The Washington times., 1938-05-17

1 CdIleQ MIN Inc Rn1ne 1Olu,
for his blond, good looks invested
him with the rare quality Of a
golden statue. And being, as he
called 1t himself, "just q rich idler
on the face Of the earth," he az
fected many startling changes of
costume and was always painstak-
ingly careful to dress according to
his general scheme of color.
I liked the Rhine Gold, though I
would have never dreamed Of con-
fiding in him or making use Of
him. He was merely q playboy
hanger-on. amusing at times, al
ways good.natured and invariably
merry.
did not think Of him when the
Chief called me suddenly to our
secret rendezvous on the Lake Of
Geneva. The moment-as most
momentS-waS tense. Once more
we we're going through a period Of
mysterious leakageS and setbackS.
Something was wrong with the
ervice-informatlon was apt to
prove false-there was nothing
amiSS with my own end Of the
work, but I knew that the Chief
had worries in some other quarter
and I hoped he would tell me Of
them.
GERMAN SPY
He did. 1T is not q story that
reflects favorably on my own in
telligence and sagacity," he said
dryly. "The fact Is that I have
discovered that one Of my most
valued agents is nothing else but
a maSquerading German officer.
He has been in my confidence for
the past six months and has taken
cleveriy cunning advantage Of his
position. I shall execute" him to-
day and need you as witness" :"
I shuddered. But does he know
you have unmaSked him?" I asked.
He nodded. '"Then," said hope
fully, "he won't come. Does he
usually come here?"
Eyes, though at intervals see
him in Paris. Sapristi, what cum
ming and what daring! He did
not even change his name, merely
his nationality. Oh, yes, he will
come :"
But he must know that It
means the firing squad" I pro-
tested.
And what of that? Isn't he
an officer?" There was a note of
pride Of caste" in the Chiefs
voice.
WINE AND CIGARS
There had been elaborate prep
arationS made for the reception
Of the spy. The meeting was to
take place in the small drawing
room, gay and fragrant with noun
tain flowers. There was wine on
the table and a large box of cigars.
When the door opened and the
Rhine Gold walked in, wonder
fully turned out in a brown tweed,
I caught my breath with some
thing Of almost unbearable pain.
The Rhine Gold! The same and
yet subtly different. Gone were.
the nonchalant gait, the slightly
STOPPING shoulders Of the idler,
the gay half-srnile and the quiz
zical light in the tawny eyes. He
was tense and almost stiff. with
the typical stiffness of the officer
on parade; his eyes glowed, but
it was the light of determination
that Shone in them, and his
mouth, that merry, shapely mouth,
was set in a stern line and pale.
He clicked his heels and bowed
from the waist.
"Oberleutnant Reinhold Won
Tronmer, Zllr Befehl, Herr Oberst,"
he said in q clear, cold voice and
waited.
80" the chief said softly. "you
knew"
That you have discovered my
identity? Yes-I have been
WHY DID YOU COMET
Seeing that you were warned,
why did you come? You could
have disappeared as others have
done before"
"Not officers, sir" There was
something indefinite, like an ap-
peal, like q craving for approval,
in the Rhine Colds voice.
mo, not officers, of course. 4
beg your pardon" The Chief in