Evening star., 1930-05-04


services Of supply for those already gone there,
some of whom trickled back now to base hos
ptals being built just outside the town. That
made Beaune still buster, liveler since to speed
up the work the Americans had brought here,
too laborers as varied as they were numerous,
who amazed the people of Beaune with speech
in many tongues from Spain, Portugal and the
Mediterranean Rather turbulent crowd but we
had to have them
To smooth troubles among themselves, and
with Americans French the Red Cross had
supplied an interpreter, versatile genius gen.
orally called Italian-American, although he
spoke also English, French, Portuguese and
Spanish. Petro was dark young man. not yet
80, of winning though not ostentatious manner
by day diligently, even ubiquitousy useful, in q
quiet way yet in the evenings fond of rather
gay company.
He liked the rich wine of Beaune, and like
to gamble. He would bet on almost anything.
Yet he drank and gambled without losing his
head. He never quarreled. The Red Cross in-
terpreter was, in short the ideal secret agent,
the Beaune counter-espionage officer con-
graduated himself whenever, covertly, they met
and conferred.
Speaking five languages, Pietro had many
friends, chief among whom was Spaniard
named DiaZ. Like Pietro, he was quick-witted,
intelligent; like Pietro he liked the wine Of
Beaune, cards and dice; but unlike him, they
1oOsened his tongue, made him voluble, exc
cited. man Of strong passions, the strongest
now was a fanatic hatred of Americans.
1t had started in the Spanish American War.
Diaz had been born in Cuba, of Spanish
family Of position who had aided the Spanish
cause, and had not concealed their dislike for
the victors. The damned Americans, he said,
had expelled them all from Cuba, and they
had settled in Northern Spain. Drafted into
the Spanish Army, the son had rebelled at dis
cipline, killed his colonel and fed to France.
He had come to work for the Americans, burns
Of
thoroughly bad actor, Pietro reported.
The Spaniard was not blufing. He wanted
to kill, burn, destroy these hated Americans
and all their works. With fierce eloQuence he
won to him another Spaniard, Ochoa, and
paciflst Frenchman discharged from tie army.
Then Pietro began to yield, too. They could
be real spies, Diaz told them The chief Of
the German secret service in Northern Spain
lived at the home of his parents. Could Pietro
steal censor's stamp and get letter through
for him?
Pietro could, he said and day or two later
he and his oficer read an impassioned offer
of the Spaniard's services to the German cause,
and an announcement that he had decided his
first deed should be to steal and send to the
German chief in Spain plans of the hospital
the Americans were building at Beaune Then
German airplanes could come and bomb it.
Mice humane fellowl" they commented.
copied the letter, sealed the original and sent
it on its way. few nights later, Diaz gave
Pietro another letter, this time asking the Gers
man chief to send him secret ink and a code.
since my present means of communication
is rather risky" -Pietro was joining in his
plan more enthusiastically. Copies of the hos-
pital plan were left where Diaz could steal
them, and then, af1ame with success the three
made Pietr0 one of them
We must take an oath!' cried Diaz, never
to desert one another Death to the AmericausE
An oath in blood!"
Gathered around a candle-lighted table,
splashed with the deep red Beaune wine, they
pricked their wrists, and signed the oath.
Pietro did not turn hair
Now" said Diaz, I'VE have stolen the plans
and Pietro win send them to Spain. But from
there we hear nothing. Let us wait no longer.
Let us strike another blow. Not far from here
there Is o big reserve depot of munitions, thou
sands of shells. powder Why not blow it upa''
REFORE the night ended, they agreed that
the Frenchman should reconnoiter the am-
munition dump.
They mean business" Pietro told his oficer.
Wed better grab EN-
The next day brought to Beaune an oficial
high in the French counter-espionage service.
At first this old stager thought the Americans
were exaggerating, but he heard Pietro's report
and read Diaz's letter and was convinced. So
quietly and carefully Diaz, Ochoa and the con-
federate were gobbled up.
Now said Pietro, "how about my going
to Spain? ! know where this German chie4
is. and can say I've come from Diaz Either
I can get the goods him so that we can
run him out Of Spain, or I can work in with
him and his gang and find out lot about
the German secret service"
DO you know how likely you are to get q
knife between your ribs?" his officer asked.
Sure" said Pietro. "I1l take chance"
The offer went from Col. Ward to Col Moreno.
finally to Gen. Nolan. No one wanted to send
a hrQV nnaY Tn hat corf nf rTy1za @I,a
war ended. That saved the lives of the blood
thirsty niaZ and the tIos.