Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-04-02
CHAPTER VII.

A Struggle Foreshadowed.
took my breakfast by the window.
watching the German soldiery clean
Ing up Morsbronn.
A soldier came In and started the
dre in my fireplace. When he went
out drew my cookbook from my
breeches pocket and tossed 1t into the
hre. After 1t followed my commission,
my memoranda. and every scrap Of
writing. The diamonds placed in the
bosom of my flannel shirt
A German ambulance surgeon ar
rived to see me in the afternoon.
After a brief examination he sat
down and resumed a very bad cigar.
which had been smouldering between
his carefully kept fingers.
DO you know" he said admiringly.
-that l have never before seen Just
such a wound. The spinal column is
not even grazed. As far as I can
see the blow from the bullet tempo
rarily paralyzed the spinal cord.
There is no fracture. no depression.
I do not see why you should not walk
u you desire to-"
when? Now?"
Try It," he said. briefly.
tried. Apart from a certain mus
cular weakness and a great fatigue,
found It quite possible to stand. even
70 move few steps. Then I sat down
again, and was glad to do 30.
The doctor was looking at my legs
rather grimly, and 1t suddenly flashed
on me that / had dropped my blanket
~ Ia hoH hnR ri
sers.
"so." he said, you are a military
prisoner? / understood from the pro-
vost marshal that you were a civil
Ian" &
Az he spoke Buckhurst appeared at
the door, and then sauntered In. Qui-
city greeting the surgeon. who looked
around at the sound of his footsteps
on the stone floor. There was no
longer a vestige Of doubt in my mind
that Buckhurst was a German agent,
or at least that the Germans believed
him to be in their pay. And doubtless
he was in their pay. but to whom he
was faithful nobody could know with
any certainty. ID
How ia our patient, doctor?" he
IL.
Before he travels" said the officer.
cit might be well to find out why he
wears part Of a hussar uniform
i've explained that to the provost, "
observed Buckhurst examining his
well-kept finger-nails. "And have a
pass for him also-if he is in a fit
condition to travel.
The officer gave him a glance full
of frank dislike, adjusted his saber.
pulled on his white gloves, and. bow
ing very slightly to me. marched
straight out of the room and down
the stairs without taking any notice
of Buckhurst The latter looked after
the officer, then his Indifferent eyes
returned to me. Presently he sat down
and produced small slip of paper.
which he very carefully twisted into a
cooked hat
81 suppose you doubt my loyalty to
France" he said.
Then. logically continuing my role
of the morning, began to upbraid
him for a traitor and swear that
would not owe my salvation to him.
You are unjust and trifie stupid,
he said. II am paid by Prussia for in
formation which never give. But
have the entire of their lines. l do
1t for the sake of the Internationale.
The Internationale has a few people
in its service. And 1t pays
them WELL"
He looked squarely at me as he said
this. 1 almost trembled with delight:
the man undervalued me. he had taken
me at my own figure. and how. hold
ing me in absolute contempt, he was
going to begin on me. Ids
"Scarlett," he said, in English, let
us come to the point. l am a merce-
nary American; you are an American
mercenary. paid by the French gov
ernment You care nothing for that
government or for the country; you
would drop both today II your pay
ceased. You and ! are outsiders; we
are in the world to watch our chances
And our chance is here.
"The time is coming when the rich
est city in Europe will be put to the
IA.