Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-30

A-----EM. Matj mobile came TO q
EAe@sE humping stand in
Il triangular space
where three roads joined.
A clatter and click of galloping hoofs.
and from out the night came squad
ron of horsemer, lances lowered: then
the hedgerows blazed The Uhlans had
ridden into trap.
One moment the brave array was
sweeping by; the next the road was
filled with shattered, bullet-torn flesh
of men and of horses-pfled in with
ing, plunging, anguish racked heaps.
The chauffeur rolled from the front
seat of the limousine, sprawlinG in a
grotesQue huGdle; hoarse shouts OF
fighting men were echoed by feminine
shreks; above the sputter of rifles
swelled the wicked snarl of a machine
gun.
AS abruptly as it had begun the Skin
mish ended. A bugle uttered wailing
note. and the Germans We're gone
pounding away in the darkness as the
Belgians swarmed down into the road
A young lieutenant was the first to
reach the motor car, and he started
back with an exclamation of surprise.
Two girls were inside-two startlingly
beautiful girls-white- faced. shaken,
but apparently unhurt.
One was of the tail. full-bosomed
American type which is the ideal OF
illustrators who specialize in magazine
covers. The other occupant of the
limousine was smaller. Her figure was
childisbly slender, her features delicate
and her wide blue eyes ever seemed to
hold an appeal
Like thousands of others caught in
the war zone when the European pow
der mine exploded. the young women
that day had learned passports were
more than sometimes bothersome in
ternatoinal formality and produced
theirs without delay.
The lleutenant-he was most eff
cient young officer even if he had just
received his baptism of fre--scruti-
nized them closely. Had he possessed
even a casual knowledge of things and
persons of the United States, he might
have recognized the name of Morton
Stanley, given the father of Wini-
fred Stanley, the taller girl. as that
Of leading manufacturer of motor
trucks. while the name of J. V. Creston,
father of Constance Creston. the other
Young woman, might have recalled
certain scathing reports of the inter-
state commerce commission, in which
Il fnancier named Creston was men
toned.
However, though he did not know
what the names stood for beyond the
Atlantic, he was duly impressed by the
size and evident eXpensiveness of the
limousine. Besides, the papers of the
young women were satisfactory, and
he listened with sympathy as Winffred
explained that she and her companion
had been at Spa when war was de-
clared. and exhibited a telegram call
ing her to the BEDSIDE of her father,
who had been hurt in an automobile
accident near scissors, France
He was distressed that the exigienceS
OF warfare had delayed their journey,
desolated by the thought that the bull
rnadenmoiselles. 1t was wonderful
they had escaped unhurt, their car
having stopped at the crossroads at
the exact moment the Germans rode
into the ambuscade.
ut would be a pleasure to be of any
service possible, he assured them,
but and he shrugged his shoulders,
the situation was extremely difficult
Their chauffeur had been killed, most
unfortunately and one of the tires OF
the machine had been punctured by a
bullet.
ITO repair the tire would be easy, but
70 supply another driver was impossible.
The Germans would soon return in force.
He could not delay. Duty would not per-
nit him to endanger his men"
Decidedly serious was the predicanlent
of the two young women. and Winifreds
browS drew close together as she faced
the problem. To the east a German flood
was sweeping forward to inundate Bel
GUM and roll on into France. delay
Of few hours would mean the blocking
Of the roads, and there was the pressing
need. represented by the telegram telling
81 the accident to her father, TO hurry
On.
But even she considered the diff
Guilty. a low cry of warning arose and as
the Belsans scattered 70 the sides Of the
road in the distance was heard the DOB
and bang of engine cylinders
The machine, whatever it was, was ap-
preaching from the north along differ
ent road from the one taken by the
thlans. but the Belgian lieutenant reached
into the limousine and switched off the
electric lights.
In another instant motor cycle shot
into view and plowed square into heap
or slain horses and men. its driver cata-
putting over the handlebars
instantly he was on his feet, apparent
iy unhurt, but a dozen hands seized him
ard he was led forward into the light
from the automobile lamps, again switched
on
Tall he was and slim. with shoulders
chest. but his slenderness was that
of steel wire. No one with nose so
long, mouth so wide could be called
handsome, and his chin was overly
square; still, his level glance inspired
confidence-and he was smiling
Looks like you've had a very pretty
hght, he observed, diving into pock-
ct from which he produced a packet
of papers. rendering them to the lieu
tenant Quickly the Belgian scanned
them; there was whispered con-
ference which, ended with hearty
handshake. and the young lieutenant
again bowed before Winifred.
1T is pleasure" he said, ito say
to mademoiselle the question of a
chauffeur need no longer trouble. Mr..
Burgess" and he nodded toward the
newcomer. sis most expert with motor
cars. Also, he is DESTROYS of reaching
the coast most quickly. and he will
drive you"
Already the man called Burgess was
removing a spare tire from it's casing,
and when the lieutenant swung away
at the head of his men few minutes
later the new chauffeur had lacked up
the axle and was preparing to fit the