The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-01-10

'lSitor. MIR. Shields was a portIy,
smar,ly groomed man in late mid
die life. His round. forid face was
an mGrat:ating smile as ne invited
Benn,ng to a seat and rendered q
cigarette.
I'm glad you're here on the dot,
SEEMING" he said. There's quite q
bit to be done in Paris, and YOU
must be in Bordeaux tomorrow to
catch your boat for Vera Cruz"
Benning said. "Tm at your dis
posal. sir"
The ambassador regarded his Wis
l'or with certain whimsical visit
fulness. He lighted a cigarette.
You know. Benning." he said. 81
decidedly envy you this opportunity
Tor distinguished Service. I think I
know what's under the surface Of
things in Europe. but I can't prove
anything in the concrete way that's
necessary. So you must 60 to Mex
leo to do the job"
I'D suppose. SIR" Benning COM
mented. that our government was
informed at least of the larger dip
lomatic facts"
"Facts?" Shields echoed the word
derisively. But there's only one
accepted fact in International rela-
tons today: that the maps are list
ed for an overhaul. Outwardly ev-
eryone is praying for peace to come
out Of the current muddle. Under
the surface the big question In, When
will the lid blow off? We're looking
to you for the answer, Benning."
Benning's eyes narrowed. "fm
not sure I understand, sir"
Mr.. Shields laughed mirthlessly.
"I'll speak frankly. Why. after
those devastating, murderous
months Of savage mass murder last
year did the Coalition Powers patch
up an armistice with the Allies while
their armies squatted inconclusively
on a mere segment Of conquered
Europe? Ostensibly to work out q
peace formula to save civilization.
But now everyone suspects the ar
mistice is Coalition subterfuge to
shift some alignments, gather new
forces, and-vastly more important
-circumvent the United States from
a disastrous armed Intervention.
didn't mean to get all steamed up
on that subject. Benning. But in
this grim world Of reality In which
have to work. our SNUG provincial.
ism at home does get on my nerves
at times, not to mention how IL
cramps our style. Getting down to
your work. do you by any chance
remember the case Of q Lieutenant
Bromlitz Of our army who escaped
some two years ago from the Unit
ed States?"
Every distinctly. SIR" Benning an
swered at once. Happened in my
own regiment at Fort Jay. Brom-
litz was accused of stealing can
teen funds. When the adjutant ar
rested him, Bromlitz knocked the
adjutant down and, in his efforts to
escape, shot and killed the corporal
Of the guard. BY some black magic
Bromlitz then vanished into thin
air."
AT the present moment" Mr..
Shields said, "Bromlitz Is at the
fortress Of Vincennes, held incom-
municado by the French. They
nipped him a few days ago when
he arrived from Luxembourg as an
army intelligence operative for the
past year. 1t seems he had made
connection with Van Hassek agents
and was selected for the Mexican
service"
Benning made a swift deduction
and said dryly, IL assume, sir, that
I am to go to Mexico masqueraded
as an escaped murderer"
"A very lucky break, Benning. We
have the whole inside of 1t. Bromlitz
is known to be an American with O
record that strips him of any posi-
BILE American loyalties. As a former
American officer, Van Hassek no
doubt thinks the fellow q valuable
acquisition. Gave him the rank of
major, which you now inherit"
isn't it bit extraordinary. sir,
that the French learned all this?"
Benning wanted to know.
mot when you consider the facts.
Bromltz, 1t appears. has q fair for
romance. He fell very much In love
with girl in Luxembourg, told her
his plans, promised to send for her
as soon as he could afford it,
"And she spilled the beans"
The ambassador smiled and said:
why not? The French keep their
ears to the ground and they've been
paging Bromlitz since he frst
showed up in Luxembourg. They
put their cleverest she agent on him,
Mademoiselle Lucette Ducos. The
French are turning Bromlitz' pass
ports and secret orders over to us.
You'll need only TO transfer your
own photograph to the Bromlitx
passports. The French have q spe-
cial process for doing this. At your
convenience en- route to Mexico you
should practice his signature. I
thought, too, you might want TO look
the fellow over to refresh your mem
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