Any moment more dramatic than that of my entrance, next morning, into the Commissioner's room at Scotland Yard I do not wish to live through. Some one else may have that excitement.
V—THE TALE OF THE LITTLE PINK CHECK
There were several men in the room—Capt. William Hall of the Admiralty's Intelligence Department, Mr. Nathan, Capt. Carter of the War Office and Mr. Basil Thompson, Assistant Commissioner of Police. They all looked very grave. There was one big table in the center of the room, and on it was one little oblong piece of paper—pink paper.
One of them picked it up and held it where I could read it. A reproduction of it was printed in the preceding installment of this series.
"Washington, D. C., Sept. 1, 1914.
"The Riggs National Bank:
"Pay to the order of Mr. Bridgeman Taylor two hundred dollars.F. von Papen."
When I had read that he turned it over for me to see the indorsement: "Mr. Bridgeman Taylor."
"Sign your name, please—'B. H. Taylor.' Do you know that check?"
"Yes," I admitted.
"Why was it issued?"
"Von Papen gave me the money to go to Europe and join the army."