These strange goings on were in fact a part of daily life for Dean Maxwell, for he was a member of the East German Secret Police - known as B A T to the Western Powers. Dean Maxwell was not the name by which he was christened. But, there is no need to go into those details. He was at present on the trail of von Stalhein the defector and an enemy of the people. The policeman had traced him as far as the Hotel Maxim in Lucerne. The reason for this abnormal chase of a defector was that von Stalhein, who had been a high-ranking army officer, knew certain secrets which must not, at any cost, be lost to the Western World. Von Stalhein, who was far from honourable, planned to sell his secrets to the highest bidder. He did not as yet know of his pursuer. This then is the story as far as the five taps on the wall.
The echoes from Maxwell's taps reached the ears of Karl Miltoff, his Swiss contact. He slid aside a panel on the wall and passed through a slip of paper. With no word of acknowledgement or any signal that might give away his identity, Maxwell walked off and out into the cool mountain air. Snow crunched underfoot as he walked towards the ski-lift which carried skiers up the mountain slopes. The policeman boarded a chair. This was the ideal place for reading his message. With a jolt the lift started moving. Maxwell unfolded the paper and began to read:-
We have reason to believe that Von Stalhein will be negotiating terms for the sale of his
secrets with an American diplomat in one of the private rooms at your hotel at 23.00 hours
tonight. When you have gained sufficient 'evidence' arrest both men and bring them to the
station. They have been booked for the 00.30 train to Munich.
Meet your contact in carriage C.
The note was signed with the monogram of Maxwell's commander. Thankful for the brief period of rest he returned to his hotel.
That night he was ready to go. He knew the room where the meeting was to be held. At nine o'clock he entered. His gimlet eyes looked around the room. Finally they came to rest on an inkwell on the large table in the centre of the room. Here he was to place his bugging device. Stealthily, the man moved towards the table. He was bending over to place his minute tape-recorder in position when a sudden noise made him jump. He looked round, fearful of what he might see and then breathed a sign of relief. It was only a cat. The German continued with his task, soon all was finished. He had found a place to hide - behind the large curtains. All was ready. As stealthily as he had entered he made his way out and back to his room.
11 o'clock soon came. Maxwell had hidden himself behind the curtains. Von Stalhein was the first to arrive. He looked very nervous. Glancing all around, he searched the room, but luckily for Maxwell, didn't find the bugging device. Then the American, Schwarz arrived. Quite unlike Von Stalhein he was very sure of himself. Straight away he sat at the table. The defector, still very nervous, gave one last glance around him before he too sat down. Maxwell sat in anticipation behind the curtains, not daring to breathe.
Hurried conversation passed between the diplomat and the defector. Both of them were suspicious of each other. But, at last, a price was decided - $10,000.
By this time Maxwell had heard enough. He stepped out into the room with an air of triumph Von Stalhein and Scharwz looked up surprisedly.
"Say, what's goin' on ?"
"You are both arrested in the name of the People's Republic. Please, don't argue. You will both come."
Reluctantly the two men were pushed out of the building to the railway station. The train was on the platform as the captor and captives arrived. Soon it was speeding on its way.
But now it was Schwarz's turn to play his trump card. He revealed that if he had not returned to his base by one o'clock, his men would search for him on all escape routes. There were probably some on this train, having boarded at the stop after Lucerne.
And indeed they were. Two of them burst into the compartment in which the three men were.
"OK Surrender." one of them shouted.
"Never," replied Maxwell, a patriot to the last.
"Get him Joe!" was the command.
"Joe" advanced on Maxwell like an angry bear. They fought for about ten minutes until Maxwell began to tire, "Joe" caught him off guard, and he crashed through the window dead.
With a contemptuous glance out the window Schwarz Said, "OK, about the deal ...