Evening star., 1936-09-11

tll6E Sic COulu h1l1 WAtA4Ooo q Ae>A'S~ a.
Discovered Talents at II.
Anne Lesser was only II when she
discovered by accident her extreme
talents for secret service work. Wnlle
on a visit to st. Petersburg with her
father she became acquainted with
German officer, who told her he was
trying to get possession OF the plans
OF a new Russian gun.
The papers were in the hands OF a
Russian general with whom Anne's
father was doing business. Having
access to the generals house, the girl
got hold of the drawings and copied
them perfectly without discovery.
So great was the thrill she got from
this spying that she decided to make
espionage her profession.
She was coached by German ofn-
GERS and secret service operatives and
quickly developed the master toucn.
Her unusual intelligence and her
knowledge of foreign languages were
a great asset. She progressed so well
that she was made director OF spy
training. When the war broke out,
she was put in charge of the German
spy organizations in France, Belgium
and England.
Mile. Docteur made numerous trips
to Britain and France and became
such a menace that she was eagerly
sought by the secret service OF both
countries. Many times she barely
escaped capture. Arrest would have
meant the firing squad.
Got Valuable Documents.
During one trip to Paris she re-
ceiyed valuable documents which she
decided to take to Berlin herself, via
Switzerland, although the French
we're seeking her everywhere.
When she arrived at the Swiss
border she was stopped by a guard
She shot him dead with her pistol
The next day when she appeared over
the line in Switzerland another guard
was found dead.
Mile. Docteur was ruthless in her
dealings with those who worked for
her. and they feared her. AS illus
tration, her punishment OF young
Belgian secret service man Is clteo.
He had outsmarted her-someth1ng
that rarely happened to the blond
demon-and had so inspired her con-
fldence that she had actually taken
him into her employ.
He made the mistake OF betraylng
one of her spies on the strength OF
information possessed only by Mile
Docteur and himself. No one ever
had to add up two and two Tor ner
She called the young man into her
office, took pistol from her oesK anC
killed him.
After the war Mile. Docteur dropped
from sight. The last heard OF mel
bv the public she was living IN seclu-
sion in Switzerland.
She came into large fortune from
her parents, which was taken as eVl-
dence that her spy work was not done
for monetary gains, but because sne
loved the adventurous life and IN
trigue.
Fayorite of Music Halls.
Mata Hari was an entirely dlt1erent
type. She was a lovely animal, pos
sessed of a sinuous grace which MADE
her a favorite dancer in the music
halls of Europe.
Artists raved about the beauty OF
her figure. especially her arms ana
shoulders. An Oriental cast OF fea-
lures and a slight duskiness OF SKIN
added to her fascination.
And she was supremely clever.
Princes, statesmen, diplomats ana
other personages We'd with one an
other for her favors.
And she smiled upon them all, and
one by one she wrung from them the
secrets which would be useful to Ger
many. When finally she came to the
bitter end of her crimson Life, not
even she could have given a close
guess as to the total number OF her
lovers.
Mata Hari claimed to be Hindu.
She said she had been reared as a
sacred dancer in a temple Of the god
silva in India, and by the time she
was 13 she already was swirling her
slim figure before the image OF the
great deity.
But along came handsome British
officer and carried her of to marriage.
Ultimately she arrived in Europe.
THE Red Dancer" actually estab-
iished herself as a sort OF high
priestess of q silva cult which prac-
ticed all sorts of license.
Oriental Appearance.
It was easy to believe Mata Harris
story, for she had a hypnotic per-
suasiveness, and she possessed that
Oriental appearance.