The Ozark spectator., 1916-07-28

ing to get nothing less than . state ment of the disposition of the Britisb home fleet on mobilization.
 At least gathered 1t was some thing like that. Anyhow. 1t was some. thing uncommonly important But on the 18th day of June there were 0 be others in London others at whom 1 could only guess. Scudder was cco tent to call them collectively tho Blars Stone.
 They represented not our allies, but our deadly foes, and the information. destined for France, was to be divert ed to their pockets. And 1t was to be used. remember-used . week CT two later-witb great guns and swfft tor pedoes suddenly in the darkness of summer night
 This was the story I had been de ciphering in back room of a country inn overlooking cabbage garden This was the story that hummed in my brain as l swung in the biz tour ing car from glen to glen.
 My first impulse had been to write letter to she prime minister. but a little reflection convinced me that thst would be useless Who would believe my tale?
 Above all must keep going myself. ready to act when things got riper. and that was going to be no light joh, with the police of the British isles ip full cry after me and the watchers o' the Black Stone running silently an'' swiftly on my trail.
 I had no very clear purpose in my tourney, but I steered east by the sun, for I remembered from the map that if I went north I would come into region of coal pits and industrial towns. Presently was down from the haugh of a river.
 For miles ran alongside park wall. and in break of the trees I saw & great castle.
 swung through little old matched streams and past gardens blazing with hawthorn and yellow laburnum.
 The land was so deep in peace that I could scarcely believe that some where behind me were those who sought my life: aye. and that in months time. unless I had the al. mightiest of luck. these round, country faces would be pinched and staring and men would be lying dead in Eng fish fields.
 It was hard to conceive that shortly an act would be committed which would set the world afiame with Ii most terrible of all wars. And as look back now and think of the tr, mendous secret that I possessed wonder hoy I shouldered the respon- sibility.
 But had no time to think seriously of the future in those strenuous days. It was action and immediate action that was demanded. It was impera- tive that get in touch with our gov ernment by the 10th of June.
 About midday entered . long. strag- gling village and had . mind to stop and eat. Halfway down was the postoffice. and on the steps of 1t stood the post mistress and policeman hard at work coming telegram.
 When they saw me they wakened up. and the policeman advanced with raised hand and cried on me to stop.
 nearly was fool enough to obey Then 1t flashed upon me that the wire had to do with me that my friends at the inn had come to an understanding and were united in desiring to see more of me and that it had been easy enough for them to wire the descrtp- ton of me and the car to thirty vil- lages through which I might pass.
 l released the brakes just in time. As 1t was the policeman made a claw at the hood and only dropped or when he got my left in his eye
 l saw that main roads were no place for me and turned into the byways It wasn't an easy job without map. for there was the risk of getting on to farm road and ending in duck pond or stable yard. and l couldn't afford that kind e. delay
 I began to see what an ass had been to steer the car
 | Ht biE Glttll DTutt Wouiu Dt IuG safest kind of clew to me over the breadth of Scotland If I left it and took to my feet it would be discovered in an hour or two, and l would get no start in the race.
 The immediate thing to do was to get to the lonelieSt roads These l soon found when l struck up tributary Oi the bug river and got into glen with steep hills all about me and a cork. screw road at the end which climbed over pass
 Here l met nobody. but 1t was talk ing me too far north. so slued east along bad track and finally struck a big double line railway. Away below me saw another broadish valley, and 1t occurred to me that if l crossed 1t ! might find some remote hostelry to pass the night
 The evening was now drawing in and l was furiously hungry. for l had ont t,r.