The Washington times., 1938-01-15

mother having been a German
But there were other matter
which could not be overlooked
Adrian Verlinden turned informel
on his own people; he became th'
invaders most valuable blood
hound; even his own flesh was moi
spared, for it happened that his
elder brother belonged to the ia
nous Dame Blanche" organiza
ton, and him Adrian callouSly be
trayed to his death.
The Allied services in Belgium
had been on his track and had
failed to bring him to retribution
Nevertheless, Belgium became "too
hot" for him and, one day, he ap'
peared in Switzerland.
Verlinden served the occupation
authorities, in Belgium, but found
himself ostracized in Switzerland
by the very people he had served
Just as they would have never
dreamed of asking me to work
against France, so they despiSed
him for the part he had played.
He had been paid; well and
good; but don't let him come near
the embassy or presume on his
past services.
JOINS CIRCLE
It was quite natural that the
man should join the somewhat
bizarre" circle in which I moved.
It was less natural, according to
my German friends, that I should
make an almost daily companion
of him and seem to find pleasure
in the association.
1t must be said in all fairness
that Adrian Verlinden was pleas
ant and highly intelligent COM
panion.
That despised and loathed him
as much as anybody else did had
nothing to do with the matter,
since a secret service operative has
no right to personal likes or dis
likes.
Orders are orders, and mine
were: Get Verlinden at all costs,
no matter what you may feel"
Adrian Verlinden was wanted in
France, where he would be made
to answer for his crimes.
How to lure him across the from
tier became my problem. 1t was
not easy. The man knew what
awaited him on the other side and
was clever enough to avoid traps.
He was safe in German Switzer-
land, and after three years of
thrills and nervous tension in Bel
GUM, he gave himself up whole
h2artedly to relaxation, but always
with a wary eye on possible snares
and ambushes.
It was a chance remark of my
son, then 6 years old, which gave
me the possible solution-if only
1t could be worked =.
It had soon become apparent to
my friends and associates that the
handsome Belgian had fallen in
love with me and that I was
somewhat recklessly-encouraging
him.
The situation was viewed with
mixed feelings by those concerned,
but there were some amongst them
namely my immediate chiefs of
the Deuxieme Burea u-who
thought that this development
was indeed providential.
GOOD SUGGESTION
It was then that my young son
came to me with his suggestion:
that of picnic on the lake. Not
just a short picnic, mummy he
urged, "but whole day in a motor
launch-right up to the head of
the lake and back :"
1t was dazzling June day, when
we alighted at Lausanne Station,
my young son and 1. laden with
lunch baskets and parcels, and
took a cab to the far end of the
Ouchy Quay, where Verlinden was
to have preceded us and engaged
a launch.
I knew of a mooring-stage just
at that spot, where had directed
him to go, assuring him that he
was sure to find there the craft
we needed.
He was at the rendezvous, and
the luxurious launch he had Sc
cured left nothing to be desired.
With squeals of delight, my son
darted into the cockpit and
"helped the driver steer"
Verlinden was in a sentimental
mood. He was dreaming day
dreams; the war was bound to be
over soon; Germany would win, OF
course, and though he was
Stunned now, he would come into
his own" when Belgium became
a German province.
There was hatred in his soul
and he was planning more be.
trayals and revenge against those
who had summed and sighted him
during the past years.
I was a part of his plans; he
was gracious enough to propose
marriage; that my money counted
Importantly in his calculations
would have been obvious, even to a
woman less detachedly determined
than I was. I led him on.
Dusk was falling when oul
driver turned the nose of the pow
erful launch towards Lausanne
and sent the craft skimming ovel