Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-02

Here was my chance.
Upon returning to my Office I i'm
mediately got in touch over the tele-
phone with two prominent men in New
York who l knew to be distinctly pro-
ally. After outlining my desire, an ap-
pointment was made for me to meet a
certain gentleman at the Hotel Aston
1T o'clock that afternoon. l met him.
He introduced me to Frenchman. AT
that time in my eyes a Frenchman was
. hero, a man to be looked up to. a
man fighting in the great cause. But
now a Frenchman to me is more than a
hero. After being introduced ! went
up into the Frenchman's room and talk
ed over the matter of horses for France
for about twenty minutes.
Upon leaving the Frenchman I was
told to report to him three days later,
at the same time and place. 1 left, bub-
bling over with enthusiasm and antici-
patton.
During this interval of three days I
mapped out a story of my life to pre-
sent to him upon our second interview.
The eventful day at last came, and
started in to tell him my story. He in
terrupted me by waving his right hand
to the right and left. 1t reminded me
of the butts on target range during
rifle practice. when the man marking
the target wigwags a miss to the FIR
ing line. My heart sank. Then he
spoke, and 1 was carried from despond-
ency to the greatest height of expec-
tation- His words: Pardon me. mon
sieur. I already know your life" and
more than / knew about myself. /
had been carefully Investigated.
My instructions received from him
are confidential, so / will not go into
,, ho~ I4I
velope and told me to follow out care
fully all details as contained therein.
Immediately went back to my Of
nee. opened the envelope and on a
Goldsmith's employment agency, No.
- Greenwich street. Ship as an or
binary horseman and during voyage
carefully follow the verbal instruc-
tions received by you during our in
terview. making careful note of all de-
tails Immediately after happening. Be
cautious in doing this. Upon landing
In France report to the prefecture of
police. Bordeaux, and to the letter obey
his instructions. Good luck"
I went home and put on my oldest
clothes: an old black suit, olive drab
shirt. heavy pair of Army shoes and
Q wooden cap. I had let my beard grow
and certainly looked rough
In passing through City Hall Park,
New York. one sees man derelicts
Of the human race sitting on the
benches. ! sat down between two Of
these wrecks OF humanity and engag--
ed them in conversation. trying to
blend into their atmosphere About
ten minutes later a policeman came
past and told the three of US to move
on. I slouched away with the other
two. Telling them that was going out
'panhandling." I took my leave, but
not before one Of them made an ap-
pealing and successful touch for
nickel. The method used by him in
securing that nickel would have done
credit to the greatest fnanciers in the
country in putting through a deal in
volving millions.
Going down Greenwich street, SLOUGH
ing along. looking at the ground. I ran
plump into a young lady of my ac-
quaintance. I had a feeling Of affec-
ton for this particular young lady,
but 1t soon died out upon hearing her
remark as I collided with her, IF you
cannot look where you are going,
will have you arrested" OF course, she
pains to argue the matter with her. I
was glad enough to stink by.
80
When I came to the agency, there
was long line of buns. two and three
deep. trying to ship as horsemen for
France
1t would be impossible to get a
rougher and more unkempt gathering
Of men. 1t looked as if some huge
giant had taken a fine comb and care
fully combed the cutters of New
York
1 fell into this line and waited my
turn. Upon arriving at the desk. in
front of me sat little fat. greasy
man. To describe his manner of han
ding the men as being impolite would
be great exaggeration. The way he
handled that line of human cattle
would do the kaiser's heart good.
1t came my turn, and this CONVERSE
tion ensued:
What do you know about horses?"
I answered: six years in the United
States cavalry
The agent-"what regimentsr
Eleventh and Twelfth"
You're a liar. You never saw the
cavalry"
I felt like punching him on the nose.
but did not do SO. I wanted to ship
as horseman- / showed him m dis
What did you do. desert or were you
kicked out?"
I was getting sore and answered:
Deserted the 18th: kicked out Of the
11th."
Whats your manner"
Arthur Guy Empey."
You're a German"
This was too much even for me, and
/ answered: You're a damned liar"
saw my chances of shipping bahishing
IN smoke.
The man grinned and rubbed his
hands and said: You're all right Go
into that room and get a card made
out. and come back at 2 o'clock"
I received a card and went to beam
cry across the street and had a wonderful
meal of corned beef hash. muddy coffee
and huge slices of bread. minus butter.
This cost me fifteen cents
At O'Clock 1 reported back. and with
seventy-two others was herded like cat
tie. and in a long. struggling line.
hanlced by three OF the employees Of the
agency. we marched to the ferry and
landed somewhere in New Jersey"
The ship. a huge three-stacker. was
lying alongside. We were showed into
single file. ready to go up the gangplank.
Then our real examination took place. At
the foot Of the gangplank were a group
Of men around long table They GER
tainly put US through third degree to
find out II there was any German blood in
Luckily, got through and signed for the
voyage. and went on board.
At the head of the gangplank stood the
toughest specimen of humanity have ever
seen He looked like a huge gorilla, and
had big. crescent-shaped. livid scar run
ming from his left ear under his chin up
to his right eye Every time he spoke the