The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-02-23

understrappers, with no authority TO
open the dispatch. but took IL TO some
one who had such power. and this oc-
casioned delay while | went my way.
But they did not lose track Of me.
for the man l had seen observing me
on the train from London TO South
ampton kept me in sight. At Mar
seilles | had two problems to settle.
Should | 60 farther by land or all the
way by sea? And how could ! throw
my shadower off my track? ! con-
cluded that, whichever way l went.
would endeavor to make him believe
that had gone the other.
had a trunk with me. and as soon
as | could get possession of it ! called
a fiacre and, putting the trunk In II.
got IN the cab and told the driver To
take me to the station of the railway
running eastward along the Mcdter-
ranean. on reaching the station | bill
ed the trunk for Nice. b':i. since there
was no train for several hours. stroll
ed away. proposing To diyest myself,
If possible of the observance of my
shadower. Lighting a cigar. ! strolle !
away carelessly as IL bent only on
passing the time before the starting
Of the train But | directed my steps
toward the more frequented streets
and from these entered very narrow
one After having gone into 1t for
some distance. seeing a door of one OF
the houses open. | looked behind me
and. not seeing my shadower. darted
into 1t.
/ / fell in wtfn lot of women who
received my intrusion so angrily that
l concluded to enlist them. IL possible,
/ to my service by appealing to their
/ patriotism. | told them that | was
messenger Of the English government
and was followed by German agents
who were bent on possessing them
selves Of dispatch l carried. They
were not convinced till showed them
! a letter addressed to the British min
lister at Athens. Then told them that
] l wished to go out unknown on boat
that had been told left Marseilles that
night for Italian ports.
When departed from the house In
which had taken refuge did so
dressed In the apparel Of one Of the
women after dark and under the guild
ance OF another, for did not know the
way to the dock. About o'clock
went on board. carrying my own mas
culine clothing in gripsack.
had succeeded in my maneuver III
respect to the man who had been
watching me In throwing him off my
track. But the enemy had left moth
Ing to chance. He had placed an
agent on the boat Unfortunately |
did not suspect that he would do
this | concluded to retain my fem
inine costume. and 1t was n dead give
away once the light of day shone upon
me. for there is nothing feminine about
me. and as soon as my enemy saw that
: was a man 1t was pretty clear that |
was the man who was wanted.
was sitting in secluded corner OF
: deck when a man approached me, rails.
ed his hat politely and made some pass.
ing remark. as though he wished To
scrape an acquaintance I reckoned
that his purpose was the dispatch ]
bore. must decide at once whether
I should send him about his business or
pretend TO he deceived with view to
outwitting him. | chose the latter
/, course. for he had an advantage Of me
!, In the fact that was man travelling
, in woman's clothing did not repe|
him, but after n few casual remarks
excused myself and went to my state
| room.
. Tie first thing did after reaching II
|. was to doff my woman's apparel and
Q put on my own. | knew the man who
o had spoken to me would be on the look
I ont for me. and when next went or
@ deck. seeing him at distance | walk
# cd toward him Passing him. ! saw
h that he recognized me. | returned his
c gaze with one which said plainly
y keep out OF my way or | will xii
YOU" He said nothing, and received
le no further attention from him doub
20 IL he cared to commit any act that wa
e not covered by duplicity. and was de
le termined II he did | would scare hin
~ vi. ulu BOl WISH W oNNdsiou tic ut
II lay that would come of a fight witt
Is him. but / proposed to make him con
ID slider me dangerous.
c. What he did was this: He went +
r the captain of the boat and told hir
lie that was an Englishman fleeing fror
L justice OF course since I had com
n aboard as a woman and was now
ie man there was excellent ground fo
ne the accusation But my accuser ha
re no documents to prove his case an
u could only ask that I be detained q
III the first port touched till the matte
ne could be looked into. When foun
the captain disposed TO assent to this
~ showed him my sealed letter 10 Ii
va British embassy at Athens. and 1t SER
~ ed its purpose
The next dav we passed a FrenC
man-of- war | induced the CAPTAIN