Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-24
THE DAY
OF WRATH
A Story Of 1914
BY LOUIS TRACY
CHAPTER xv--(Continued)

ChafTEh AN-(COnt1nuedD
A FLEET of Belgian armored cars cleared
a road through the stream OF fugitives.
and Dalroy kept close In rear, so he made a
fast return journey. Dashing past the
town station. near which the steam-tram
would disgorge its freight, he headed
straight for the Care Maritime. II was
now dusk, but he saw at once that the
crowd besieging the entrance was denser
and more frantic than ever, though the
last steamer whose departure was an
nounced officially had left early in the day
He ascertained from a helpless police
man that the runor had gone round Of
vessel coming in; the sullen, apathetic
multitude. waiting there for II knew not
what chance Of rescue, had suddenly become
dangerous.
Tho American Consul, who has worked
hard all day has had to give 1t up added
the man. He is closing his Office"
Just then a harbor official, minus his
cap, and with coat badly torn during
VIOLENT passage through the mob, strobe BY
breathless but hurried.
Dalroy recognized him. having had much
business with the port authorities during
the preceding week.
rs It true that a steamer is in sight?"
he asked.
Monsieur. what am to say?" and the
accompanying gesture was eloquent. ut
is only a little cargo boat, an English
coaster II she nears the quay there will
be a riot, and perhaps thousands of lives
lost The harbor master has sent me to
ask the mayor II he should not signal her
to anchor outside until daylight"
Prompt decision and steadfast action
were Dalroy's chief qualities. II luck fav-
ored him he might set his own project on
foot before the mayors messenger burked
u -.
and rode off.
Happily the tram came from Blanken-
berge without undue delay. He had only
dsmounted when the engine clanked into
the station square. Already his soldiers
eye had noted that the Gordons and some
of the Belgian soldiers had retained their
rifles and bayonets.
Get your crowd into motion at once"
he said to the doctor. as soon the latter
alighted. Nothing you have gone through
during the last two months will equal the
excitement of the next quarter of an hour.
But, II your cripples can fix bayonets and
show bold front. we have a fighting chance
no more. And unless we leave Ostend
before tomorrow morning It'll be a German
prison for you and firing line for me-"
Men who have smelt war and DEATH not
once but many times, do not hesitate and
argue when a staff officer talks in that
strain.
and inonrassad on ,ha .soor, ,ha ahsol,te
nccessity ~ sbow,ns, deterr,ined front
nn naayinn ,ho rasLad ess 90 neonIs
c,ar,nr,nr o,,,s,d. tha CO. W.ri,,nns he
Socifsrated son,s .harn orSars ,ha r,rss
came from the slope" to the ready and
number ~ war.stained kIIt,es advancing
an tber, with thrsatanine nnien
a., so,,a ,no.io a ma, uas onsr.a out
The vanguard knew exactly how to act and
rsech.d Hsr" thars w.s hitch hut a
,Srsat 20 era q ,,o,,a,, .Srnveh tha hsrs wa,
sWsctns, ana ths n,So,a nartv got through
thovgh s,an tho harasnea Soctors iootsd
sr.,,e 49, ,,., .narS 49, ,u.n ~, .nsu,sh
that went IN TO-, The n,u,,,tuds ,yithout
as the eatss n,ashad ars,nst t,rth.r inersss,
oy Course as yo;ebt he exnccted. there
were hundreds OF influential people, both
British subjects and Belgians, already in
side. TO them Dalroy gave no immediate
s ss:' asss 'sss::: the ss s'si:; s nc KEEP