ulucn -vOnmotion for them to hear
was Stieber waving his fist under tn,
very nose of the King, his face con
torted.
And what the King heard was:
Sire, have no fear! am Of you
Snajesty's side and have taken ever,
precautior for your safety. In tn
meanwhile I must proceed with my roll
of leading these poor deluded people!
With climax Of fury Stieber jumpe,
of the carriage step and royalty de
parted amid jeering and hooting. whil
Stieber rode on, wildly acclaimed as
truly fearless leader.
Back in his palace the King aske
Gen. RadoWitZ, who was with him:
Did you take the name of the youn
man who mounted my carriage ste
with that red flag in his hand?"
Yes, sir"
Good, I will ask for it."