The Washington times., 1937-11-30

CdSSJ u duu44nS poPCAS "AN AS''
unhurried, businesslike way.
Jacob van Drynden, unofficial
courier of one of the enemy" en-
bassies, was no more. No longer
would he breeze his way across the
French frontier, under cover Of a
spurious diplomatic passport, and
carry instructions to spies in Paris
and London.
The whole affair had been I'M
rehearsed and unexpected, as
rapid as a well-timed film and as
far-fetched.
We had been detailed to Lau-
same, Captain Sorel and I, where
we were to attend a meeting OF
various chiefs of counter-espionage
centers during the weekend.
Hardly out of the Berne station.
Captain Sorel sought me in the
compartment, where I was alone,
and flicked a crumpled piece OF
paper on to the seat.
smoothed out the spill and
read: ivan Drynden on train, go
ing Paris. Chance to ascertain
what he's up to. We follow"
We did. At Geneva, we scuttled
out of the station separately, then
came together outside, plunged
into a taxi and followed our
quarry.
He went to an unpretentious
little hotel in a side street off the
quay. So did we. He booked a
room and we followed suit.
SHEER LUCK
BY sheer luck, the rooms we're
on the same floor, separated by a
bathroom and a toilet. Van Dryn-
den went down into the lounge
and ordered coffee. We sat at a
nearby table.
He was soon Joined by an in
conspicuous individual, with whom
he chatted inconSequentially, but
from the conversation we learned
that he was off to Paris and
London on the following day.
We heard his companion propos-
ing a show, and soon the two men
left.
THAT was Greicher from the
German consulate Sorel whiS-
pered. They're up to something.
Now's our chance"
It was a quirk of fate that Van
Drynden turned up just at the
moment when the captain had dis
posed of the lock of his suitcase
and had begun looking through its
contents. There was no outcry.
The pseudo Dutchman slipped
into the room noiseleSSly and
stared.
"So-o!" he said, and that was
the last word he uttered. Captain
Sorel's fist shot out and found
the angle Of his jaw. The man
toppled backwards, striking his
head against the heavy fender,
and lay still.
Sorry. It was that or our lib
erty, exposure, disaster. Help me, y
my companion rnuttered.
Together we managed to raise
the heavy body and lay it on the
bed. A perfunctory examination
showed that the man was dead.
FeveriSh excitement held me
"Give me all those papers" bab
bled. "Ill slip out and take them
to the French Consulate-no-
it's closed, Of course-to the con
Sul's house. Then we must scat!'
Nothing of the sort, my child
Sorel spoke coldly. 1--WE must moi
lose our heads. The papers gc
back with us and we cannot leave
before the morning"
That night was sheer torture
We sat and smoked. My com
panion was in state of almos'
insane elation. Van Drynden car
ried explicit orders to spies il
France-a list of names and ad
dresses.
We had secured unprecedented
data. It meant the disruption O.
the enemy service in France
meant plaudits and bouquets.
could not forget that still figurt
on a bed, three rooms away. Sup
pose he woke up, after all?
Suppose anybody came to hi
room before we could leave tn
hotel? There were eerie sounds IL
the night and each of them mad
me Jump in terror.
NO TRAINS
Nothing happened. At an un
earthly hour we crept downstairs
paid our bill, and made our wa,
to the station.
We had forgotten one littl
iten-this was Sunday. In tn
last year of the war there was al
g economy drive" on. and no train
ran on Sundays. None but tn
daily express to Paris would leav
tnat day
1--WE must hire a car" I pre-
posed.
mo hired cars allowed, either
don't you remember?" my com
e. psnion said, stonily.
We went through the meage
list of our acquaintances in Ger
: eva. Nobody who possessed a car
The consul? We trudged to hi
house but to learn that he ha
: left on Friday evening in his ca
for holiday.
The lake boats. This was ou
. only chance. The boat to Lal
=, same would be about due to leave
:, Restricted service on Sundays, q
; course, but still a chance. We hui
W ried to the quay.
A huge crowd milled in the SUI
shine on the docks. Every singl