The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1918-09-13

In the daytime and gain just SO much
time. Travelling through the wood
would be comparatively safe. There
was a railroad going through the
wood. but did not figure that that
would make 1t any the less safe.
About three O'Clock that afternoon.
therefore, emerged from my hiding
place and hurried into the wood.
After proceeding for half a mile or
so 1 came to the railroad. took a
sharp look In both directions and see
ing no signs Of trains or soldiers.
walked boldly over the tracks and |
continued on my way.
soon came upon a clearing and |
knew that someone must be living In |
the vicinity. As turned a group Of
trees l saw a small house and In the
distance an old man working In a
garden. l decided to enter the house
and ask for food. figuring the woman
would probably be old and would be
no match for me even II she proved
hostile. The old woman who came
to the door In response to my knock
was older than I expected. II she
wasn't close to hundred. miss my
guess very much.
She could not speak English and
could not speak Flemish, Of course,
but nevertheless l made her under
stand that l wanted something to eat.
She came out of the door and hol-
loed for her husband In a shrill voice
that would have done credit to a girl
| OF eighteen. The old man came In
from the garden and between the two
Of them they managed to get the idea
that I was hungry and they gave me
piece Of bread-a very small piece
which was quite treat.
The house they lived in consisted Of
just two rooms-the kitchen and q
bedroom. The kitchen was perhaps
fourteen feet square, eight feet of
one side being taken up by an enor-
nous fireplace. What was in the bed
room l had no way Of telling, as
did not dare to be too inquisitive.
l made the old couple understand
that would like to stay In their house
all night, but the old man shook his
head. babe them good-by and dis
appeared into the woods, leaving them
to speculate as to the strange for
eigner they had entertained.
From the great density Of the popu
: lation in this section through which
was now passing I realized that
+ must be in the outskirts of the bill
Q city which the Belgian had mentioned
and where l was to procure pass
!. port.
Village after village intercepted mo
and although l tried to skirt them
. wherever possible / realized that
would never make much progress II
continued that course. To gain q
mile l would sometimes have to make
detour of two or three. decided
, straight through the next village
came to.
As approached 1t, I passed mum
bers Of peasants who were ambline
along the road. was afraid to minglt
with them because 1t was impossible
dangerous to arouse suspicion ever
among the Belglans. For all knew
one Of them might be treacherous
enough to deliver me to the Germans
j in return for the reward he might bt
sure Of receiving.
About 8 o'clock that evening
e came to point where ahead Of me OF
l. the right was Belgian police station
I knew 1t from its red lights-ant
Q on the other side of the street wer,
two German soldiers In uniform
!. leaning against bicycle.
Here was a problem which called
l for instant decision; II I turned bacl
the suspicion Of the soldiers would
: be instantly aroused and IL l crossed
o the road so as not to pass SO closet.
> to them they might be equally sus
picious. / decided to march bravel,
= by the Huns, blum my way through
and trust to Providence. II anybod,
: comfortable as / approached thes'
T. soldiers, he must think Lam a mucl
drawer man than claim to be. M.
heart beat SO loud was afraid the.
: would hear 1t. Every step l tool
4 brought me SO much nearer to wha
1 might prove to be the end of all m.
. hopes. 1t was q nerve-racking ordeal
y was now within a few feet o
u them. Another step and
u They didn't turn a hairi l passe'
y right by them-heard what they wer
y saying. although, Of course, didn'
understand it, and went right on.
10 can't say / ditn't walk little taste
lt as I left them behind, but / tried t
u maintain an even gait so as not I
give them any idea Of the inward e1
Z, ultation l was experiencing. No word
~ can explain, however, how relieved
'e really felt-to know that l had sue
= cessrully passed through the first o
't q series Of similar tests which real
u ICED were in store for me-althougl
c I did not know then how soon wa
N to be confronted with the second.
As 1t was, however, the inciden
"a gave me a world of confidence.
n demonstrated to me that there wa