The Washington herald., 1914-10-04

white mtstache and look OF a retired
army officer pushed his way toward
Ford, the crowd making room for him,
and then closing in his wake.
Have you seen any-any soldiersS p
he demanded.
German soldiersI" Ford answered.
They tried to catch US, but when ] saw
who they were. ran through them to
warn you. They fred am
How many-and where%
"A half company at Stiffkey, and a
half mile farther on regiment We
didn't know then they were Germans,
not until they stopped US. YoU'd bet
ter telephone the garrison, and
Thank you'll" snapped the elderly
gentleman. II happen to be in COM
mand of this district. What are your
names?'
Ford pushed the car forward, part
ing the crowd.
@I've no time for thatl" he called.
We've got to warn every coast town
in Norfolk You take my tip and get
London on the long distanceP'.
He was interrupted by the screech of
siren, and demon car that spurned
the road, that splsttered them with peb-
bles, tore past and disappeared in the
darkness As it fed down the lane of
their headlights they saw that men in
khaki clung to its sides, were packed
in its tonneau, were swaying from its
running boards. Before they could find
their voices a motor cycle, driven as
though the angel of death were at the
wheel, shaved their mudguard and, in
its turn vanished into the night.
Things are looking up!" said Ford
Where is our next stop? AS said
before, what we want is live one"
Herbert pressed his electric torch
against his road map.
I'VE are next billed to APPEAR" he
said, about a quarter of a mile from
here, at the signal r>of the Great
Eastern Railroad, where We visit the
night telegraph operator and give him
the surprise party of his life"
The three men had mounted the steps
of the signal tower so quietly that,
when the operator heard them, they
already surrounded him. He saw three
German soldiers with fierce upturned
mustacheS, with fat, squat helmets, with
long, brown rifles. They saw an anae-
mic, pale-faced youth without a coat or
collar, for the night was warm, who
sank back Imply in his chair and gazed
speeches. with wide-bulging eyes.
In harsh, cultural tones Ford ad-
dressed him.
you are a prisoner" he said. we
take over this Office in the name of the
German Emperor. Get out!'
As though instinctively seeking his
only weapon of defense, the hand of
the boy operator moved across the
table to the key of his instrument. Ford
flung his rifle upon II.
mo, you don't" he growled. Get
outI'
With eyes still bulging, the boy lifted
himself into sitting posture.
My pay-my months pay?" he STAN
mered. Can take it,"
he expression on the face of the
conqueror relaxed.
Take it and get out" Ford COM
manded.
With eyes still fixed in fascinated
terror upon the invader, the boy pulled
open the drawer of the table before
him and fumbled with the papers in
side.
"Quick" cried Ford.
The boy was very quick. His hand
leaped from the drawer like a snake,
and Ford found himself looking into a
revolver of the largest caliber issued
by civilized people. Birrell fell upon
the boys shoulders. Herbert twisted
the gun from his fingers and hurled it
through the window, and almost as
quickly hurled himself down the steps
of the tower. Birrell leaped after him.
Ford remained only long enough to
shout, Don't touch that instruUent! If
you attempt to send a message through
We will shoot. We 60 to cut the wires r
For a minute the boy in the tower
sat rigid, his ears strained, his heart
beating in sharp, suffocating stabs.
Then with his left arm raised to
guard his face, he sank to his knees
and, leaning forward across the table,
inviting as he beliived his death, he
opened the circuit and through the
night flashed out a warning to his peo-
pie.
When they had taken their places in
the car, Herbert touched Ford on the
shoulder.
your last remark" he said, was
that what we wanted was a live one"
Don't mention it said Ford. "He
jammed that gun half way down my
throat. / can taste it still. Where do
We go from here?"
According to the route we mapped
out this afternoon" said Herbert, Eve
are now scheduled to give exhibitions
at the coast towns of Salthouse and
Weybourne, but"
Not with meP' exclaimed .Birrell
6ercely. Those towns have been tip
ped off by now by aroused Blakeney,
and the Boy Scouts would club us to
death. | vote we take the back roads
to Morston, and drop in on a lonely
coast guard. If coast guard sees u.s.
the authorities will have to believe him,
and they'll call out the navy"
Herbert consulted his map.
There is a coast guard" he said,
Stationed Just the other side of Nor
ston. And" he added, fervently, let
US hope he's lonely"
They lost their way in the hack roads