The Washington times., 1937-11-22

train. Loaded WIN fTenCn dllI
English troops, went by on ther
way to Italy.
They passed so slowly and Sc
near at that point, that we coulc
exchange conversation with the
passengers.
I watched idly. Suddenly, sal
up and began taking notice: be
tween the line and the wall rar
a narrow path and some people
had gathered there to watch the
troops going by.
AS I sat on the top Of the wall
I had felt an insistent glance and
looking up, I Saw-surely-I knew
this man? I had seen him In
Berne-I knew him to be a Ger
man agent
He looked like an ordinary tour
ist now, inconspicuous enough to
pass unnoticed.
Like everybody else. he seemed
interested in the transit of troops
he chatted with the soldiers-he
offered cigarettes-from time to
time, he turned round and looked
at me, searchingly.
TERRIBLE THOUGHTS
Sheer instinct made me slide
from the wall onto the path, and
I mingled with the sightseers. Ter
rible thoughts began revolving in
my brain; 1 remembered conver-
sations in Berne. on the question
of the reinforcements being sent
to Italy by the Allies-how this
must be stopped-how the geo.
graphical layout of the strategic
line from France to Italy made it
easy to disrupt the service.
One sentence kept hammering
at my brain: THE line runs along
side the Sea-front-single track--a
break anywhere would disrupt the
whole service"
A German agent would not have
been sent merely to report on
movements Of troops-those, their
strength, their composition, were
known I decided on a bold
move.
edged nearer to my suspect
and touched his sleeve: Interest
ing isn't it?" I said, 81 wonder
how many Of them come back" "
He laughed and looked at me
without suspicion: In that mo.
ment I knew he had placed me
and believed me to be what he
was himself,
IF they get there at ALL" he
mumbled.
What followed was so unex
pected that it took my breath
away.
Il know you by sight," the man
said, You might help met is
tricky work"
"How?" whispered.
He answered by another ques-
ton: Where exactly is the via
duct of the Cap Roux? How do
I get there?"
Wait for me a moment" 7
whispered back, I'll join you on
the beach," He nodded and
Strolled off.
NO HELP
I scrambled back over the wall
into the garden and ran into the
house. No time to ask anybody
for help. I was unknown to the
local secret service, had to see
this through myself.
Ten minutes later, having told
my mother that I might be out
to lunch, I joined my quarry on
the beach and we strolled slowly
towards Cannes.
There are two viaducts on the
line" he told me, "the one in La
Bocca, almost in town, and the
other at Cap Roux. Which is the
most important?"
thought quickly: The La Bocca
viaduct, on the outskirts of
Cannes, was only few hundred
yards from my villa, surrounded
by a huddle of houses and gar.
dens.
The Cap Roux, outside LIE Ira
vas, a few miles away. spanned
the Corniche Road-a lonely and
wild spot - tremendous arches,
springing out of the tangled un.
dergrowth-the most vital point of
the whole line between Marseilles
and Ventimiglia.
The latter, I think"
Good. How do We get there?
1t is fairly private?"
by road or train. Wild coun
try-but for the Corniche Road
isolated and unfrequented."
Splendid. You have time tc
show me the way?"
We boarded a train to LIE Trayas
and from there walked along g
path skirting the main road to the
viaduct. 1t reared above US, al
a great height. winding gracefully
over the Corniche.
The enormous arches were
deeply rooted in the dense under
growth at each ide-overhead
another troop train passed rum
blingly, swinging at the curve
UnQernedLn LAe arCheS. trees anC
bushes shut out the sun.
SINISTER DESIGNS
On one side, a rocky enbank
ment, on the other, the foothill!
of the ESterels. An ideal spot fol
the preparation of sinister de
signs.