The Washington times., 1938-01-08

nalist and writer, he had-some
years baCk-been obliged to flee
his own country, because of a
Scurrilous, libelous book, in which
he had attacked members of the
Polish ariSticraCy.
He had drifted to Paris and
INDUCED there in semi-literary
Notwithstanding activities, clev.
er enough to escape the penalties
such activities entailed, brazen
enough to succeed in being ''re
ceived' and in enjoying certain
measure of inVidious popularity.
The war. to such as he, had
come as a Godsend: 1t was quite
natural. with his knowledge o.
languages and cunning, that he
had drifted into espionage. He
might Lave been useful to his
adopted country-instead he had
chosen the better paid way-that
of betrayal, and I had unmasked
him.
1t was sheer luck which saved
him from the traitors firin g
squad: Warned in time he had
escaped to Switzerland and from
there. to Germany.
And so, we meet again, dear
lady" he repeated. his hand
lightly grasping my arm. But
this is a pleasure indeed. And
may I ask you what you are doing
in Berlin? And how are those
dear dolts of the Second Bureau?"
RETAINS COMPOSURE
With an effort, I clung to my
composure and answered as so
berly as l could. I was on my way
to Poland, on family business. AS
for the Second Bureau, supposed
he knew more of it than l did.
is that SOP" he Sneered. We'll,
what l don't know l can guess,
and one of the things 1 can guess
is that your business, dear lady, is
less family than-Shall we say
national, or rat h er lnterna-
tjonal
And what are you going to do
about it?" l asked with what bra
Va6o I could muster.
That remains to be seem" he
said reflectively. Live and let
live is my motto. you know. This
war plays the dickens with all
one principles and ideals,
doesn't it?
Still. there is no reason why
we shouldn't come to an under
standing. you and I. You've
played shabby trick on me a
year ago, haven't you? Well, 1t
is in my power now to pay you
back in kind - but - well - we
could talk it over, eh?"
Blackmail. Sheer, unadulter'
ated blackmail. was safe enough
in Switzerland had established
myself firmly enough there to be
able to laugh at blackmailers and
to checkmate any possible be-
trayal.
But here. in Berlin. in spite OF
introductions l carried, it was dill
ferent. This man was fully able
to tell a convincing story, to give
certain proofs, to inveigle me IN
enough unpleaSantness not only
to wreck my mission, but even to
jeopardize my safety -.
Al all costs I had to get rid OF
this man. In Switzerland. l
could have denounced him to the
authorities and have had him
flung into prison-here He
read my thoughts and laughed:
Not as easy to dispose OF me
as 1t was in Paris. eh?" he querled
amusedly. For your lntorma-
tion, I'd better tell you that I
happen to have friends here
powerful friends. l, too, am eX-
pecting to go to Poland soon, dear
lady. There is much to be done
there. believe me.
my countrymen do not seem to
realize how lucky it is for them
that they have fallen into Ger
man hands. There is much un-
seemly plotting going on. Some
people are still working secretly
to help your precious Allies. This
has to be stopped, you under
stand -
And you would betray your
own countrymen. would you?" l
said contemptuously. We'll, that
is exactly in your character, isn't
ftp"
He shrugged his shoulders. Are
they my countrymen? Do I owe
them anything? Haven't they
bounded me out, ANONYMOUSLY?
1T seems to me that I have a
little account to settle in Warsaw,
just as I have a little account to
settle with you. and the occasion
offers for both ="
PLAYS FOR TIME
There was. in my muff. that
ugly little Browning automatic
that never left me. I could feel
the squat. cold shape of it through
my glove-my fingers closed over
it, as it lay in a deep, secret
pocket-the touch gave me com
fort and courage-but where and
how was I to use it? I must play
for time-make him talk-lead
him on-meanwhile, evolve some
logical and fool-proof plan
We strolled on, down the broad
avenue, through the Brandenbur
ger Thor, finally into the Tiergar
ten. There were few people there
and fewer vehicles.
I knew of certain delightful
winding paths which were ever