The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-10-11

My friendly relations at the Ger
man Embassy in Switzerland made
my chief believe that I had just
to ask in order to be told all the
secrets of the Central Powers
which, let me tell you, was not the
case.
I had soon found out that the
less questions I asked, the more
I would eventually learn.
This assignment, in the solving
of which 1 was materially helped
by an unwittingly friendly snake,
was at first something of poser:
and extremely able Lithuanian
statesman. suspected of being &C
lively on the side of the Central
Powers, was reported as having
arrived in Switzerland for a con-
ference with the German EN-
baSsy.
The man was described as ex-
tremely clever, comparatively un-
known, so that his description
was unavailable, a good hngulst
and, last but not least, he was sup
posed to travel under an alias.
There ha6 been several arrivals
at my hotcI, but how was to tell
which one e them was my quarry?
reasoned that, since his visit was
secret, he would not oStensibly
come from Lithuania, but from
some inconspicuous country, prob
ably another neutral state.
That, too, led nowhere. All the
new arrivals we're listed as coming
from neutral countries. All OF
them spoke French, English, Ger
man. Besides, there were other
hotels anu my man would not
necessarily stop at mine. 1nqulr-
les elsewhere proved a blank.
LAST CHANCE
I finally decided to visit the Ger
man Embassy and try my luck
there. Without asking any queS-
tions, / might see or hear some
thing useful. Anyway, this was
my last chance. -,
The embassy was on the edge OF
a forest, almost at the town limit.
had to take street car which
brought me to the beginning OF
the forest, then walk through a
wide avenue to path which led
direct to tire house.
happened to notice one man
riding with one, whom could not
place, He looked for all the world
like a placid university professor
was positive I had never seen
this man before, and Berne nelng
a small town, filled, at that tlme,
with conspicuous people, ! Woulo
have surely met him, had he oeen
anybody of Importance.
dismissed him as OF no par
ticular account and rode on think
ing deeply of my problem.
I left the car at the forest stop
and walked briskly up the wide
road. noted without interest,"
that my unknown man had
alighted and strolled leisurely a
few yards behind me.
WATCHES MAN
I turned several times to survey
his progress, for one can never be
too careful and he might have
been some secret agent bent on
learning the reason for my being
at that place.
Once had satisfied myself that
he was merely strolling purpose
lesely, I fastened toward the side
path which led to the Embassy.
I had almost reached it. when
suddenly I stopped short with a
gasp of horror: there, on the sun
drench road, crossing it with a
slow, uncoiling motion, a large
viper, of a kind which I knew to
be highly dangerous, barred my
way!
It was barely ten yards away
and sensing or seeing the ap-
proach of a human being, it coiled
itself into a compact ball and
reared its ugly head, ready tc
SprlnR ana SCIlke.
NV first impulse was to turn
and run-my second, to kill the
reptile. I had nothing but hand
bag. and this is hardly an ade'
quate weapon against a deadly
snake, but, on both sides Of the
road lay pieces Of rock and pro
vided I could reach one of those
I might be able to hurl it at the
viper and crush it.
I retreated cautiously, one wary
eye on the rearing snake. A dash
to a pile of rocks and had, in
both hands, a powerful weapon.
It took only seconds, but was
hot and cold in turn and I imag.
ined this two-sided progress lasted
hours Yes, the snake intended
to fight: once more it was poised
for striking and that ugly head
swung to and fro following my
every motion Now! I braced
myself, took one long step forward,
hurled my rock and sprang back.
The notified brown length of
reptile lashed madly, pinned under
the heavy stone had not
killed it, but I had rendered it
innocuous for the moment and
sided nearer, highly elated over
my proves.
FRANTIC VOICE
It was then that became aware
Of footsteps pounding the road
and of a voice calling frantically
to me: the man had noticed on
the street car was running in my
direction waving his arms and