The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1894-05-25
.recht, : and 50 dismissed me more per-

Very soon afterward war was de-
clared, and in tne turmoil, danger and
excitement that ensEed l well nigh
forgot the annoyance and frequent in
convenience / had been put to by the
suspicious OF the police. Possibly /
should have thought no more about them
and have quito forgotten them by this
time but for an incident that occurred
shortly after the close of the war.
l was again in Frankfort, paying a
short visit to friends. One evening I
was at q party given by a lady residing
in the city. While engaged in converse
ton with the editor of one of the local
papers the hostess approached me and
said:
"Allow me, Mr. -, to introduce
you to my very good friend, Colonel
G~uts1nicht.
| TUNED to be introduced, and who
should l see before me but my friend
the major, formerly the chief of police
at Frankfort!
VIZ both smiled as we recognized
each other.
"Ah, you have met before, them"
said the lady.
We both replied in the affirmative.
"Then I will leave you to yourselves.
You do not need any introduction from
me-
The colonel had been through the war
and had distinguished himself greatly.
During our conversation I said:
81 wish you would tell me, colonel,
why you paid me such constant and un-
renting attention when I first came to
Frankfort"
"Ah, yes, you would like to know!'
he said. well, come to my Office to-
morrow, and I will show you. That
will be better than telling you" he
added, with a broad smile.
He gave the address of his office,
which was still connected with the po-
lice, and I called there On the following
morning.
After a few minutes conversation on
the subject Of the war and our expert
ences in connection Herewith Colonel
Gutsmicht remarked:
But you wish to be enlightened in
regard to the attentions people paid to
you when you first came among us?"
I replied that it would crafty me
very much to be enlightened ON the
subject.
He thereupon unlocked a drawer in
his escritoire, and after a little search
drew forth a small bundle of papers
tied together with tape. Undoing these,
he handed to me a photograph and said:
"That, j think, is your photograph,
MI. -"
AT first I thought it was, but on look
ing a second time I saw that it was not
and said:
"No, colonel, that is not the photo
graph I gave you a year or more ago,
but it seems to me it is so much like
myself that it might very well pass for
me-"
81 beg your pardon. This, then, will
be yours"
He handed me another, which was
the real n I had given him.
I compared the two and was really
astonished at the resemblance they bore
to each other.
Can you wonder, asked the colonel,
''that we took you for some one else?"
81 can't" I said. "But who was the
some one else, and what did you want
him for?"
"This individual" replied the col
onel, taking the photograph of my dou-
BILE and speaking with great delibera-
ton, ''this individual was an Alsatian
and was wanted as a spy. He gave US a
great deal Of trouble-he was so clever.
We took you for him. We were almost
certain you were the man, although we
were considerably nonplused by your
apparent innocence of all knowledge of
arms and military matters. But though
we had Jul doubts you would probably
have suffered had we not found the
right man in the nick of time"
"Suffered?' said L SIN what way?"
SIN this way" replied the colonel,
and he made as though tightening a
rope beneath his right ear, at the same
time emitting a sound like the dropping
of a catch or bolt.
I comprehended his meaning. I had
very narrowly escaped hanging as a sup
posed spy. 1t was gratifying, but made
my blood run cold.
1--WE were much troubled with French
spies about that time and had to be Sc
we're with Them" added the police Off
cial, with a shrug Of the shoulders, as
he put away the papers and photographs.
"You now know the reason Of the little
attentions we bestowed upon you
Alfred J. Story in Million.
A Generous usban