Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-17
CHAPTER Xu-(Coutlnued)

- into the bar You can walk, l sup
pose?'
He turned on the torch. which was con-
trolled by a sliding button. and saw how
tho prisoner was secured. Then he flashed
the light into the interior of the barn. II
was a ramshackle place at the best and
looking peculiarly forlorn after the rummag-
ing II had undergone since the fight re-
cent picket having evidently torn down
stalls and managers to provide materials for
a fire. Part of long sloping ladder had
been consumed for that purpose, so that
an open trap-door in the boarded floor OF
an upper story was inaccessible The barn
itself was unusually lofty, running to a
height Of twenty feet or more. There were
no windows. Some rats, tempted out al
ready by the oats spilled from the horses
nose-bags. scuttled away from the light.
Through the trap-doOr the noise of the
rain pounding on Il shingle roof came with
a curious hollOwness.
Won Halwlg did not extinguish the lamp.
but tucked 1t under his left arm. He lighted
a cigarette. With each movement of his
body the beam Of light shifted. Now 1t
played on the wall against which Dalroy
leaned because the crampcd state of his
arms was already becoming irksome now
It shone through the doorway, forming a
sort OF luminous blur In the rain, now II
dwelt on the Englishman standing there in
his worn blouse, baggy breeches, and sabots,
an old flannel shirt open at the neck. and
a months growth of beard on cheeks and
chin. The hat which Irene made fun OF
had been tilted at a rakish angle when the
corporal removed the cloak Certainly he
was changed in essentials since he and the
guardsman last met face to face on the
platform at Aix-la -Chapelle.
But the eyes were unaiterabie. They
were still resolute. and strangely calm. be-
cause he had nerved himself not TO finch
before this strutting popinjay.
You wonder why l have brought you
in here, eh?" began Won Halwig, in Eng
lsh.
Perhaps to gloat over me-" was the
quiet reply.
NO. Ia II necessary? At AK I was
excited. The Day had come, The Day Of
which we Germans have dreamed for many
year. / am young, but l have already
won promotion. 1 belong to an Irresistible
army. War steadies a man. But when we
reach Oombergen you will be paraded be-
fore a crusty old general. and even l. Van
Halwig Of the stan and friend OF the
Emperor, may not converse with a spy
and murderer. So we shall have a little
chat now. What say you?"
"It all depends what you wish to talk
about"
About you and her ladyshp. of course"
May / ask whom you mean by her
ladyshipR"
Isn't that correct English?"
1T can be, II applied 10 a Iauy OF tltle.
But when used with reference presumably
to young lady who is governess, it
sounds like clumsy sarcasm"
"Governess the devil With whom, then,
have you been roaming Belgium
Miss Irene Beresford, OF course"
You're not a fool, Captain Dalroy Do
you honestly tell me you don't know
know what?"
THAT the girl you brought from Berlin
is Lady Irene Beresford, daughter Of the
Earl Of Glastonbury"
There was a moment of intense silence.
In some ways II was mmaterial to Dalroy
what social position had been filled by the
woman he loved. But, in others, the dis
coVery that Irene was actually the aris-
tocrat she looked was very vital and
serious thing. 1t made clear the meaning
OF certain references to distinguished peo-
pie. both in Germany and in England, which
had puzzled him at times. Transcending all
else in Importance, IL might even safeguard
her from German malevolence, since the
Teuton pays an absurd homage to mere
rank"
81 did not know" he said and his voice
was not so thoroughly under control as he
desired.
Won Halwig laughed loudly "Almachtig!" :"
he spluttered, "our smart corporal Of hus-
sars seems to have spoiled romance.
What a pity You'll be shot before mid
night, my gallant captain, but the lady
will be sent TO Berlin with the utmost care.
Even /, who have an educated taste in the
female line, darent wink at her. Has she
never told you why she bolted In such
hurry?"
mo"
Never hinted that royal prince was
wild about herr"
mo"
well, you have my word for IT. Him
mel women are queer"
She has suffered much TO escape from
your royal prince"
She'll be returned TO him now, slightly
soiled, but nearly as good as new"
IL wish my hands were not tied."
"Oh, no heroics. please We have no
time for nonsense of that sort Is the
light irritating you? I'll put II here"
Won Halwig stopped and placed the torch
on the broken ladder. Its radiance illu-
mined an oval Of the rough, square stone
with which the barn was paved Thence
forth the vivid glare remained stationary,
The two men, facing each other at a dis
tance Of about six feet, were in shadow.
They could SEQ each other quite well, how
ever. in the dim borrowed light, and the
Guardsman fiicked the ash from his cigar
ette
You're English I'm German" he said
I'VE represent the positive and negative
poles OF thought II II hurts your feelings
that 1 should speak Of Lady Irene, let's
forget her. What really want TO ask you
is this-why has England been 30 mad as
TO fight Germany"
CHAPTER XIII