Show 7 IF BY GENERA ARED ITE A ID W W TUB THE STORY SO FAR colonel flat flap will acting assistant chief of staff OZ G 2 in charie charge 0 of military intelligence asu mated irom from secret information tint that there were nr european Euro troops ta in mexico bela being prepared for or a attack on the united states both be and ani the president preil dent wire re powerless pow erlei to act because ot of public 1 CHAPTER II 11 continued Bro stretched out face downward wardon on a cot raised his face as the steel door opened on the little hole to which he was confined his alert beady black eyes searched the face of his visitor and he sat up as recognition came to his face hello benning he said his face unaccountably brightening so its you come after me eh well im glad if I 1 must be hanged that its to be an american job merely a little visit Brom litz denning benning answered irn im not to take you home but understand my confession of gratification that youve been run down at last corporal hill the man you killed was a member of my company they engaged in a strained conversation denning benning prolonged his visit while he studied Brom litz for his own purposes lie he asked many questions of the Brom litz stay in luxembourg which the prisoner answered freely ire he was sharply puzzled by the evident good humor that his visit had brought to the fellow but Brom litz parting words cleared up that enigma may I 1 ask you a special favor benning Bro Brom litz asked as benning rose to go the prisoner was suddenly solemn there was a pleading note in his voice a beseeching look in his black eyes 1 I owe you no favors Brom litz denning benning said brusquely A very little favor to a man who must die the other implored let me tell you denning benning and you say no your coming here has greatly relieved my mind I 1 was suspicious that I 1 must have been betrayed to the french but x now I 1 know it was the american I 1 secret service that caught up with me A small distinction you say but an important one to me the one fine thing in my life has been denning benning a girl whom I 1 hoped soon to marry please will you take a message to her at luxembourg g tell her I 1 was killed by a train drowned tell her anything but the truth she must think me dead out of her loyalty she might wait for me through empty years ind and ashes too fine for that ordeal please let her think im honorably dead and cant ever return do that for me please benning Benn 1 CHAPTER ill III A tramcar took benning from the colonia station in mexico city to plaza mayor whence he crossed the broad mexican thoroughfare to the great stone hutkof the palacio ni nacional he accosted a gendarme and asked directions to general van hassels Has headquarters the policeman shook a puzzled head and answered ive heard of no such general in mexico senor perhaps denning benning suggested you can direct me to general ruiz the mexicans face lighted up and he spoke almost in awe si senor if your credentials are important enough you may find general ruiz to in the presidents suite at the palace denning benning smiled inwardly as he turned to the porto mariano and entered the palace many times since arriving at vern vcra cruz he had inquired about van hassek to find the name unknown it meant that van hassek hasak a real master of the mexican forces was entrenched behind ashout a stout incognito moving his pawns in the name of young ruiz the new dictator who had been placed in power by a swift furious and mysterious coup of european planning an elevator shot denning benning to the fourth floor he presented his credentials denti als to a staff officer with easy assurance so far his carte diden tite had passed him without question the staff officer directed him down a tiled corridor that rang with the clatter of military typewriters and all the hum and buzz of a general headquarters I 1 he was escorted into a large reception room at the far end of odthe the palace the staff officer got to his feet grudgingly ill see it if excellency wishes you to report to him personally he said in german he left the room but was back in afew a few moments cosay to say general Gener alVan van hassek will see you at once major denning benning found himself in an immense chamber whose rich furnishings ran a riot of vivid colors his eyes centered in some herple perplexity city upon the ioli solitary tary figure in the room a man sprawled in a deep crimson leather chair placed at one side of an immense blackwood desk was this van hassek the recumbent mans figure was lost in shapeless folds of fat his wide head was as as bald as a billiard ball his face was a network of of wrinkles thick jowls cascaded from jaw and chin moreover he appeared wholly inanimate a listless gaze fixed in some strange detachment on the beautifully frescoed ceiling installment TWO and congressional bentres centres opinion which failed ailed to realize rearte the th sIgn Meance of the ui troops in an effort to oban more deate proof colonel Flag will sent captain denning daring american Amert can intelligence officer to the th U S amba ambassador isador in paris ur here he be was told to impersonate Imperi lieutenant branutz a former american Amerl ca otaker who sir major Brom litz reporting from luxembourg for duty with general van hassek denning benning said briskly sit down Brom litz the other said without lowe lowering ring his eyes im van hassek 1 the tha van hassek uniform was the simple brownish tinted cotton khaki of this new mexican army at the collar was a silver crescent insignia of a lieutenant general the only other ornaments on his severely plain uniform were a glittering order of merit at his left breast and under tinder it the iron cross some moments passed in which the only sound was the heavy ticking of an immense german clock and the vague hum of traffic in the street below perhaps you can tell me brom litz van hassek mused without change of voice or posture yes perhaps you can tell me A faint smile passed his thick lips as he went on ive just come up from the salon tie de espera on a low er floor of the palace where ive installed a hospital perhaps I 1 should refer to it as my laboratory in an any y event no one ever leaves it alive ON 2 sit down Brom litz 91 but they are only spies and traitors who must die by one means or another for some months ive been watching them at the moment they leave the world yet im more mystified now than ihan ever so you you tell me Brom litz it if you can is death the end of us your pardon excellency