The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1913-10-24
CHAPTER VII.
A struggle rOresha dOwed

l took my breakfast by the window
watching the German soldiery clean
ing up Morsbronn.
A soldier came in and started the
fire in my fireplace. When he went
out drew my cookbook from my
breeches pocket and tossed it into the
fire. After it followed my commission
my memoranda, and every scrap oil
writing. The diamonds l placed in the
bosom of my flannel shirt.
A German ambulance surgeon ar
rived to see me in the afternoon.
After a brief examination he sat
down and resumed a very bad cigar,
which had been smouldering between
his carefully kept fingers.
do you know" he said admiringly,
that l have never before seen just
such a wound. The spinal column is
not even grazed. AS far as l can
see the blow from the bullet tempo
rarily paralyzed the spinal cord.
There is no fracture, no depression.
l do not see why you should not walk
II you desire to-"
when? Now?"
TRY It," he said, briefly.
l tried. Apart from a certain mus
cular weakness and a great fatigue, 1
found it quite possible to stand, even
10 move a few steps. Then l sat down
again, and was glad to do so.
The doctor was looking at my legs
rather grimly, and it suddenly flashed
on me that had dropped my blanket
and he had noticed my h~ussar's trou-
eers.
49," he said, you are a military
prisoner? understood from the pro
vost marshal that you were a civil
IAN"
AS he spoke Buckhurst appeared at
the door, and then sauntered in. dui-
city greeting the surgeon, who looked
around at the sound of his footsteps
on the stone floor. There was no
longer a vestige of doubt in my mind
that Buckhurst was e German agent,
or at least that the Germans believed
him to be in their pay. And doubtless
he was in their pay, but to whom he
was faithful nobody could know with
any certainty.
How is our patient, doctor?" he
asked. Can he travel today?"
Before he travels" said the officer,
1T might be well to find out why he
wears part Of a hussar uniform"
I've explained that to the provost. =
observed Buckhurst, examining his
w~ell-kept flnger-nalls. And l have a
pass for him also-if he is in a fit
condition to travel.
The officer gave him a glance full
of frank dislike, adjusted his saber.
pulled on his white gloves, and, bow
ing very slightly to me, marched
straight out Of the room and down
the stairs without taking any notice
of Buckhurst. The latter looked after
the officer, then his Indifferent eyes
returned to me. Presently he sat down
and produced a small slip of paper,
which he very carefully twisted into a
cooked hat.
i suppose you doubt my loyalty to
France" he said.
Then, logically continuing my role
OF the morning, l began to upbraid
him for a traitor and swear that |
would not W my salvation to him.
You are unjust and a trihe STUPID. "
he said. II am paid by Prussia for in
formation which l never give. But l
have the entire Of their lines. I do
1t for the sake OF the Internationale.
The lnternationale has a few people
In Its service. And It paws
them we'll"
He looked squarely at me as he said
this. l almost trembled with delight.
the man u~ndervalued me, he had taken
me at my W figure, and now. hold
ing me in absolute contempt. he was
going to begin on me.
Scarlet" he said, In English Iat
us come to the point. | am a merce.
nary American; you are an American
mercenary, paid by the French GOV.
eminent. You care nothing for that
government or for the country. YOU
would drop both today II your nav
ceased. You and l are outsiders. we
are in the world to watch our chances
And our chance is here.
The time is coming when the rich.
est city in Europe will be put tn the
sack. You don't believe It? Yet Won
snail live to see Paris besieged. and
you shall live to see Paris surrender
and you shall live to see the Interna'
tlonale rise up from nowhere. seize the
government by the throat. and cboLo
1t TO death under the red flag of uni.
yersal-ahem! licensep-ne
Ialntest sneer came into his pallid face
and every city Of France SHAH he
a commune, and we shall pass from
city to city, leisurely, under the Law
our laws, which we will make-and !
pity the man among us who canno,
place his millions in the banks of Eny.
land and America!"
He leaned forward in his chair id,v
twisting his crumpled bit of paper in
one hand. !"
l am not fool enough to believe
that u reign will last" he said. aIt
may last a month, two months. per
hama throa Than nc