The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-10-05

Ouo 4cllOWS U6IllL1u Lie SC6I16S al
the War Office gives you the
shove.
"By-the-by. Matresser, are you
going to add flying to the long
list of your accomplishments" he
asked. That's a magnificent
plane in the corner of the Park
there"
mo. I'm too old to take up
flying" Matresser replied. THAT
belongs to a foreign friend who
wants to take me off for a few
days D."
There was a quarter of an
hours 'neighborly talk, then Mat
resser led the way into the circu.
lar lounge where coffee was being
served. Without any apparent eff.
fort he started two bridge tables
and the table tennis. Soon the
whole party was busily engaged.
MatreSser took one last look
around and slipped away to his
study and Henry Yates.
"All serene, Henry?" he asked,
closing the door behind him.
ALL QUIET
quite quiet, sir. The govern.
nent operator from Norwich rang
up to be sure that we were still in
touch and to test the line. Moth.
ing else
MatreSser glanced at the clock.
1t was 10 minutes to II.
Shows their second session Is
lasting out" he meditated, Get.
ting nervous, Henry?"
Il don't think that am ever
that, sir" the little man replied,
stroking his short beard, but in
this case I am not fully acquainted
with the nature of the situation"
Cant say any of us are. We
have been drifting so long, though,
that any decisive action will seem
to be sensational.
"You think there will be war.
sir?"
Matresser answered like a man
whose thoughts were in some far
away place.
"One's fancies go for nothing
at such a time. They spring up
in the mind like weeds and pass
with the ticking of the clock.
Something is going to happen,
Henry. That I am sure Of.
Il could feel the SILVER Of ex.
element all over Europe last
time I came back. What does
happen will depend upon such a
small decision-a tremor in Down.
ing Street tonight, q mind that
turns the wrong way in Berlin to-
morrow. Anything might do it,
Henry. And what a war!"
Matresser had walked to the
broad window at the further end
of the apartment looking across
the park. All was darkness as he
stood there absorbed.
"Tell me the time, Henry" he
asked without turning around.
Five minutes to IL"
FEELS FUTILE
Matresser left the window and
walked down the room toward the
small round table on which the
telephone stood.
II feel so foolishly futile" he
confided, shut up here in
locked room talking to myself, try.
ing to keep calm-and yet believe
me, Henry, I am aching to over.
whelm those bloody-minded, slob-
bering so-called men of letters
who sit ready to launch their flam-
ing phrases and raucous rhetoric.
They have got it all cut-and.
dried. Not one yard Of our be-
loved empire, won by those who
gave body and soul for their coun-
try. shall be parted with.
The clock began to strike the
hour. Matresser was suddenly
silent. His severe mood had left
him. He stood close to Yates,
whose eyes were fixed upon the
telephone instrument. Before the
last stroke Of the clock the mes
sage came.
Norwich speaking. London is
on the line"
Matresser gripped the receiver
which had been handed to him.
'Matresser this end" he said
calmly.
1t was Sir Francis voice, husky
with emotion.
I'VE have won. Matresser." he
announced.
Magnificent"
Sir Francis voice for q mo-
ment shrill and then again hoarse.
"At great cost. Everyone seems
stupefied. The room is like a
battlefield strewn with the corpses
Of mangled phrases and MORALLY
wounded hopes. Destroy your tele-
phone connection. Leave with the
dawn, or before, if the moonlight
helps. Your pilot will know"
Then silence.
MatresSer took up a huge pair
of scissors from the desk and cut
the green telephone cord. His
voice seemed suddenly inspired.
Yates stared at him in amaze.
ment.
OFFICIAL ORDERS
Official orders, Henry. Too
late now for anyone to change
their minds. 1t is only five min
utes past II o'clock. You have
sent everything to the plane?"
Everything.
MatresSer'S fingers were already
upon the handle Of the door when
the crash came. The easement Of
the French window fell inwards,
smashed through the center and
the carpet was covered with spin.
tered glass. A man in blue over
alls. his face bleeding, staggered
into the room.