would take a chance. He discovered that the well-known German
the officer at the desk had received full instructions.
politely.
He gave an order, and in a few minutes Johannes was brought in. Apparently he had been told
what was going to happen; he had got a shave, and appeared interested in life again. The odds
and ends of property which he had had upon his person were restored to him; he signed a
receipt, bade a courteous
Lanny had the painful duty of knocking this newborn happiness flat. "Painful news, my
friend. Freddi has been missing for two weeks, and we have no idea what has become of him."
The poor father sat in the car with tears streaming down his cheeks while Lanny told about the
last meeting with Freddi, the arrangements which had been made, and the dead silence which
had fallen. Lanny couldn't bear to look at him—and had a good excuse, having to drive through
busy traffic.
He explained his decisions, and the heartbroken father replied: "You did what was best. I
shall never be able to tell you how grateful I am."
"I'm only guessing," Lanny continued; "but I think the chances are that Göring has Freddi
and intends to keep him until the scandal will no longer be news. Our only chance is to comply
strictly with the terms of the understanding. It seems to me the part of wisdom for us to tell no
more than we have to, even to the family. The less they know, the less trouble they will have in
keeping secrets."
"You are right," agreed the other.
"I think we should say we feel certain that Freddi is a hostage, and that, since he is some day
to be released, he is not apt to be mistreated. That will make it easier for them all to get over the
shock."
"I will tell them that I have had an intimation to that effect," said Johannes. "Anything to get
Rahel quieted down. Otherwise she might insist upon staying. We must take her at all hazards,
for she can do nothing here."
When they got to the hotel they found that Mama had already imparted the news, Irma had
confirmed it, and the young wife had had her first spell of weeping. It wasn't so bad, for she
had made up her mind for some days that the worst must have happened. Her father-in-law's
kind "intimation" helped a little; also Lanny's promise to keep up the search. The determination
of the others to get her and her child out of Naziland was not to be resisted.
It wasn't exactly a fashionable autoload which departed from under the marquee of the
Adlon Hotel. The magnificent uniformed personage who opened the car doors was used to seeing
independent young Americans driving themselves, but rarely had he seen three dark-eyed Jews
and a child crowded into the back seat of a Mercedes limousine about to depart for foreign
lands. Both Lanny and Irma were determined to finish this job, and not let their periled friends
out of sight until they were safe. In the breast pocket of Lanny's tan linen suit were stowed not
merely the passports of himself and wife, but a packet of documents which had been delivered by
messenger from the headquarters of Minister-Präsident Göring, including four passports and
four exit permits, each with a photograph of the person concerned. Lanny realized that the
government had had possession of all the papers in the Robin yacht and palace. He
remembered Göring's promise of a "kick in the tail," but hoped it was just the barrack-room
exuberance of a
The family were not too badly crowded in that rear seat. The three adults had each lost
weight during the past weeks; and as for luggage, they had the suitcases they had carried away
after Johannes's arrest; that was all they owned in the world. As for Little Johannes, it was no
trouble taking turns holding him in their laps; each would have been glad to hold him the
entire time, until they had got him to some place where the cry of
IV
Irma and Lanny meant to go as they had come, straight through. Lanny would buy food
ready prepared and they would eat it in the car while driving; they would take no chance of
entering a restaurant, and having some Brownshirt peddling Nazi literature stop in front of
them and exhibit a copy of
a bulbous nose; if they declined to purchase it, likely as not the ruffian would spit into their
food and walk away jeering. Such things had happened in Berlin, and much worse; for until a
few days ago these peddlers of literature had gone armed with the regulation automatic revolver
and hard rubber club, and in one cafe where Jewish merchants had been accustomed to eat, a
crowd of the S.A. men had fallen upon them and forced them to run the gantlet, kicking and
clubbing them insensible.
Drive carefully, but fast, and stop only when necessary! The roads were good and the route
