Evening star., 1943-07-03

~ & a.,: : decide: :: s: It It
amateur for
Henry McLsnors. eign agenting
after listening to some OF the stories
told me in London by correspond
ents who had been here In Fire where
Axis as well as Allied Nations still
have consulates. A correspondent
told me in whisper that no matter
where he went in Dublin he could
feel eyes boring into his back and
could see quiet, little men listening
to every word he said. Another told
me that he always looked under the
bed and into the clothes closets be-
fore he turned out the light at
night. Still another told me that
he even stuffed the keyhole of his
room and would have liked the as
surance of cold steel under his
pillow.
Well, there was still enough of the
spirit of adventure in my Georgia
frame to make me come to Dublin.
Before 1 left London I tried to re-
member all the spy movies had
seen and how sleuths dressed.
thought of Conrad Veidt, Tyrone
Power, Don Ameche, Spencer Tracey
and all the others who had gone
through hell and high water on cell
luloid. I finally decided on a very
simple outfit. I purchased long
linen duster which hadn't been used
since those who drove their cars at
30 miles an hour were known as
"scorchers" I also invested in a
motoring cap of the same vintage,
a pair of heavy goggles and some
rubber-soled shoes.
Listens to Jammets.
1t was in this ensemble that I ar
rived in Dublin and went straight
away to Jammet's Restaurant. It
is in the mems bar Of Jammet's and
in the Buttery of the New Hibernian
Hotel that my informants said all
the agents gathered.
Its just like being in Lisbon or
Stockholm" they said. Just keep
your mouth shut and listen"
I created quite a stir when
strobe into Jammet's. Every eye was
on me as I peered through the
goggles and took a seat in a corner
which gave me sweep of the room
| and protected me from any pos
sible attack from behind. I had
couple of Guinnesses and began
to feel like Edward G. Robinson. I
strained my ears for conversation,
hoping to pick up scraps of infor-
nation which would be valuable to
the American Government But.
every one talked in code. I heard
man who must have been a Ger
man distinctly say something about
"flet of sole with sauce meunier."
dutifully put this down in my note
book. A Frenchman Che must have
been a Vichy mani talked long and
earnestly about the Importance of
Dubonnet sherry. This, too, went
into the notebook and when I get
back to London, the Embassy will
have my notes straight away.
Three More of the Same.
After taking thousands Of notes,
1t seemed to me that I should talk
little and put any enemy agents
who might be listening on the wrong
scent. So when a fellow asked me
for a match I asked him in a loud
voice if he had heard of the new
American secret weaponS-a street.
fighting gun that could be forced
around corners, a glider that could
fly backwards and a new type or
submarine that would not submerge.
No one took note on what said,
so said it all over again, this time
in louder voice and I added an
other hush-huSh weapon-a bomb
that was laden with chicken-pox
germs Still no one took a note, so
I finally said the hell with 1t ana
ordered three more Guinnesses.
1t is my opinion that Dublin isn't
at all like Lisbon or Stockholm, but
is simply city filled with people.
who. because of advanced civilization
or ignorance, don't want any part
of the war.
In conclusion, If you have enough
petrol to enable you to motor a BIT
and want a smart duster, cap and
goggles 1 can be reached at the
Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin, Room
1l3. If you call in person you'll find
Room lib on the fifth floor, which
is something only an Irish architect
would do
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