Evening star., 1917-11-11
CHAPTER /.
THE LAvA-STREAM.

That cry OF despair, 81
q subdued yet piercing In Its
Intensity. reached Arthur Dalroy as he
pressed close on the heels of an all
powerful escort to Lieut. Kari Won
Halwig Of the Prussian Imperial
Guard, at the ticket barrier OF the
Frtedrichstrasse station the night OF
Monday, August 3. 1914.
An officers uniform is pass
mort In Germany; the snowy uni
form of the Imperial Guard adds awe
to authority. 1t may well be douoeeo
n any other insignia of rank couio
have passed companion in civihan
attire so easily through the oHciai
Gordon which barred the chief railway
station at Berlin that night to all un-
authorized persons.
Won Halwig was in front. impar-
tally cursing and showing aside the
crowd of police and railway men:
gigantic ticket inspector. catching
order to clear the way" but a gen
eral officer created a momentary di-
version by choosing that forbidden
exit. Won Halwig's heels clicked. ana
his right hand was raised in a saiute.
so Dalroy was given a few seconds
wherein to scrutinize the face of the
terrified woman who had addressed
him. He saw that she was young. an
Englishwoman. and undoubtedly a
lady by her speech and garb-
What can j do for you? he asked.
Get me into a train for the Belgian
frontier. ] have plenty of money. but
these idiots will not even allow me to
enter the station"
He had to decide in an instant. He
had every reason to believe that a
-; nd oil
a young and good-looking one. was far
safer in Berlin-where some thousands
Of Brftons and Americans had been
caught in the lava-wave of red war
now flowing unrestrained from the
Danube to the North sea-than in the
train which would start for Belgium
within half an hour. But the fearful
indignation in the girls voice-even
her folly in describing as idiots" the
hectoring Jacks-in-office, any one OF
impulse to triumph over saner judg-
ment.
Come along, quickr' he muttered.
You're my cousin Evelyn Fame"
With a self-control that was highly
creditable. the young lady thrust a
hand she carried a reticule. The ac-
tion surprised Dalroy. though feminine
intuition had only displayed common
sense.
.sl, Have you any luEgage.~ he said.
was hopeless to think Of
Won Halwig turned at the barrier to
insure his English friends safe passage.
Hallo!' he cried. Evidently he was
taken aback by the unexpected addition
"A fellow countrywoman in distress %
smiled Dalroy, speaking in German.
Then he added. in English. "Its all right
As IT happens. two places are re-
Won Halwig laughed In a way which
the Englishman would have resented at
any other moment.
,u,,E 1eeilent." eeneI. he gufrawsd- "Beauti-
sheep's-head"'-t to the ticket in,
spector-''let that porter with the port
manteau pasS"'
Thus did Capt Arthur Dalroy ind
himself inside the Friedrichstrasse sta
ton on the night when Germany was
already at war with Russia and France
With him was the stout leather bag into
which he had thrown hurriedly such
few articles as were indispensable-an
ironic distinction when viewed in the
light of subsequent events: with him,
too. was charming and trustful and ut
terly unknown travelling companion.
Won Haiwig was not only vastly
deayors to scrutinize the face of a girl
whom the Englishman had apparently
conTured up out of the maelstrom of Ber-
lin were almost rude. They failed, how
knows exactly how to attract or repeI
mans admiration: this young lady
was evidently determined that only the
Nasuest hint OF her features should be
Nouehsaied ,"s are to the guardsman. A fairly
angle at which she held her head, de-
feated his intent. She still clunx to
Dalroys arm. and relinquished it only
@ Wnen a perspiHns platform inspector.
e frst-class carriage. There were no
sleeping cars on the train. Every
wagon-ht In Berlin had been comman-
deered by the staff
words difficulty in retaining these corner
places" he said. whereupon Dalroy gave
him a 5-mark piece. and the girl was
installed In the seat facing the engine.
serated his services. The train was lit
orally besieged. Scores Of important Of
neials were stormine at railway en-
pioyes because accommodation could nc
Won Halwig would take himself or in
stead Of standing near the open door and
peering at the girl, soon changed his
mind There could not be the slightest
Of an officer of the imperial guard he
and his cousin" would have been nm
tremendously bundled out on the piat-
.esI1n,,s9 .o5m 70 ,as,, make room for some many
must
get to the front" AS for the lady, she
was the sole representative of her seS
travelling west that night
Meanwhile the two young men chat
ted amtcably. using German and Eng
lfsh with equal ease.
think you are making a mistake
in going by this route" said Won Hal.
wig. THE frontier lines will be hor-
ribly congested during the NEXT few
days You see. we have to be in Paris
In three weeks, so we must hurry"
You are We Confident" said tn.
Englishman. pleasantly.
He purposely avoided any dtscu,,,o,
OF his reasons for choosing the Coioene.
Brussels-Ostend line AS an on1cse ~
1he Brltish army. he was particularly
ahxious 70 watch the vaunted German
mo6ilization in Its early phases.
vretohad ohadena, M,,,. Why Why not? Those
term for the French infantry-awiiiii
run long before they see the whites
OF our eyes"
Z haven't met any French rex,.
msnss n.Mas. since Es was younsster: but ]
now than 10 1870" was the sn,zea non.nnn,
initial reply.
in wide sweep I'VE shall brusn
them aside-so." he cried. ''Ths asr'
man man !, army ~ was strong in those days
dier. You know. ronight:s naner, so..
say England is wavering betWean
peace and war. But I have no douht
she will be wise. That channel is
great asset. great safeguard, oh p.
Again Dalroy changed the subject
start 70, The ,air fron, question when do YOU
tomorrow. at six in the morning
How very kind Of you to spare sucl
valuable time noww si