Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-11-27
The First Day 2 Eth. ,% .,~

SpflISNiS Sttp. NOW tIldl IleT message
was delivered. she felt that she had
exaggerated the risk John would not
entrust dangerous commission to an
untried recruit. In short, there was
nothing to this spy business. II was
merely as a matter of pabulum that
she asked Georg a question.
rs that man staying at the hotel
for the night?"
Yes" replied Georg, Il booked him
while you were upstairs with the boss
He's got So"
Good. Did you get top price?"
unfortunately, no. could tell ne
was Prussian and naturally he must
have our best suite"
Naturally"
AS she was rejecting on the excel
lence of the agents disguise, he
strolled into the lounge. to get an
aperitM. His hat was now removed,
revealing a completely shaven scalp.
Blond hair" The words slipped
back into her memory, awakening a
dormant suspicion. She watched the
man throw back his drink and then
in an effort to allay her subconscious
worry-she began to look through
pile of spiked papers.
Presently she heard faint drum
ming and glanced up to discover its
| cause. The carpet beside the showcase
had worn so threadbare that it had
been cut away to reveal the parquet
| flooring. Upon this strip of waxed
board, a man was doing a sort of
elementary tap dance, as though to
register Impotence.
He was signalling with his feet
| AS she grasped the fact. she realized
that this was the agent she had been
told to expect. He was tall and very
fair. with bright blue eyes Although
his head was partially shaven, the hair
on top was flaXen while over one eye
was livid white scar.
She looked at the clock and saw
that it was on the stroke of twelve.
1t was the worst moment of her
life. She had made a ghastly blunder.
even if it were no fault of hers. The
mistake was due to the fact that Fate
in a freakiSh mood-had contrived
the same description to cover two
men. Staring at him with Mortified
eyes. as though she had condemned
him to death, she realized that not he
alone, but other victims, would pay
the penalty of her error.
The crisis sharpened her wits She
knew that it was impossible for her
to slip away. in order to warn the
agent at 103 Postgasse. The entire
management of the hotel depended
upon herself, so that such mprece-
dented action would focus on her the
limelight she must avoid. Probably
too, she would be followed and so give
the whole show away. AS she knew no
telephone number to ring, the only
chance to save the "twig" was through
the blonde stranger.
After first glancing swiftly around
she caught his eye and-daring
greatly-made the Victory sign with
her fingers.
Are you the gentleman who booked
room over the phone?" she asked in
sorry but there has been blunder !
forgot to reserve it Georg, who
has 88?'
Herr Won Ringner," replied the
clerk glibly.
AS she stared at the agent. willing
him to understand, she felt the flash
of his repsonse.
"Oh, bad luck" he said with a
shrug. II left it to pal to ring you
up about it, Did he leave any mes
sage for me?"
mo, Fraulein," broke in Georg.
1.-THE calls have been only for our
clients. There has been nothing for
this gentleman.
"On the contrary" Vivien informed
II took the message myself, when you
were not in the lounge"
IF there is one, it will be here, =
declared Edda, almost snatching at
the spiked memoranda, in her eager
ness to prove that Vivien had made
another slip.
Instantly Vivien removed it from the
girls grasp.
ALLOW me to know my own business
while you attend to yours" she said
Her brain worked feverishly while
her fingers rustled the pile Of flinlsies.
She believed that the "V" agent
understood that Won Ringner had re-
ceived the information which was
meant for him, but that was a minor
point. The essential was to give it to
him also and in such a manner as to
awake no curiousity or suspicion in
Georg or Edda.
Suddenly she took a bold step
I've found it, she said, removing
a slip from the bottom of the papers
and reading it aloud. 1T says, ITO
night at 8, 103, PortgaSse.' Your friend
wants you to ring him . Here it is
you might forget the address"