Evening star., 1917-12-23
~ g g g g s
CONTINUED FROM LAST Sunday


TALLY an "exact" man. He never erred
a. to distinctions of rank or title. His
.a1ute was the pride of the Bluffs.
Blithely regardless of the fact that not
more than Ave minutes earlier Capt.
Dalroy had confessed himself Ignorant
of Lady Irene Beresford's actual social
status, he alluded to her correctly
.r think. sir" he ratified on. that we
ought to be moving. It's quite dark
now. an we have our route marked
out"
we've been directed by priest. sir
The Belgian priests have done US q, d
treat. In, every village they showed us
the safest roads Even %nsn i;,,
couldn't make us understand their m
go they could always pencil a mar.
"I see Do you follow the road TO
Oosterzeele?"
branch off into a lane leading west 10
the River Schelde, which we cross by
a ferry Once past that ferry, an
there's no more Germans"
very well. Have you searched the
enemy for papers?"
"Yes. sir. We're stuffed with note
books an other little souveeners
do your men ride?"
II YOU don't mind They hate killing
horses. SO we turn 'em loose generally
This lot should he tied up
What of the carr?
"Smithy will attend TO that Win
bomb. sir. -
Bates evidently knew his business. 30
evidently that Dalroy did not even
question him as 70 the true inwaroness
of Snithy's attentions.
The SQUAD cleared up their tasks with
an extraordinary CELEBRITY Smltny
crawled under the automobile with the
hashlight, remained there exactly thir-
%1-S nd annpqred
The corporal saluted-
Were ready now. sir" ne sag a
perhaps her iadyship will march with
you behind the center file?"
'fDo You head the column
"Yes. sir"
'"Then. for little way, wen accom-
pany you. There were three in our
party. corporal One. a Belgian named
IAN Maertz. risked death to get away
and bring help. IE, afraid he has been
captured on the Oosterzeele road by
two hussars detailed for the job: So,
you see. must try and save him.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE MARNE-AND AFTER.
That's awkward, sir" sadi the cor
poral. as the. detachment moved Off
into the night. leaving the motor cars
acetylene lamps still blazing merrily.
why .awkward'?' demanded Dalroy.
Because when we fellows met in
wood near Nome. we agreed that we'd
stick together. and fight to a finish:
but if any man strayed by accident. or
got hit SO badly that he couldn't
march he took his chances, and the
rest went on"
quite right How does that affect
the present situation
We'll. SIR" said Bates, after a pause
there's you an the lady. Our chaps
are interested. II may say it. You
ought to have heard their langwidge,
even in whispers. when that-well.
can't call him anything much worse
than what he was, German ofhcer-
when he was telling you of, sir"
What did the German officer say,
sergeant" put in Irene. innocently.
Corporal, your ladyship. Corp. Bates,
> of the I'd Buffs."
"I'm sorry TO have to interrupt" said
Dalroy. You must give Lady Irene a
full account some other time. II you
are planning to cross the Schelde to-
night there is a long march before you
We part company at the lane you spoke
of. i leave her Iadyship in the care of
YOU and your men with the greatest
confidence. I make for oosterzeele II
Jan Maertz is prisoner. l must do
what lies in my power to rescue him,
If 1 fail. I'll follow on and report at
Gand in the morning"
FOR a little WH1le none SpOhc nt
other men marched in silence, safe
guard which they had made a rigid
rule while piercing their way by night
through an unknown country held by
an enemy who would not have given
quarter to any English soldier.
Rates was really very sharp fellow.
He had sense enough TO know that he
had said enough already. Dalroy's use
complications rather beyond the ken of
one whose acquaintance with the facts
was limited to an overheard conversa-
tion between strangers. Moreover. SOL
that one of his own officers was not
only deliberately risking his life in or
der to save that of a Belgian peasant.
but felt in honor bound to do no less.
So Irene was left to tread the narrow
path unaided. To her lasting credit.
she neither flinched nor faItered.
We may find it difficult to reach
Gand. so I'll wait for you in Ostend,
Arthur" she said. composedly.
Now. these two young people had Just
been snatched from death, or worse, in
q manner which, a few weeks earlier,
the least critical reader Of romantic
wildly improbable that Imagination
boggled at it Irene, too. had unnis-
takab1y told the man who had never
uttered word of the love that was
consuming him that neither rank nor
wealth could interpose any barrier be-
tween them 1t was hard. almost un-
bearable. that they should be parted in
the very hour when freedom might
truly come with the dawn.
Dalroy trudged a good twenty PAGES
before he dared trust his voice. Even
then. he blurted out not the measured
agreement which his brain dictated
but prayer from his very heart. May
God bless and guard you. dear" was
what he said, and Irene's response was
choked by pitiful little sob.
Suddenly Dalroy. whose hearing was
ouickened by the training OF Indian
shikar. touched the corporars arm, and
stood FAST. Bates gave a peculiar click
In his throat. and the squad halted
each mans feet remaining in what
ever position they happened to be at
the moment.
Horses coming this way" breathed
Dalroy.
Right. sir. This'n be your two. with
Jan wots-his-name. hope. Leave
them to us. sir Smithy, Macdonald and
Shiner-forwardr
Three shapes materialized close to
the trio In front. The rain was still
peiting down, and the trees nearly met
overhead. so the road was discernible
only by strip of skyline. itself mere
ly less dense blackness.
t, Them two yewlans," explained the
corporal. probably bringing a pris-
oner Mind YOU don't hurt him"
No more explicit instructions were
given or needed. OF such material
were the First Hundred Thousand
Take her ladyship back a few Yards
sir. gurgled Bates. THE horses NAV
bolt II they do we must stop 'em be-
fhArr