Imperial Valley press., 1915-01-15
Miss Bly, Tells
Her Troubles;
Thought a Spy

as the officers and gendarmes en-
Geavored TO obtain information from
me. They spoke Hungarian, l spoke
Americanish. We did not make rapid
progress.
was not in the least fearful of
the crowd. Buying and selling had
ceased. l was the only object of in
terest. When | caught the eye of
woman | would smile. An answering
and sympathetic smile would be re-
turned. The men smiled less quickly
and then in an awkward embar-
rassed manner. Between me and 10y
atty they were little undecided Only
the officers and gendarmes were
fierce. Grave and determined, no
smile answered mine.
Finally they motioned for me to
proceed, two placing themselves be-
fore me, two behind.
Woman Sympathizes.
A woman darted from the crowd to
my side. She laid sympathizing,
gentle hand on my arm. She looked
at me with kind black eyes.
"You are American, not English 2"
she asked brokenly.
81 am," l said, patting her trembling
hand reassuringly.
81 knew she said, confidently.
The gendarme took her by the arm
ard tried to pull her away. She spoke
to them in eagar appeal. They list
ened impatiently,
"They say you are British spy"
she finally said, despairingly.
81 am from New York. l explained.
"Tell them | am with the Kriegspresse
people. Our train is at the station
and our crowd is somewhere in this
village"
Her explanation found no belief.
"They are very queer here now,
she apologized, "but you must 90 with
them. I will stay by you. | lived
ir Cleveland once | love Americans
We formed a little square in the
, midst of the mob which preceded anC
/ followed us. Sometimes the gen
darmes threatened them and they
scattered, only to forget their fears
and fall in in great numbers. We
went into a cobbled courtyard, thu
guards at the entrance keeping on
Tic mob. 1t was taken into a low
cellinged room and then uniformed
; men at desks and sitting around aros,
: as if to greet me. | smiled confident
ly at each, but their answering smiles
faded away when my captors begal
TO speak. Another door was opened
and | was motioned to enter Ny
woman friend tried to go with me
but they grabbed her roughly ant
thrust her outside.
A Cold Handshakc.
The room was filled with men il
uniforms and civilians dress. A very
tall man in a brown suit got up anC
gazed at me. ! held out my hand. He
. hesitated. | still held my hand out
stretched. He gave me a gingerly
, touch with the stiff tips of his fingers
| began to speak.
"How do you do ?" l began. at is
nice of these gentlemen to bring m,
to visit you, but | must hurry"
He did not thaw. He even frowned
He asked me in German where | came
from. l replied:
"Przemysl" He looked his unbclief
lie asked where | was going.
"Kriegspressequartier," | replied.
He was angry. He said in Ger
man this was not the route fron
Przemysl to the press headquarters
knew it, but | did not know enough
German to tell him that blown W
/ and destroyed bridges were the caus,
! of our wide detour.
A new parsonage arrived. He wor,
a uniform and seemed to be high il
military authority. He was young
good-loolling and severe.
| insisted on shaking hands whel
] was shown to him-not introduced
; He removed his cap and took m!
. hand, but he did not want to.
tried to tell him | must go or
should miss my train. The big mar
in the brown suit asked me at what
hour. | said /: 80. He frowned again
He told me no trains left at tha
hour. He bade me sit down, indicat
ing the chair Then they went GU
and ] was alone.
| looked out of the small, high
barred window. On the opposite side
Of the street | could see the heads
Of the waiting mob. / saw d HAND
flutter. 1t was my woman friend
hanging, at the risk of neck and limb
to the top Of the fence | waved back
reassuringly.