Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-08-13

eicer were detailed to check over my
effects. The list they made and to
which they affixed their signatures, as
l have previously mentioned, is now
in my possession and is one of the
most treasured souvenirs of my adj
venture.
NV trunk was sent to Cox & &C. tn
due course. and now that was in Lon
don 1 thought I would 30 and claim it
When / arrived in the DaES 1 ap-
piled at the proper window for my mail
and trunk.
Who are your" I was asked. rather
sharply.
well, 1 guess no one has any great
or right to Pat O'Brien's effects than
l have" / replied, and I would be
obliged to you if you would look them
up for me-"
Demands Proof He Is Dead
That may be all right, my friend
replied the clerk, but according to our
records Lieutenant O'Brien is a pris-
oner of war in Germany, and We, can't
very well turn over his effects to any
one else unless either you present proof
that he is dead and that you are his
lawful representative, or else deliver to
us a properly authenticated order from
him to give them to YOU"
vas very positive about it all
but quite polite. and 1 thought I would
kid him no more.
Well l said, Il can't very well pre-
sent proofs to you that Pat O'Brien is
dead, but 1 will do the best l can to
prove to you that he is alive, and if
you haven't quite forgotten his sigma
ture 1 guess l can write you an order
that will answer to your requirements
ana enable you TO give me Pat QBrien's
belongings without running any risks"
and 1 scrubbed my signature on a piece
of paper and handed it to him.
He looked at me carefully through
the latticed window, then jumped down
from his high chair and came outside
to clasp me by the hand.
Good heavens, Leftenant"' he ex
claimed, as he pumped my hand up and
down. how did you ever set away
and / had to sit right down and tell
him and half a dozen other people in
the bank all about my experiences.
| had been in England about five
DAYS when / received aStelegram which,
at first ocCasioned Ane almost as
much concern as the unexpected sight
of a German spiked helmet had caused
me in Belgium. II read as follows:
Lieutenant p. \. O'Brien, Royal Flying
Corps, Regents Palace Hotels Lon
don.
The king Is very Sldu 10 near Ol YOUR
escape from Germany. If you are 10
be in London on Friday next. December
:, His Majesty will receive you at
buckingham Palace at 1880 a, m. Please
acknowledge. cROMEh
of course. there was only one thing
TO do and that was to obey orders. l
was an officer in the army and The
King was my commander-in-chief
had to go. and so l sat down and sent
off the following answer:
Earl Cromer, Buckingham Palace, Lon
don.
l will attend buckingham Palace as
directed. Friday, December Z, at 1890
LIEUTENANT PAT O'BRIEN.
In the interval that elapsed, l must
confess. the ordeal of calling on the
King of England lootled up more dread
fully every day, and L really believe
would rather have spent another day
IN that empty house in the big city in
Belgium or, say, two more days at
Courtrai, than go through what l be-
lieved to be in store for me-
Orders were orders, however, and
there was no way of getting out of it.
AS it turned out, it wasn't half as bad
as l had feared-On the contrary, u
was one of the most agreeable eXpe-
riences of my life.