Evening star., 1917-12-09
So

the old man implied that he was Henri
Jooa of Wise. No, please listen. i
don't want to be told. can only give
YOU certain facts, and leave you TO
draw your own conclusions. Active
inquiries are being made by the au>
thorities for Henri Joos, Elisabeth
Joos. Leontine Joos. their daughter, and
Jan Maertx. all of Wise. With them are
an Englishwoman, aged twenty, and
an English officer named Dalroy. both
dressed as Belgian peasants. The ap-
pended descriptions seem to be re-
markably accurate. and q reward OF
one thousand marks is offered for
their capture
They may be willing to pay doEble
the price for freedom" said Dalroy.
The Frenchman was not offended.
He realized that this was not a sug-
gestion of personal bribe.
You have not heard ALL" he contin-
ned. These people were traced to
Nerviers. but the trail was lost after
Maertz bought cart and a dog team
in that town three days ago. Unfor-
funately. some uhlans, passing through
Andenne last night. have reported the
presence of just such a party on the
main road. Other soldiers believe they
saw similar lot entering Huy after
dark. and the burgomaster is warned
that the strictest search must be made
among refugees at Huy. To make sure.
German escort will assist II is es-
timated that Joos and the others viii
u
depend on laisser passer issued in
Argenteau under false names. which
are known. Joos figures is Wilhelm
Schultz. for instance. Don't look SO
ter is my brother in laws partner. He
will not reach this quarter of Huy TIL
half-past 3 or 4 o'clock.
But there IS the record of Nine
Joos' burial put in Dalroy. instantly.
NO The poor creature remains a
woman unknown, found dead The
Germans don't worry about such trifies.
But by a strange coincidence. NINE
Stauwaert practically takes her place
for Identification purposes. BY the
mercy of Providence. no German SOL
dier was in this house last night. or he
would now be the richer by a thousand
marks. The notice is placarded at the
komma ndantur. and IS being read by
the multitude"
I'VE shall not bring further trouble
on family which has already run
grave risk in our behalf" vowed Dali
roy. warmly. We must scatter at
once. and. IL caught, suffer individ-
ually"
sieur: but sworn allies carry friend
ship to greater lengths. Now, let US
take counsel Nine. Stauwaert can re-
main here. Fifty people in Huy Will
answer for her. Ny sister can hire a
servant. Leontine. II Joos is tractable
he can lodge in safety with some cot
tagers I know Maertz wishes to join
the Belgian army, and you the British;
while that charming young lady will
want to get to England. Well. we
may be able to contrive all these
things. j happen to be bit of an an
tiquary. and Huy owns more ruined
town of similar size in Belgium. or in
she world. ] imagine. Follow my In
structions to the letter. and you will
cheat the Germans yet They are ami
- nv
searching for six people they will never
look for one or two. Yet IL would be
folly il you and mademoiselle wan
dered OF by yourselves in strange
country. Then. indeed. even German
official obtuseness might show a spark
of real intelligence. whereas, by gain
ing a few days, who knows whether
YOUR armies may not come to you.
rather than you go to them
The good-hearted Frenchman's
scheme worked without a hitch. The
cart was broken up for hrewood. the
harness burned. and the dogs taken
mile into the country by Maertx. who
sold them for couple OF francs. and
came back to a certain ruined priory
by a roundabout road.
Irene and Dairoy had gone there al
ready. The place lay deep in trees and
brushwood. and was approachable by
4 dozen hidden ways Although given
over to bats and owls, its tumbledown
walls contained one complete room.
ground level. and reached by wind
ing staircase Of stone slabs. which
looked most precsrious, but proved
quite sound il used by a sure-footed
climber.
Here. then, the three dwelt eleven
weary days. During daylight their
only diversion was the flight Of hosts
of aeroplanes toward the French from
tier Twice they saw Zeppelins. For
warmth at night they depended on
I.,n ~ A~fA -
bracken which throve among the piles
Of stones. They were well supplied
with food. deposited at dusk in a fosse
and obtained when the opening bars Of
distance. The air itself was a guarsri-
tee that no German was near. because
the Belgian national anthem is not
pleasing to Hun ears
A typed note in the basket formed
their sole link with the outer world.
And what momentous issues were con-
veyed in the briefest of sentences,
.'Namur has fallen after a DAYS bonn
bardment by a new and terrible can.
non."
Brussels has cap:tuiated without re-
sistance.''
After a fierce battle. the French and
English have retired from Charieroi
and Mons
''The retreat continues. France is i'm
vaded. Valenciennes has fallen"
On the eleventh morning Dalroy hid
among the bushes until the daily bas-
ket was brought. N. Pochard himself
was the Eo-between. He feared lest
Leontine would contrive to meet
Maertz. so the girl did not know where
her lover was hidden.
The Frenchman started visibly when
Dalroy's voice reached him: but the
latter spoke in a tone which would not
carry far. I'm sorry to seem un-
grateful. he said. but grow
ing desperate. Do us one last favor,
monsieur. and we impose no more on
YOUR goodness. Tell me where and
when we can cross the Meuse. and the
hest route TO take subsequently. Sink
or swim. i. at any rate. must endeavor
TO reach England. and mademoiseIle is
equally resolved to make the attempt"
Il don't blame you."s the sor-
rowful reply. This Is going to be a
long war. Twenty years of deadly
preparation are bearing fruit. I am
sick with anxiety. But dare not loi-
ter in this nefghborhood, so. as TO your
affair. my advice is that you cross the
Meuse tomorrow in broad daylight.
The bridge IS repaired, and no very
strict watch is kent. Make for Nj
velles. Enghien and Oudenarde. The
Belgians hold the Antwerp-Sa
lers line. but are being driven back
daily. have been thinking of you.
II YOU delay longer YOU wili-at the
best-be imprisoned in Belgium for
mony months. Are you determined."
Yes"
do YOU want money!"
we have, plenty" ht.e