The Washington times., 1937-10-25

BEGINS SEARCH
Well. 1 was in the place. Now
1 had to find the document, and
I began my search. Gino continu'
ing the while to whisper threats
and entreaties through the key
hole.
I went through the pockets of
the clothes he had discarded, rum
mayed in drawers, searched an
attache case-nothing. Time was
flying; my victim was beginning
to protest too loudly for my COM
fort, when suddenly I pounced on
the bed and began to search that.
Sure enough, the wallet was
between the two mattresses. The
young man was taking no chances
and slept on his possessions!
1 tore at the fastening Of the
leather case and spilled all its con-
tents on the coverlet; noteS-a
few letters-memos-a bulky let
ter addressed to somebody in zu.
rich-on a bunch I ripped this
open; a short typewriter note
and three or four bills Of lad
ing fell out Of it. -!
In frantic haste, I stuffed all
the other papers in the wallet,
pushed the case between the two
mattresses and concealed the in
eliminating letters in the bodice
of nv dress. .Now-how to get
out of the room in safety?
I seized the telephone and spoke
into it in a whisper.
Listen, Ada" I said to the
friend had called, who hap
pened to live on the same floor
as Gino and I, II am trapped in
Gino's room. He Is in the cor
ridor. in pajamas, furious a n d
breathing fire and threats.
Call Ethel and Neubarek and
Mehmet Ali and Marine and any
body you may think of who lives
on our floor and tell them to come
quick to Gino's door. When I
hear you, III emerge. 80"
Ada gave a whoop Of malicious
joy and went quickly to tn e
door, upon which Gino was be-
ginning to knock none too gently.
Hello, Ginetto! What are you
doing here whispering into your
own keyhole?" Bully! That was
Ada.
Marie is in there" he answered
heatedly. "She came to my room,
as usual: we quarTeled and she
locked me out. ="
"Sez you, precious!" another
voice drawled lazily. IF Marie is
in there and you outside, it is that
you tried on her the little trick
that failed with me the other eve.
ming :"
"Marie-you come out now
one-two-three!" this time il
was the friend I had visited
earlier in the evening and there
was a note of exultation in his
voice.
flung the door open and
sprang out into the corridor, col.
iiding with Gino, who bolted in
side, head bent and eyes blazing
The door slammed and we heard
a key being turned furiously in
the lock and bolt being shot.
We stood there, the six or seven
Of US, rocking with laughter.
Mehmet Ali patted me on the
shoulder.
I noticed then that my French
friend had diScreetly retired into
the background and, urged by a
sudden impulse, I turned to him:
FRATERNAL FOES
"see here, Octave" said, there
we are, all linked by a practical
joke-Allies and so-called enemies
can't we forget our respective
positions for an hour and have a
drink together 2"
The others looked at him ex-
pectantly: he was only the one
who distinctly belonged to the
Allied camp-as for all of us,
whatever our respective nationali.
ties, we were of the mysterious
brotherhood which lowered on the
outskirts of both camps-I, for
one, moved quite at ease among
the one or the other-Ada was a
Pole-Ethel, an American married
to Turk -.
Octave smiled and bowed: I'VE
might" he said, with a wink at
me. This reminds me that have
received a prize bottle of YER
mouth"
He led the way to his room.
I'll help you get the drinks
ready, Octave" I volunteered and
followed him into the bathroom.
Once there, my back to the room,
pulled out the precious papers
had stolen and gave them to him.
Correct, chief?" I asked.
He glanced through them hur.
riedly and emitted a soft whistle:
Correct" he said, "congratula-
tions. operator"
We drank and chatted for an
hour. then retired to our rooms.
The next few days were filled
with subdued excitement; it ap
peared that, while searching for
the missing bill of lading, I secured
other documents which proved
that our friend Gino was closely
connected with a German es.
pionage center in Zurich and was
busily corresponding with its head
That it was commercial eS.
plonage exclusively did not dimin,
ish the gravity of the offense.
Our young friend tried to circu
late lurld stories about my mid.
night excursions and I dsresay he