Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-11-27

~
WILLIAM J. ROBINSON
CHAPTER TX.
The Fate Of Q Spy.
lTTTE reached Elverdinghe a. quick
w ly as we could and got out
without q scratch, which is
more important than anything else
We went back along the road until We
came to the turning which leads to the
village Of Boesinghe. This village u
Oh the bank Of the canal, but 1t Ia Q
mighty unhealthy place to VISIT as It
Is In full view Of part Of the German
lines. Our plan was to go as close to
the village as we dared and then leave
the car and try to get through on foot.
It was almost as dangerous as 1t would
be to 60 through Ypres, but we figured
that here we would at least have .
lighting chance.
We left the car under some trees
about half mile from the village and
uet out on foot. We hadn't been going
ten minutes when a sentry stopped NJ
again and informed rs that the road
was closed and we would have to 60
back. The officer explained things to
him and told him that 1t was abso-
lutely imperative that we get through
and that this was the only way 1t
could be done. The sentry said that
he was very sorry. but he had strict
orders from the assistant provost mar
shal and he dared not let us pass.
There was nothing left for us to 90
but to turn back.
We went straight to headquarters,
and the officer explained that 1t was
impossible for Us to get through. he
ordered me to report to him the next
morning and we would try again. The
next day they were bombarding just
as heavily, and the city was still burn
ing, 80 all had to do was to stand BY
and hold myself In readiness all DAY
long.
We saw q very exciting incident that
day. There was big ammunition col
umn near our headquarters, and 1t was
waiting there, all ready loaded, until
sent for. It hsd been there several
weeks then. and the chaps who belong
ed to It were having the Softsst time
they ever had In their lives.
About 2 o'clock In the afternoon !
was standing on q corner near this
column when l saw one Of the police
20 ND and speak to chap who was
walking around 1t with a notebook In
his hand. They talked for q few mo-
ments, and then policeman sauntered
down to where was standing and
came up and spoke to me-
"Go down to the guard room" hs said,
.and have the. corporal fall in two men
and bring them up here a. quick AZ
God will let him. That fellow there BY
the column Is getting all kinds OF infor-
nation and putting 1t In his book. Now,
hurry, but take your time until you get
out OF sight Of this place. III look
after him until the guard comes"
was naturally all excited, but did
as he said, and it wasn't many minutes
before we were on our way back at the
double. Our man was stu there, but
the minute he saw Us he got started.
Our policeman pulled bis revolver and
fred after him. he didn't stop for q
second. but he pulled q couple OF guns
himself and every few seconds would
send a shot back at N as he ran.
Fellows were joining In the chase all
the time, and 1t was getting interest
Ing The end came very suddenly when
two of our chaps with rifles appeared
In the road ahead Of the fugitive and
ordered him to halt he fred on them
for an answer, so they raised their n
nes and brought him down.
Examination showed that he was q
German. He had on German service
dress under the British uniform he was
wearing. The little book our police.
man referred to certainly was q gold
mine of information. He had the name,
location and strength Of every unit In
our vicinity and also the location OF a
GOOD many Of our batteries. He was q
brave fellow, all right, and he played
the game clear to the end.
The next day l reported myself a.
usual for the trip to Potijze, and We
decided to make the try again. Even
a We got near Ypres the IRE seemed
to slacken, and we rushed straight
through without mishap.
If Ypres had been In bad condition
before this don't know how It would
be described nowl In the center OF the
town there was scarcely building left
standing. All the towers but one had
been Knocked OF the famous Cloth
hall. and the whole place had been
Quilted by Gre. The cathedral was ell
down except half Of the tower, and the
inside Of that was still burning.
The streets were Uttered with bodies
Of every description. and broken was'
ons, ambulances. water carts, etc., Lay
everywhere. The roads were almost
obliterated, and We were riding over
broken bricks and mortar. The shells
were still coming over, but they were
no worse than what we had run
through before, % we did not mind
them very much. We found the road
the other side Of Ypres about a. usual,
10 We got up TO Potijss without any
more excitement
Potijxe ID q very tiny place wAich
has seen some hard fighting from time
10 time. There was really very nttls
left Of the place itself, but our trenches
ran 1ust outside the village and we had
dugouts al around thera On our ar
rival my officer told me 10 turn the car
around and then to get into one Of the
dugouty and wait for him. did a. be
| told me. and for some reason OF other
lsft the engine running. shut the
| throttle clear down. ~ che was just
barely ticking over.
looked around and found q dugout
not twenty yards away and went in
Two officers were thsre ct the time,
but they told mo 70 ut down, and they
went ON With their work.
found some paper and . pencil and
started 70 write Z letter. After q few
minutes one Of these onicers got up
and went out I don't think Il wa
| more than tan minutes later that
heard Z lot Of running around and
shouting over our heads and ! won.