############“Corporal Hitler!” Halstead, who sat behind a table and faced an audience of over one hundred who had turned out in response to his party’s advertisements and invitations, turned his head and leaned slightly in the direction of the man who was stooped over his shoulder. “It is Herr Hitler now, Putzi. I retired yesterday.” Putzi nodded with quick, jerky motions of his head. “Yes, Herr Hitler. I just returned from watching Count Arco-Valley.” “And?” “We spent the entire afternoon standing outside the Reichstag. He did not leave until Herr Eisner did.” Halstead glanced forward at the audience briefly, to ensure that no one was paying too much attention to the whispered conversation regarding the Social Democratic leader of the Bavarian “People’s State” and the young right-wing officer who was shadowing him. He turned his head back after satisfiying himself that the audience was focused on Harrer’s stump speech. “And what did he do then?” “He followed him and his bodyguards across the Marienplatz, pulled close, then turned around and walked away. He kept his right hand in his overcoat the entire time.” “Yes.” Halstead glanced again at the audience and their eyes focused on the rostrum, reached into the right pocket of the gray uniform that he had declared standard issue for the Ordnertruppe, the new military arm of the party, and pulled out a five mark note that he placed in Putzi’s outstretched hand. “Thank you for your services.” “My pleasure, Corporal, er, Herr Hitler, anything I can do any time—” |