Evening star., 1917-11-11
A Story of 1914
Bv LOUIS TRACY

Here, then, was no waste OF WORDS.
but rather the ring Of finely tempered
steel. Dalroy unlocked tho door and
looked out. To the right and in front
the platform was nearly empty. On
the left the group OF ofncers was
crowding into the waiting room. since
some hint Of unfathomable mystery
had been waited UP from the Eavart-
ans in the courtyard. and the slim
young prince, curious as a street
lounger. had gone to the window to
investigate.
Dalroy stood in the doorway. Pull
down your veil. turn to the right. and
keep close to the WALL" he said. Don't
run! Don't even hurry! II seem to
German
She obeyed without hesitation. They
had reached the end Of the covered-in
portion Of the station when a sentry
with fixed bayonet to the "engage."
1T Is forbidden" he said
What is forbidden?' grinned Dali
roy amiably. clipping his syllables. and
speaking In the toughest voice he
could assume.
You cannot pass this way"
Good! Then I can go home to bed.
That will be better than cleaning on
gines."
Fortunately, a Bavarian regiment
was detailed for duty at Aix-la-Chapel-
lie that night: the sentry knew where
the engine sheds were situated no more
than Dalroy. Further. he was not
familiar with the Aachen accent.
"Oh. is that it?" he inquired.
Yes. look at my CAPT"
Da!roy held up the lantern. The off,
cial lettering was evidently convinc-
ing.
But what about the LADY,"
shes my wife. If you're here in
half an hour she'll bring you some
conee. One doesn't leave a young wife
at M nome with so many soldiers about"
Eaokh rk~
neither of you will get any coffee"
put In Irene. emphatically
The Bavarian lowered his rife Pm
relieved at o'clock" he said. with a
1augh. Lose no time. schoene frau.
There won't be much coffee on the
road to Liege."
The girl passed on. but Dalroy lin
gered rs that where you're going ?"
Yes; We're due in Paris in three
weeks"
Lucky dog~
Hans. are you coming. or shall I
go on alone?" demanded Irene.
Farewell. comrade. for a little ten
lowed.
An empty train stood in a bay on
a1e. ahe right. and Dalroy espied window
His wife" was walking down III.
main platform which ended against
the wall of a signal cabin. and there
might mn. t,,I be insuperable difficulties in
Isn't this the easiest way.. she
snapped.
Yes II you want to get run over"
without waiting for her, he turned
shouidered the ladder. and made for a
tenefoot On wa the Inner side Of the bay
no1ndary Irene ran after him. Within a
Few yards they were hidden by the train
from the sentry's sight
pered breathlessly.
Speak German. even when you think
we are alone" he commanded
The platform curved sharply. and the
the engine they saw three men standing
there Dalroy at once wrapped the lamp
In fold Of his blouse. and leaped into
the black shadow cast by the wall. which
lay athwart the flood Of moonlight pour
ing into the open part of the station.
Quick to take the cue. 1t being suicidal
to think of bamboozling local railway Of
ncials, Irene followed. Kicking of the
clumsy sabots. Dalroy babe his compan-
ion pick them up. ran back some thirty
yards. and placed the ladder against the
wall. Mounting swiftly. he found. to his
great relief. that some sheds with low
pitched roofs were ranged beneath; 9TH
erwise. the height of the wall. If added
to the elevation of the station generally
above the external ground level, might
up you come" he said, seating him.
self astride the coping stones. and hold
ing the top OF the ladder.
Irene was soon perched there, too He
pulled up the ladder. and lowered it to
a roof.
Now. you grab hard in case it slips"
he said.
Dtsdaining the runss. he slid down. He
had @ hardly gathered his poise before the
heavy wooden shoes she was carrying
giving him smart tap on the head.
These men men. she gasped. They saw
Dalroy imagined that the trio near the
engine must have noted the swinging
lantern and its sudden disappearance
With the instant decision born Of polo
not to essay the slanting roof Just where
they stood. Shouldering the ladder again.
he made off toward a strip Of shadow
which seemed to indicate the end Of a
Irene followed. and they crouched there
in painting silence.
Nearly every German is gymnast. and
it was no surprise to Dalroy when one
ders Of a friend and gained ehe top Of
the wall. /
There's nothing to be seen here" he
announced after a brief survey.
The pair beneath must have answered.
"Oh. saw 1t myself And I'm sure there
was some one up here. There's q sentry
on No. S. Run. Fritz. and ask him II
man with a lantern has passed recently.
I'll mount guard till you return"
Happily a train approached and. In
the resultant din Dalroy was enabled to
scramble down the roof unheard.
The ladder just reached the ground: SO,
before Fritz and the sentry began to
suspect that some trickery was afoot in
that part OF the station. the two fugi-
tives were speeding through a dark
lane hemmed in by warehouses. At
the first opportunity Dalroy extinguish-
ed the lantern. Then he bethought him
of his companions appearance. He
halted suddenly ere they entered
lighted thoroughfare.
again" he said. "But what about you?
1t will never do for lady in smart at
tire to be seen walking through the
streets with a ruffian like me at 1 o'clock
in the morning.
For answer. the girl tool. Off her hat
and tore away a cluster Of roses and
coquettish bow of ribbon. Then she dis
carded her jacket. which she adjusted
loosely across her shoulders.
Now I ought to look raff'sh enough
for anything" she said cheerfully.
S!ngularly enough, her confidence
raised again in nalroy's mind a lurking
doubt which the success thus far
achieved had not wholly stilied.
My candid advice to you now. Miss
You will come to no harm in the main
streets, and you speak German so well
that you should have little difficulty in
reaching the Dutch frontier. Once in
Holland you can travel to Brussels by
way Of Antwerp. / believe England has