Catoctin clarion., 1917-11-15
Appropriating
a Passport
Bv WARREN MILLER
Dyright, 1917. Western Newspaper Union.


dieu. In America l have always been
called "Lommedoo." Both my rather
and mother were born in France, ana
4 am not only French In appearance
but speak French fiuently.
In 1914 l was travelling abroad ana
was in Berlin when the worlds war
broke out.
hurried to the foreign office to get
nv passport put In order to leave Ger
many. but was obliged to walt several
days for it. While waiting l formed
the acquaintance Of man named
Walker who claimed to be an Amer-
can.
The day I received the passport, on
returning with it to my hotel, l mel
him in the office. I was so pleased
that l told him all about finally being
permitted to leave Germany and lie
congratulated me warmly. He ASKED
me when would leave and told MN
that would 60 "the next day on the
only through train that ran between
Berlin and Brussels"
The next day, when I reached the
station, | was met by MIR. walker. lie
was carrying a suitcase and told me
that he was going on the train. he
took me to compartment or one OF
the coaches In which there were elghI
seats. Six of the seats were occupied
nnd Walker and I took the remaining
two seats. Then the guard-we IN
America call him the conductor
locked the door. As he did so l saw
look of intelligence pass between him
and Mr. Walker. What 1t meant
had 10 idea.
AT the first stop several passengers
got out and the guard locked the door
ot once preventing anyone else from
entering the compartment. Within an
hour after leaving Berlin Walker ana
the remaining passengers, excepting
one man and myself, got out. 1he
train was crowded and persons repeat
edly tried to induce the guard to let
them enter our almost empty compart.
ment: : but he kept 1t locked, evidently
telling them his reason for doing So
which could not hear.
AS soon as we were OFT again the
sole remaining passenger In the com
partment besides myself took out q
cigarette case and offered It to me. J
took cigarette and ne another.
noticed that he helped himself from
the other side Of the case from which
i took my cigarette. l leaned back IL
nv seat, and feeling very comfortable,
closed my eyes, and In few minutes
fell asleep.
was awakened by the guard an
lnouncing that we were at the border
and "all out" He was obliged to give
me a good shaking before arousing me.
I was alone the other passenger hav'
departed. I seized my hand baggage
and went to the room where passen'
gers were showing their passports, or
their permission to leave Germany,
and put my hand in my pocket to take
out my own passport. 1t was not
there.
As soon as I could get an officers
attention told him I had been robbed
of my passport He asked me my
nape and after an investigation told
me that man named L'Hommedieu
had passed out.
Then knew that my fellow passen'
ger had put me to sleep with ciga.
rette prepared for the purpose and had
taken my passport.
Twas taken back to Berlin and held
on suspicion Of being a spy till had
convinced the authorities that / was
what I represented myself to be, then,
with the assistance of the American
minister, I was permitted to leave Ber-
lin, and after great difficulties at last
found myself at my hotel In Paris.
A few days after reaching the capt.
tai OF France I received card which
bore the name Of noted French
statesman. Wondering II there were
not some mistake, went to the salon
to meet him and found a man about
my size and build, though he would not
be mistaken for me.
"NIr. L'Hommedleu,' he said, II have
been waiting for some time for you
to register your name at Paris hotel.
I am Indebted to you for getting me
out of Berlin, where I happened to
be, unknown to the German govern
ment, at the breaking out of the war,
and I desire to crave your pardon for
having caused you inconvenience.
'Inconveniencew
'Hear me- A friend Of mine who
passed under the name of Walker
knew Of your trouble about your pass
port. 1t occurred to him that you and
i were about the same size, our eyes
and hair were the same color. Under
my own identity could never get out
of Berlin. Walker engineered the plan
TO rob you Of your passport. You
would only be delayed, while I would
be considered an important capture
and would suffer long imprisonment,
and heaven knows what other torture
Walker guided you to the compart-
ment we occupied. Those who occu-
pied 1t were sympathizers." !
"You had no right to give me 80
much trouble" I protested. /
"That I acknowledge, and ] have
come to remunerate you. I am an in
huential man"
81 know who you are"
"If there Is anything In the gift Of
the French government that you de-
sire, 1t shall be yours"
told him that desired nothing but
to get home to America. But, appeased.
I added that was glad to be Of serv-
Ice to the country In which my parents
had been born.
And SO we parted friends.
How they Go II.
You lave doubtless been thrilled by