The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1918-09-12

10 much and was feeling 80 mean to-
wards the whole world just at that
moment that ! was determined to sell
my life as dearly as possible.
II have that passport here," re-
piled, "and am gong to keep 1t. IL
you gentlemen think you can take II
from me you are welcome to tryW
To tell the truth, was spelling for
a fight, and / half wished they would
start something. The man who had
lived In the house had evidently been
collector Of ancient pottery, for the
walls were lined with great pieces OF
earthenware which had every earmark
of possessing great value. They car
tainly possessed great weight. l fig
ured that II the worst came to the
worst that pottery would come In
mighty handy. A single blow with one
of those big vases would put man
out as neatly as possible and as there
was lots Of pottery and only three men.
/ believed l had an excellent chance OF
holding my own In the combat when l
had invited.
had already picked out In my mind
what was going to use, and got up,
stood with my back to the wall ana
told them that II they ever figured on
getting the passport, then would be
their best chance.
Apparently they realized that ]
meant business and they Immediately
began to expostulate ut the attitude i
was taking.
One Of the men spoke excellent
English. In fact, he told me that he
could speak five languages, and II he
could lie In the others as well as ]
knew he did In my own tongue, he was
not only an accomplished llngulst, but
most versatile'llar into the bargain.
my dear fellow" said the llnguIst,
at is not that we want to deprive you OF
the passport. Good heavens! II II will
aid you In getting out Of the country,
I wish you could have six just like IT,
But for our own protection, you owe
It to us to proceed on your journey
as best you can without II because as
long as you have 1t In your possession
you jeopardize our lives, too. DOM
you think It Is falrer that you shoulC
risk your own safety rather than place
the lives Of three innocent men II
dangerW
"That may be MS II is. my friends,
I retorted, "and am glad you realize
your danger. Keep It In mind, for II
case any OF you should happen TO fee
inclined to notify the German authori
ties that am in this part Of the coun
try, think II over before you do so
Remember always that If the Germans
get me, they get the passport, too, anC
If they get the passport your lives
won't be worth n damn! When / tel
the history of that clever little piece
of pnstebOard, will impllcate all three
of you, and whoever Is working will
YOU, and as | am an officer | rnthe
think my word will be taken befor,
yours. Good night"
The bluff evidently worked, becnus
was able to get out of the city with
out molestatlon from the Germans.
| have never seen these men since
hope / never shall, because / al
afraid might be tempted to do some
, thing for which | might otherwise b
sorry.
p do not mean to imply that all Bel
. gians are like this. | had evidentl
: fallen into the hands of gang VIII
we're endeavoring to make capital on
G of the mlsfortunes Of those who wer
: referred to them for help. In all coun
tries there are bad as well ns goot
1 and In n country which has suffered s
e much as poor Belgium II is no wonde
] IL some Of the survivors have lost thel
sense of moral perspective.
/ know that the average poor peas
ant in Belgium would divide his Scant
ratIons with needy fugitive soone
D than n wealthy Belgian would dol
9 ont n morsel from his cOmparativel
well.stocked larder. Perhaps the poo
y have less to lose than the rich If thei
:. generosity or charity is discovered b
the Huns.
There have been many Belglans sho
for helping escaped prisoners and othe
fugltives, and 1t Is not to be wondere
at that they are willing to take ms fey
5 chances as possible. A man with
family, especially, does not feel Ju'
:, tilted in helping stranger when h
knows that he and his whole famil
l may be shot or sent to prison for the
= pains.
> Although | suffered much from III
attitude Of Huyliger and his associate
u | suppose l ought to hold no grudl
against them in view of the unenviab
e predcament In which they are
themselves.
h CTo BE CoNTINUED)