Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-25
THE DAY OF WRATH
A STORY OF 1914
BY Louis Tracy

rather the ring Of finely tempered steel
Dalroy unlocked the door. and looked out
To tho right and i'm front the platform was
nearly empty. On the left the group Of
officers was crowdng into the waiting room,
since some hint of unfathomable mystery
had been waited up from the Bavarians
IN the courtyard, and the slim young prince.
curious as n street lcunCer, had gone to
the window TO investigate.
Dalroy stood in the doorway. pull down
your veil, turn to the right, and keep close
to the WALL he said. Don't run Don't
even hurry If I seem to lag behind. speak
sharply TO mo in German"
She obeyed without hesitation. They had
reached tho end Of the covered-ln portion
OF the station when n sentry barred the
way lie brought his rifle with fixed
bayonet to the engage
1T is forbidden, he said
What is forbidden" grnned Dalroy
amiahly clipping his syllables, and speaking
IN the toughest voice he could assume.
You cannot pass this way"
Good Then 1 can go home to bed
That Will be better than cleaning engines -
Fortunately, Bavarlan regiment was de.
tailed for duty at Aix-la- -ChapeIe that
night; the sentry knew where the engine
sheds were situated no more than Dalroy.
turther, he was net familiar with the
Aachen accent.
"Oh, is that it?" he inquired.
Yes. Look at my cap!"
Dalroy held up the lantern. The official
lettering was evidently convincing
But what about the lady?"
She's my wife. If you're hero In half
an hour she'll bring you some coffee. one
doesn't leave young wife at home with
so many soldiers about"
III you both stand chatterlng here neither
OF you Will get any coffee put in Irene
emphatically.
The Bavarian lowered his rife. "I'm re.
lieved at o'clock" he said with a laugh.
Lose no time, schoene Frau. There won't
be much coffee on the road to LieEe"
Inc girl passed on, but Dalroy fingered.
is that where you're going?" he asked.
yes. We're due in Paris in three weeks. "
Lucky dog!"
Hans, are you coming or shall e,o IN
alone?' demanded Irene
Farewell, comrade. for a little ten min.
utes' groWled Dalroy, and he followed
An empty train stood in a bay on the
right and Dalroy espied a window cleaners
iauuer IN corner. Where are you going
woman?' he cried
His wife was walking down the main
| platform which ended against the wall Of a
signal cabin and there might be insurer
ao!e dlilculties in that direction
isn't this the easiest way?" she snapped
Yes If you want 70 get run over"
| " ''4'c'I waiting lot heT, ne turned. shOul.
J dcFeu the ladder and made for n platform
! on the inner side of the bay. A ten-foot
! wall indicated the stations boundary. Irene
! ran after him. Within a few Yards tbey
were hidden by the train from the sentry's
! sight.
That was clever OF you" she whispered
| breathessly.
Speak German. even when YOU thinL
| we are alone" he commanded.
Tho platform curved sharply. and tbt
| train was long one. When they neared tbe
engine they saw three men standing there
Dalroy at once wrapped tho lamp in a fold
| of his blouse, and leaped into the bIacL
shadow cast by the wall, which lay athwart
the food of moonlight pouring into the oper
| part OF the station. Quick 10 take the cue
it being suicidal to think Of bamboozline
| local railway officials franc followed Kick.
| ing Off the clumsy sabots, Dalroy bade hi.
| companion pick them up, ran back some
thirty yards, and placed the ladder against
! the wall. Mounting swiftly he found. tc
| his great relief, that some sheds with low.
| pitched roofs, were ranged beneath; other.
wise, the height Of the wall, if added tc
| the elevation Of the station generally above
| the external ground level might well have
| proved disastrous.
up you come" he said, seating himself
astride the coping-stones, and holding the
| top OF the ladder
Irene was soon perched there, too. Fl,
| pulled up the ladder, and lowered Il to a
roof
"Now, you grab hard in case it slips,
he said.
Disdaining the rungs. he slid down. HI
| had hardly gathered his polse before tht
| girl tumbled into his arms, one of III,
| heavy wooden shoes she was carrying Civ
| him a smart tap on the head.
| "Those men :" she gasped 'oThev sav
me. and shouted"
| Dalroy imagined that the trio near III
| engine must have noted the swinging Ian
tern and its sudden dsappearance Wit
| the instant decision born of polo and pig
| sticking in India, he elected now not 20 as
say the slantug roof just where they stood
Shouldering the ladder again, he made of
| toward a strip Of shadow which seemed I,
| indicate the end Of somewhat higher shed
I He was right. Irene followed, and the,
crouched there in painting silence.
Nearly every German Is a gymnast. an,
| II was no surprise to Dalroy when on
of their pursuers mounted on the shoulder
Of a friend and gained the top Of the wal
"There's nothing TO be seen here" he an
nounced after a brief survev
The pair beneath must have answered
| because he went on, evidently in renlv
"Oh. 1 saw II myself. And I'm sure ther
was some one up here. There's a sentr,
on No. 5. Run Fritz and ask him II
man with lantern has passed recently. III
mount guard till you return"
Happily train approached and, in the re-
sultant din, Dalroy was enabled to scrambI
| down the roof unheard.
The ladder just reached the ground; Sc
before Fritz and the sentry began to sus
pect chat some trickery was afoot in tha
mart of the station the two fugitives wer
speeding through a dark lane hemmed In b.
warehouses. AT the first opportunity Dai
roy extinguished the lantern. Then he be
thought him OF his companion's appearanc.
He halted suddenly ere they entered =
lighted thoroughfare,
u II had better put on these clogs aeaA
ha naid .But what about You7 IL ~
~ ". 49,. ~ a., a.. ........t ..1ts..- - Is.