The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1915-01-14
Mistaken
. F or a Spy
By SARAH BAXTER

By SARAH BAXTER
i When the great European war broke
ont was IN Berlin. Being q woman
and not brave, concluded that I had
better remain where was than Try
to get back to America. 90 stuck to
my quarters in the capital. though l
displayed an American dag at my win
dow and visited the embassy to make
sure myspassport was all right s..
By October tho times of .trainc over
tho Atlantic had become safe, and bear.
ing that could get passage at Rotter.
dam for New York concluded to ven.
ture upon trip home. The only dan.
ger in my personality lay in the fact
Of my accent We Bostonians use the
broad "a" like the English, and on this
account was liable to be taken for an
Englishwoman.
At the time I started the allies In
the west were engaged in repulsing the
attacks Of the Germans in France and
part Of Belgium which was still &C.
cupied BY the Belgians. Having cross
ed the Mouse fell in with the Ger.
man army In the rear of the line Of
trenches which was being held AZ 70.
serve. was conducted to the head
quarters Of the general commanding,
and my passport was examined by an
officer Of bis stan who spoke English,
but with the usual accent Of q German.
After few questions he left me, but
soon returned.
"There IL lighting on the route you
must take. and It would not be safe to
proceed just now. The general desires
that you join him at dinner, and we
will see that you have comfortable
place to Sleep"
I was sorry for the delay, but exer-
cised patience. especially since I was
to be well treated. Some British pris.
oners were brought in during the day,
and went among them, chatting with
them. noticed that they all supposed
me to be English, several Of them ask
ing from what part of England hail
ed. This troubled me, for there were
German officers and soldiers present,
and was quite sure that at least one
of the officers was listening to our con.
versation.
l dined with the general and several
members Of his sta1. There was also
another woman present besides my
self, who spoke English flueutly. In.
deed. not every one would know
whether she was English or German,
though to me she betrayed her nation
atty in certain words that German
can never pronounce. For the "w"
she used "v." For a "g'' she used
'sh." But 1t seemed to me that she
must have learned English while
young. for these peculiarities Of Ger.
man pronunciation were very slight.
After dinner the men arose and said
that they would smoke outside, giving
MS two ladies an opportunity to enjoy
each others society for short time.
They had scarcely left US alone to-
gether when my companions manner
changed completely. She drew her
seat very near me and whispered:
Il am not German. am English. I
have very important information of the
German forces which I wish to carry
to England. But there are officers be-
tween me and the coast who know me,
and If l proceed will be arrested for
spy. II you will carry a bit of paper
through the lines to General French's
headquarters you will save the. lives of
hundreds, thousands, Of our country.
men,"
This speech frightened me dreadful
ly. arose and attempted to leave the
woman, convinced that she was really
working upon me for some purpose
which did not know. She caught me
by the skirt and held me, looking up
at me with an expression which was
intended for terror. but which I be-
lieved was feigned.
do not betray meg' she cried in
smothered voice. st will mean death
to mev'
LET me co." I retorted. II am not
English. am American"
The woman held me, imploring me
not to betray her. told her that l
naQ no interest In her Whatever.
was neither German nor English, but
a native and citizen of a neutral
country. She played her part admira-
bly,. and for q moment such was the
agony she assumed that almost be-
lieved her. But remembered how
she had betrayed hersalf In her speech
and refused to credit her.
! pulled myself away from her and
fed. Outside the general and the 9th.
er officers who had retired from the
dinner table were seated on camp
chairs smoking. They arose as ap-
peared aud turned toward me.
General" i said, II wish to proceed
on my journey at once. You have set
this woman upon me to see IL am
what ! pretend or q spy. She is not
English, which you know as well az l.
She 10 Gorn,on <honrt, Cha ona0t,o