The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-02-27
A WIGIN
WARTIME
BY DONALD CHAMBERI.lN

ropeaD invasion of Americas tourists
and made Germany my stamping
ground. Before leaving home | sent
to Washington for passport. for.
though at the time there was not much
prospect of using one. preferred /,
be provided. The document described
me as Edward Boyer. aged thirty one
five feet eight inches high. eyes. hair
and complexion dark.
In Berlin ! contracted typhoid fever,
ana when recovered my hair fell out
leaving my skull as polished as a piece
Of ivory
On the 18th of July the tomb Of the
European war exploded and I was nd.
montshed that II ! wanted to get out
OF the war zone aud back home must
bestir myself. had not yet recov.
cred my strength. but ! was due in
America on the 18th Of August and
resolved to start at once.
The first thing needed was a wig,
sailed forth to get one. having lust
an hour before the train ON which |
was to leave would start This gave
me about twenty minutes to procure
q hair bead covering. found a place
where such things were sold, but un-
fortunately the only wig they had
that would tit my head was of an
auburn hue. There was no other place
to procure one within dozen blocks.
! looked al my watch and saw that
had just ten minutes to get the train.
| paid for the auburn wig. clapped il
on my head and started for the sta
ton.
was on the last passenger train to
leave Berlin The war was brand new
to me, but not to the Germans. who
were prepared for 1t. Two things espe.
cially ! had not considered for had
not heard of them-the Germans SOY
system and their methods Of detecting
their enelny's spies,
| was brought to my senses by see
Ing a German officer come through the
train examining passports. | had mine
In hand bag. got 1t out and had II
ready when the man reached me. He
read the description. looked ut me, and.
noticing my red wig. his expression
changed at once to one Of fierceness
He said something to us In German
that l did not understand and, calling
some soldiers. turned me over to them
for safe keeping. then went his way
through the train
An American gentleman who under.
stood German announced to the the un.
pleasant Information that ! had been
arrested as French spy he had
heard the officer say that the passport
! travelled on belonged to one having
. French name and that It described
Q black headed man, while was a red
headed man. Never had there been q
more barefaced attempt to carry infor-
nation out Of Germany for the use OF
an enemy.
Here was a pretty pass. In my hur-
~ to get away ! had forgotten my
passport. or. rather. I had thus far not
been required to show It. and It had
not occurred to me that the document
would be now required
When We reached city, didn't
know what city, was taken from the
train and conducted to the headquar.
tiers Of an officer who. | judged ny
the respect paid him. was of high
rank. He received me with q lowering
brow. read the description in my pass
port and. looking Mt my wig. said what
BY his expression judged to mean.
Take him out and shoot him."
The soldiers advanced to take me.
In a fit OF desperation I seized my red
wig and. throwing II on the floor,
trampled on 1t and cried out, II am
not red headed man: I am an Amer.
lean citizen"
There must have been something
ridiculous In the act. for the officer
burst into laugh Then an inter- |
prefer was called. who translated my
story. As soon as It was understood
that was an American and the pass.
port belonged to me ! was set at lib
erty. with an apology. Realizing that |
my train had gone on. | asked for q
permit to travel ON a troop train, and
one was given me.
could not endure to travel without
my wig. 10 l retained It During my
Journey through Belgium I fell in with
. Frenchman with q red head. A.
soon a. we passed into France he gave
mo bis passport. which he no longer
needed. Having had 20 much trouble
With my own passport, I decided that
possibly ! might have use for the 9th.
y. - ] accepted It
While working my way south toward
Paris l was Get upon BY Q party Of
French spy hunters. Thinking TO est
I'd Of them without their noticing the
Inference In my hair, from that Md
Town In my passport l used the one
Iiven me. Unfortunately q keen eyed
elbow noticed bow the hair Of my wig
ell on my neck and, graspfng the WIG,
,eld II up amid shouts from the 9th
n. crying:
"A spy! A spyr'
Again was taken before an o6lcse-
his time q Frenchman. who, on ~ .
ewing the report Of my capton, Or
Tered me 0ut to instant execution. ]
tood before him with folded arms and
uncovered dome and cried In q stem
orian voice:
"Je suis Americaing'
] suppose It was the absurdity this
me a. well a. before that saved ne.
he ofl1cer laughed, consented to listen
me, and. since ! spoke French toll.
rably. told my story. producing my 4
wn passport.
And 30 my life for the second tine
'as saved by mock heroics, and I
.ached Paris without further trouble.