Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-23

i man, help me''
That cry of despair, so subdued yet pierre
ing in its intensity reached Arthur Dalroy
rs he pressed close on the heels of an all
powerful escort in Lieutenant Karl Won
Halwig of the Prussian Imperial Guard, at
the ticket-barrier of the Friedrich Strasse
Station on the night of Monday, Sd August
1914.
An officers uniform is a pdsse- -pdrtout in
Germany; the snowy uniform of the Impe-
rial Guard adds awe to authority. It may
well be doubted II any other insignia of rank
could have passed a companion in civilian
attire so easily through the official Gordon
which barred tho chief railway station at
Berlin that night to all unauthorized per-
sons.
Won Halwig was in front, impartially
cursng and showing aside the crowd of po-
lice and railway men. A gigantic ticket
Inspector, catching sight of the guards
man. beloved an order to clear the way" !;
but a general officer created n momentary
diversion by choosing that forbidden exit
Won Halwigs heels clicked, and his right
hand was raised in a salute, so Dalroy was
given a few seconds Wherein to scrutlnize
the face of the terrified woman who had
addressed him. He saw that she was
young an Englishwoman, and undoubtedly
q lady by her speech and garb.
what can I do for you?" he asked.
"Get me into a train for the Belgian
frontier have Slenty of money, but these
idiots will not even allow me to enter the
station"
He had to decide in an instant He had
every reason to believe that a woman
friendless and alone, especially n young
and good-looking one, was far safer in
Berlin-where some thousands of Britons
and Americans had been caught In the lava
wave of red war now flowing unrestrained
from the Danube to the North Sea-than
@Aa Aarff Gov lCyiN m
within half an hour. But the fearful in
dignation in the girls voice-even her folly
in describing as idiots" the hectoring
Jacks-ln-off1ce, any one of whom might
have understood her-led impulse to tri-
umph over saner judgment.
Come along! quick" he muttered
''You're my cousin Evelyn Fame"
With a self.control that was highly cred
table, the young lady thrust hand
through his arm. In the other hand she
carried a reticule. The action surprised
Daroy, though feminine intuition had only
displayed common sense.
Have you any luggage?" he said.
Nothing beyond this tiny bag. 1t was
hopeless to think Of"
Won Halwig turned at the barrier to
insure his English friends safe passage
"Hallo :" he cried. Evidently he was
taken aback by the unexpected addition to
the party
"A fellow-countrywoman in Distress
smiled Dalroy, speaking in German. Then
he added, in English, IT'S all right AS II
happens, two places are reserved
Won Halwig laughed in a way which the
Engishman would have resented at any
other moment.
Excellent! he guffawed Beautifully
contrived my friend--Hi, there, sheep s.
head !"-this to the ticket inspector-"let
that porter with the portmanteau pass!
Passage Assured
Thus did Captain Arthur Dalroy find HIM
self inside the Friedrich Strasse station on
the night when Germany was already at
war with Russia and France. With him
was the stout leather bag into which he
had thrown hurriedly such few articles
as were indispensable-an ironic distinction
when viewed in the light of subsequent
events; with him, too, was charming ana
trustful and utterly unknown travelling
companion.
Won Halwig was not only vastly amused
but intensely curious; his endeavors TO
scrutinize the face Of girl whom the Eng
lshman had apparently conjured up out or
the malestrom Of Berlin were almost rude.
They failed, however, at the outset. Every
woman knows exactly now to attract or
repel a mans admiration; this young lady
was evidently determined that only the
vaguest hint of her features should be
vouchsafed to the guardsman. A fairly
Aolbt nat anu Il we'll dSoloNIh by tlAC 'l'h'S
at which she held her nead defeated his
intent She still clung TO Dalroys arm,
and relinquished it only when perspirng
platform inspector, armed with list,
brought the party to first-class carriage.
There were no sleeping cars on the train
Every "wagon-lit' in Berlin had been COM
mandeered by the staff
II have had a not-to-be-described-in
words difficulty in retaining these corner
Places" he said, whereupOn Dalroy gave him
hve-mark piece, and the girl was in
stalled in the seat facing the engine
The platform inspector had not eYagger-
Ated his services. The rrain was literally
besieged. Scores of important officials
were storming at railway employees because
accommodation could not be found. Dali
roy wishful at first that Won Halwig
would take himself off instead Of standing
near the open door and peering at the girl,
soon changed his mind. There could not
ne the slightest doubt that were 1t not for
the presence of an officer of the Imperial
Guard he and his cousin" would have been
, unceremoniously bundled out on to the
platform TO make room for some many
yhabled functionary who simply must go
TO the front" AS for the lady she was the
soie representative of her sex travelling
west that night.
Meanwhile the two young men chatted
emicably, using German and English with
equal ease
1 think you are making a mistake in
going by this route" said Won Halwig.
me frontier lines will be horribly con-
sssted during the next few hys, You
zee we have to be in Paris in three weeks
We must hurry"
You are very confident" said the Eng
nshman pleasantly
=, lie purposely avoided any discussion Of
nls reasons for choosing the Cologne-Brus-
selsostend line. AS an officer Of the
,,''ush army he was particularly anxious
% watch the vaunted German mobihza-
Nen n is early phases
Senndenll Why pot2 Those wretched