Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-04

The Silesian spoke with pre-
cision. He instructed me 10
report to the Gestapo that
Popoff was only a minor
courier, and that il would take
me some days 10 collect more
detailed information about the
captured Russian.
Furthermore, he indicated
that a way had TO be found
to lure q man from Schreck-
enbach's corps out of Ger
many. Wollweber proposed to
lure him either to France or
Denmark, with the aid Of a
bait that would greatly whet
the Gestapo's appetite.
TO BECOME HOSTAGE
Once the Gestapo operative
was outside of Germany, it
would be Avatin's job 10
seize him and ship him. alive,
TO Leningrad-to be held as a
hostage for Popoff.
"Once we have the scoun-
drel I'm our hands," Wollweber
concluded, I'VE can telephone
Schreckenbach and let him
know that his agent will fare
exactly as Popof fares In
Germany. They'll leave Pop
of alone. Then we negotiate.
I'VE send him a passport to
prove that he's Popoff. Well
agree to put Schreckenbach's
man on a German ship In
Leningrad, provided that Pop
of Is put aboard n Soviet
steamer In Hamburg. We
swap prisoners - and keep
our German Apparat intact"
"Why not grab one Of the
Gestapo fellows who are I'm
Copenhagen right now?" Jen-
sen suggested.
Small fry" Wollweb Der
muttered. 1--WE want a brigand
from headquarters"
Avatin's eyes lit up. His
willingness to help an i'm
portant colleague equaled his
cold hatred for policemen. He
shrank from nothing.
Good" he said. Lets CO."
The fifth man in our council
voiced hesitations. He was a
member of the Soviet con-
sulate in Copenhagen. He
pointed out that an unforeseen
mistake could cause trouble
with the Danish authorities.
1t would not only endanger
diplomatic relations. but also
the whole Copenhagen APP
parat of the GPU and the
Comintern.
DIRECTOR QUELLED
Wollweber, without utter
ing word. stared the Rus
sian into submission.
"We1l do IL right here in
Denmark" he said 10 the
consular agent. "You will
then be good enough TO I'M
dertake the palaver with
Schreckenbach. You will also
request Leningrad TO put the
right boys on the next two or
three ships that come here"
The vision of the tortured
Popoff haunted me. The
chance of aiding in the dis
patch of a Gestapo agent 10
mis- doom was difficult to re-
SiSt. But what of Firelei?
pointed out that the abduction
OF NaZi in Copenhagen
would probably disrupt my
line Of contact with the Ges-
tapo.
''Firelei, too, Is a comrade,"
l said.
Wen be careful" Woll-
weber promised. at need not
be Copenhagen. Why not
Sonderburg
Jensen grinned.
"Sonderburg is a good
place." he said.
THE party comes first"
Avatin pressed the words
through his teeth. I'VE must
rescue Popof before he goes
to the dogs"
Wollweber glowered.
"Comrade Firelei is Boil
shevik, too" he said, giving
my own words a sardonic and
threatening twist. "It so hap
pens that we cannot do with
out your help"
II was thinking of that" I
said sarcastically.
Does that mean that YOU
are ready 10 sacrifice Comrade
Popoff and the Apparat TO
avert a hypothetical danger
from your kin :''
l senSed the hidden menace
in this sally.
After ALL" Wollweber went
on in a friendiier tone, 1T II
not at all certain that the
Gestapo will connect you with
the disappearance Of one of
their agents"
replied:
you know better, Com
rade Ernst. Schreckenbach is
no fool"
UGLY GRIMACE
Wollweber grinned. When
he grinned, his masklike face
became an ugly grimace. He
was incapable of mirth which
was not saturated with con-