Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-12-02

the King himself.
Miss Lydeard." he said. speaking in
French, what can I do for your"
| Il have come TO you," Gertrude an
| swered in the same language. ito ask
you for safe-conduct TO the Turkish
| commander"
| The General started
Impossible, he exclaimed "You
cannot mean what you say! Do you know
| what you expose yourself to by yenturing
I into the Turkish lines?"
II do not believe there is any real dan
| ger" Gertrude answered But even If
| there were I should not shrink from it,
My betrothed is at this moment either
| dead or wounded and a prisoner in their
hands. II he is simply wounded I wish
to go there TO nurse him. If find he is
| no more" She was about to add: They
can do what they like with me" but she
substituted the words: Il can only come
back as 1 went"
The General shook his head gravely.
Il dare not incur the responsibility of
giving you the safe-conduct you ask for"
| he said. The character of the Turkish
soldiers bear too bad for me to let you
venture among them"
surely tueN Woulu respect the Wnlle
1ag?' Gertrude said.
They might" was the reply. Pos
sibly they would. but when you We're
once in their hands we should have no
further power TO protect you"
Gertrude drew herself up proudly.
Il am an Englishwoman," she reminded
him. Wherever l go my countrys flag
will protect me-"
The General was silenced. but not con-
WINGED.
1t ought to be as you say" he observ-
ed, but the forces opposed to me are re-
cruited from a population wholly uncivil-
lied, ignorant of the laws of war: in fact,
such men are little better than brigands,
and fear if you fell into their hands no
considerations would restrain them from
whatever they We're prompted to do
Gertrude remained firm.
Il intend to 60" she said Il will take
all risks. l merely ask from you such ,
safe-conduct as will enable me to cross
the frontier without being stopped by your
men"
General Manos hesitated.
Seeing him waver. Gertrude ventured to
rise from her seat and lay a hand upon
his arm.
Il entreat you" she said. Remember
that this Mr.. Vaughan and / were to have
been man and wife. You would not dare
to interfere with a wife going to the death
bed of her husband
The General gave way.
II cannot give you a letter to the Turk
ish Commander" he said, but / will give
you such a paper as you ask, something
that will see you safely through the
Greek lines.
He sat down and wrote a letter in
Greek which Gertrude was not able to
read, but which he kindly translated for
her.
IT commanded all the members Of the
Greek force, whom Gertrude might en-
counter, to let her pass freely and give
her any assistance that she might require.
Gertrude thanked the general for his
kindness, and came, away hugging her
safe-conduct
In the ane-room she found Mr.. Smith
still waiting
"WeH?" he said.
II have got what l wanted" Gertrude
told him. That is to say l have paper
which will carry me safely through the
Greek Army. When I get to the Turks /
must make my way as best l can"
Young Smith stared a her.
But surely you are not going alone?"
he asked, in astonshment.
II must" said Gertrude II cannot ask
any of these men to go with me"
Smith shifted his feet uneasily upon the
floor. red flush slowly mounted to his
forehead.
Look here. Miss Lydeard, I am not
much Of a hand at fighting, and do not
profess to be very brave. but, after all. 1
am an Englishman, and / cannot let you
go among those ruffians by yourself.
will come with you If you will let me"
Gertrude drew back with wonder.
Il could not dream of accepting your
kind Offer she said. TT is very brave OF
you even to suggest such thing. but
feel it would be too dangerous for you.
The Turks might spare me. but a man
armed like you they might feel them
selves entitled to make prisoner Of. II