The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-10-11
Cast of Characters in
Order of the Snake"
A Secret Service operative
in employ Of the French
Government.
Mr.. X, a Lithuanian who
is under suspicion.

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Mr.. X, a Lithuanian who
is under suspicion.
silk handkerchief in his hand. re-
moved the rock and, to my horror
covered the writhing snake with
the square of silk, knotted the
corners securely and transferred
the deadly package to his over
coat pocket.
He stood up, busted his knees,
recovered the dispatch case winch
he had flung down and looked at
me with a smile.
TT was very brave of you" ne
said in French, but you should
not have done it. Killing snake
is had luck. In my country, we
respect snakes; there is, always a
saucer of milk at night on the
doorstep, in case one Of them
honors the house with visit 49,"
Light dawned on me; there is
one country in Europe where the
dim memory OF antique snake
worship still endures.-MTHu'
ANA!
How quaint" said, "but then,
Won are Lithuanian-let me see
vol are Mr.. X, isn't it SOP"
Boldly, I used his real name.
"Hush!" he looked round un-
easily, although we were alone
but for the snake in his pocket
on that forest road, who are you'
Madame, and how do you happen
to know my name"
1--WE have been expecting you
the last few days." said demurely,
land I surmise that you are now
going to the embassy.
81, too, am going there, so let
us walk together-but are you
quite sure that your sacred snake
is not going to escape and hurt
us?"
LUCKY EVENT
Zach, but that is a fortunate
meeting" my new acquaintance
exclaimed. Nov, say that snakes
do not bring good luck! wonder
whether you could not tell me
something of the man / am going
to see at the embassy?
1T is an important conversation
I am going to have and you would
render me a great service II you
could give me a few pointers on
the mans mentality -"
Monsieur" I said gravely, sit
all depends on the business you
intend to transact with him. I
believe know what it is -"
I proceeded to give him an out
line of what I had heard and he
nodded thoughtfully. It entailed
the setting up of an independent
Lithuanian Republic, on the flank
of Poland, thus strengthening the
German hold on that country.
This was, you must remember,
before the Treaty of Brest Ltov'
sky, and the Germans were not
taking any chances. Nor were the
Lithuanians DESTROYS Of being alb
Sorbed by Russia. Thus the plan
was working both ways.
My new acquaintance was great
ly impressed by my knowledge and
grasp of the situation and asked
candidly my advice how to negoti-
ate.
I asked him quite frankly how
it was that he was in Switzerland,
when Berlin would have seemed
the logical place to go to.
He explained that he had been
in London until lately and that
caution made it imperative to
avoid journeying openly to Ger
many. Incidentally, he had i'm.
portant information both from
England and France.
gave him much good advice,
for which he was deeply grateful
and which eventually snarled all
his negotiations to such a point
that they were never, to my knoWl.
edge, satisfactorily Strengthened
out.
I also managed to wheedle out
Of him all the secret information
he had brought and this, I told
him, he would be wise to withhold
until later: do not begin by CIV
ing first" I said, latter all, no
body expects you to bring that in
formation. Dole it out-little by
llttle-aS a kind of reward for
favors obtained"
VALUABLE HUNT
He was delighted. This was, he
said, a most valuable hint and he
would certainly act on it.
Mr.. K. and his snake departed
and I turned back, calling on my
way at the private address of a
certain French captain, whom
summoned post haste from his
desk at his Embassy.
Now, listen here" the captain
said finally. I'VE all know that
you have the most fantastic luck
but when it comes even to
snakes getting into the game to
help you, it simply passes compre-
! henSion."
A week later, after I had had
several meetings with my Lith.
uanian friend, helped him eff
1ectually to Snarl all his negotia.
lions and insiduouSly created a
strained situation between him