benning answered im not ag a chaplain I 1 the other chuckled and with a vitality in his mirth that was not that of an ailing man the profession of arms is so vast and intricate Brom litz liti ive given up all hopes of mastering it in detail van hassek rejoined besides I 1 find occasional diversion in other lines of thoughts so many fikany many people must die of violence within the next year or two that ive 11 ve been trying to satisfy myself whether that will be the end of them you mean that many will die in war I 1 take it sir denning benning suggested millions van hassek answered stifling a yawn his pudgy arms thrust into the air over over his head his heels stretched forward and he squirmed erect in his huge chair you were im advised an american army officer van hassek said now speaking briskly in german im told therease there ther eare are serious charges standing against you in the united states denning benning said 1 I hopie hope not judge me by that general van hassek despite my past misfortunes im a soldier sir and hold the view that there is no other profession worthy of a man that being so when circumstances beyond my control placed a price on my head in one country I 1 the right to find service in another jaa ja a soldier is always a soldier Brom litz van hassek answered with an approving nod 1 I enjoyed my three years in china as much as my station in vienna and mexico is even more to my liking be cause there are big events shaping up teu tell me in your own way brom litz iltz what you think of the american ardys fighting capacity denning benning pondered briefly and tie de aided upon the full and unequivocal truth which after all could only confirm what van hassek must already alread know if you mean the american readiness for a sidden war that is nothing short of pitiable sir the united states land forces are scattered in small garrisons are not properly NEXT WEEK had bad planned to work with till the foreign agents rent la in bl mexico erico expelled from the V U s amy army he bad desired to get t ta f ven for or the intuit in sum Fortunat elys hid had teen been 0 so o flenning prepared to visit him in hit his ceu ceh to 16 study hit hi mannerisms mi now continue with he tory story equipped and have very little training in the team play of the larger combat elements what do you know of its strength there are four army infantry divisions and eighteen Na national tignal guard infantry divisions together with some four cavalry divisions all are at peace strength and it would take months to put them on a war footing fully equipped lif in total manpower count on men within the territorial limits ja very good what about their fighting equipment pitiable when you consider the whole picture their artillery is largely world war vintage stuff short on ammunition antiaircraft instruments of precision modern rifles their antitank anti tank weapons arent out of the factories yet it would take them a year to make the weapons need it if they purchase them in foreign markets as they did for the world war but they have a high class officer personnel thoroughly trained and ja I 1 know of that van hassek interrupted with a dash afim of impatience but it takes modern equipment and plenty of training to fight a battle attle these days now tell me another her thing Brom litz would the mass of americans stick together in event of invasion denning benning pondered briefly and answered im sure you can count on it that they will sir but what if they were overrun suddenly how long would they stand up under terrific military punishment when they had their chance offered them to to buy theli their way back to peace excellency is it probable that anyone would be audacious elou enough sh to attack the united states on ifer her own soil denning benning asked 1 I mean when her potential resources in wealth and manpower are taken aalten into consideration van hassek snapped out precisely why hy she must be attacked on her own soil because of her er la ia lai i tent strength 1 benning pretended perplex perplexity ty an anda countered im not sure I 1 U understand dr just what Excel excellency lenc me means 1 I mean it was americas stupid intervention that wrecked the world in the great wr war but her strength turn the balance in the last war excellency 1 strength bahl van hassek scoffed not for more more than a year after the united states jumped into the war did her soldiers fire a shot in battle then only after the french supplied her ber with cannon the british with rifles helmets and gas masks and d both sides conducted a military kindergarten to instruct her divisions in the art of war ja that was her latent strength streng van hassek got up abruptly and with an amazing agility he w went i ent to his desk and touched a call button the captain from the anteroom responded promptly captain vin van hassek instructed ted im very well satisfied with Brom litz you may have him report for the time being to colonel bravot later I 1 may have more important us use for him CHAPTER IV denning benning found himself assigned to a stuffy little room that was piled high with american newspapers and magazines half a dozen other officers were engaged in reading these publications each day this group was required to make ia summary of american cress press opinion as affecting mexican relations outwardly a peaceful enough job but one that benning knew to be a vital martof part of van has war machinery during the next few few days benning kept pretty much to himself though cautiously making friends with the austrian captain fincke who sat at his elbow A bit at a time he meant to gather the information he had come for if long risks i had to be taken in order to secure important secret that would have to wait until he had the lay of things at headquarters mexico city benning observed in his off duty strolls was serene and untroubled mexican troops themselves had undergone a transition they had shoes on their feet and discipline in their ranks and were used largely as labor troops except for patrols and a daily guard mounting there was iwas no dally daily martial display in the city ruiz holding the military rank of colonel general was an imposing figure erect lean dashing his uniform was always vivid and he was forever attended by flashily uniformed sides aides and orderlies benning thought ruiz must have been pi picked f eked for appearance as well as djs susceptibility to control in order to put on an a show that would catch and hold the mexican imagination TO HE BE CONTINUED |