Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-01

balloonist suffered from the effects of
the rarified air?"
81 believe so. What has that to
do with it?"
First, general, let me entreat you
to place DR.. Fenelon under arrest i'm
mediately."
The general struck bell upon the
table Two orderlies came in.
Take these men," he said, 'and
confne them in the guard house. To-
morrow they will be arraigned before
a military court as spies"
You are mad, general" cried
Crewe angrily 81 tried to save you"
You tried to intimidate me, sir"
shouted the general. "and to excul
pate yourselves by maligning the hon.
or of brave officer. Take them away
Immediately"
We were hauled of ignominiously
across the officers quarters in the di-
rection of the guard house, while
General Won Stimm followed us to the
door and stood upon the threshold,
watching US sourly. AS our captors
( led us across the quadrangle Of green
corner of the square; then an officer
came hurrying along, bearing news
paper in his hand. He passed US, and
l read the staring headline:
OBSTRUCTION OF THE GREAT
DIRIGIBLE."
Crewe had seen 1t as well. He
smiled grinly.
gTTE A. I. 80 81
( he muttered. why, there he goes,
/ Langton."
Surely enough the Alsatian doctor
came strutting along the path, dressed
in full regimentals. He saw US from
afar and, turning. came toward US,
hating close at hand.
"Ha, the spies," he said viciously.
you will find it goes hard with you,
for we do not love spies in Germany"
You are lying" said Crewe, and.
breaking from his captor. he struck
the doctor upon his face with his open
hand. Instantly the latter drew his
sword and rushed at the aggressor.
Crewe seized the point of the blade
the moment that it left the scabbard
and. with a powerful wrench, snapped
it in two and threw the pieces on the
ground. / saw blood follow them
from his wounded hands.
AS for the orderly, he stood as If
petrified. From every quarter officers
came running up. The doctor, over
whelmed by this disaster, which
meant, according to the German code,
dismissal from the service, remained
with hanging head upon the gravel
path.
Doctor, you must consider yourself
under arrest" said the adjutant, COM
ing up to him and taking him by the
arm "As for these fellows"
He looked as If he we're about to
run us through. His fingers twitched
upon the hilt of his sword. Then he
issued brief command and the or
derlies seized us by the arms and
forced us over the quadrangle into
the guard house.
It'll go hard with US unless you
can prove your case, Crewe," I said
later.
But I can" he said confidently. &c
snapped his sword Langton, not only
in self-defense, but that he might be
detained in barracks. We must no
, let that murderer escape. II he could
have resisted the temptation to taun
US he would doubtless be on his wa!
, to the frontier, for he knew that ht
was discovered" He went to the door
, Orderly" he called, Il wish to senC
. a note to the general"
He scrubbed few words on shee
> of paper and handed it to the mai
with a gold piece. The orderly tool
: both in silence and turned away.
What did you write, Crewe?"
! asked.
:, why, very little, Langton," he an
/ swered. You have frequently beel
pleased to comment upon my facult.
!. for remembering every face that
h have ever seen during my lifetime
Now the fact is that, when I was Il
, ! Germany many years ago, l saw Ger
I eral Won Stimm four times, twice VI
der discreditable circumstances. Thi
o is little reminder. stronger than tn
last. It will bring him"
." 1t did. Half an hour later we wer
r again in the generals presence. Hi
q face was white with agitation and b
wiped his damp brow nervously.
q How much do you want?" he ash
ed Crewe bluntly.
q General" said Crewe, "once befor
d you misunderstood my offer and. bu
for lucky circumstance, a murdere
? would have continued to disgrace tn
l. German uniform. / want no none!
Z 1 want to punish him and save til
, army's honor The balloon has bee
2 found. Where was it found?"
t. "At Blumdahl," he answered.
r ut will not be touched or moved fc
II twenty-four hours?"
e mot for two days. Soldiers al
d guarding the place where it fell
d 1T was destroyed"
is The general nodded.
II Take us there Immediately. An
b. let a military court be ready to col
vene the moment that you return, fC
n DR.. Fenelon will have to stand b
trial for murder"
N When do you wish to start?"
IL Within the hour" Crewe answere
p Gentlemen" said the general,
q do not know who the devil you are, {
"a why you have come here. but It sha