The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-03-28
CHAPTER XII.
Wisest to Obey.


 Wisest to Obey.
 @1HE treatment for which I most kG ferventIy hoped as a prisoner
 of war was to be ignored, and - fortunately for me that was the treatment I received, at any rate for time.
 A good many of the prisoners had been sent through to Stuttgart, and wondered rather anxiously why Cap tain Frazer had not been sent with them, for it seemed hardly possible that his captors had, in keeping him at the front, been influenced by the danger of such Journey to their pris- oner. However, was not left long in doubt, for one night the officer in com mand sent for me. When I reached his office about midnight found gath cred there three or four other officers, and among them Captain Sindhauf, the Saxon officer who had proved kindly and eonsiderate ever since my first en- counter with him the day the Germans had taken possession of our hospital. As I entered the room his eyes met mine with what, in my naturally su- persensitive state, seemed to me some thing of sadness and deprecation in their depths.
 However, I had no time to speculate oyer the meaning of his glance, for the commanding officer at once motioned me to be seated and said:
 .sFraulein, I believe you will find it the wisest policy to obey implicitly what I direct you to do. You have been chosen to go through to the Eng nsh lines and do very valuable piece of work for us. In fact,'' he said bluntly. q wish you to place their big guns"
 For moment or two I was utterly unable to grasp the meaning of what was being said to me. Then the abso- lute barbarousness of it broke on me, and answered in frenzy of indigna tion:
 "How dare you-how dare you sup pose that I would do such thing!'
 But the mans manner was utterly unrumed, and he answered calmly:
 q think, fraulein, under the circum- stances you will find it wfsest to obey my instructions"
 I could not answer him, and after a moment, looking at me from under his eyebrows in manner that struck me, even in those circumstances, as being in some way absurdly melodramatic, he added:
 Remember, fraulein, your lover is- our prisoner"
 I was absolutely dumfounded. And 1t slowly dawned on me that it was true. He had made me conscious for the first time of the fact that Captain Frazer was more, far more, to me than merely gallant, brave officer wounded and under my charge.
 I laughed rather hystericalIy, and the commanding officer went on: ITO be explicit, wish you to return to the enemy's lines, ascertain where their batteries are situated and report to me the strength of their guns in manner that will be indicated to you. If you do this you will be amply repaid. On the other hand, if you betray us or fail to carry out our instructions to the nlinutest detail your British officer will be marched out to the courtyard yon- der and shot, and he pointed threat eningly to the gray time stained court below.
 For a moment I could not believe I had understood him correctly, then I sprang forward
 But you cannot-even you" cried, would not dare do such a thing!''
 He looked at me with a cold. unfal- tering gaze and said: @'So it would ap- pear you are not so deep in his conf dence as supposed. He is a spy. But because want this information am willing to let you win his release"
 ssHe is an English officer" I answer. ed, Hwho has been desperately i'll for weeks and who has neither the eppor- l tunity nor the desire for such work. How could he be a SDy ?' Doubtless you are sincere in your belief, frau1ein, but-the fact remains he is'' With this he bade one of the officers present bring Captain Frazer. I sprang forward and in my anxiety took the mans hand in mine. "The fortunes of war have made me your prisoner said, ''but surely you will not torture me. In the French l lines I attended your sick and wound | ed as faithfully as our own, and now I implore you in return, do not have Captain Frazer brought here-'' stood before him. my very soul in my eyes, but the general turned away with hardly a glance. I fell back, beaten and helpless. A moment later | two men entered, carrying a stretcher l on which Captain Frazer lay. his face dra wn and white, but his eyes shining with unfaltering courage. There he is, fraulein." the general said. And I'te1l you he is spy. Now I give you your choice; you will do as I direct. or-the result you already know" and he nodded toward Captain Frazer.
 ..But you cannot" l said. "It is too cruel, too inhuman; you"-
 The general cut me short. ''I have no time, fraulein, to waste words. have told you my decision, and you will do as I say or take the conse- quences The mission will be made very simple, very adsyl of accomplish