The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1918-09-06

80 much and l was feeling so mean to-
wards the whole world just at that
moment that I was determined to sell
my life as dearly as possible.
81 have that passport here" re-
piled, "and am gong to keep it. If
you gentlemen think you can take it
from me you are welcome to try!"
To tell the truth, was spelling for
a fight, and I half wished they would
start something. The man who had
lived in the house had evidently been
a collector of ancient pottery, for the
walls were lined with great pieces OF
earthenware which had every earmark
of possessing great value. They car
tafnly possessed great weight. l hg-
ured that if 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,
l believed 1 had an excellent chance of
holding my own in the combat which
had invited.
had already picked out in my mind
what 1 was going to use, and l got up,
stood with my back to the wall and
told them that if 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 at the attitude !
was taking.
One of the men spoke excellent
English. In fact, he told me that he
could speak five languages, and If he
could lie in the others as well as !
knew he did in my own tongue, he was
not only an accomplished linguist, but
a most versatile liar into the bargain.
"Iy dear fellow" said the linguist,
"it is not that we want to deprive you OF
the passport. Good heavens! if 1t will
aid you in getting out of the country,
I wish you could have six just like 1t.
But for our own protection, you owe
it to us to proceed on your journey
as best you can without it because as
long as you have it in your possession
you jeopardize our lives, too. Don't
you think it is fairer that you should
risk your own safety rather than place
the lives Of three innocent men in
dangerW
THAT may be as 1t is, my friends"
I retorted, "and I am glad you realize
your danger. Keep it in mind, for in
case any of you should happen to feel
inclined to notify the German authori.
ties that am in this part Of the coun'
try, think it over before you do so.
Remember always that if the Germans
get me, they get the passport, too, and
if they get the passport your lives
won't be worth q damn! When I tell
the history of that clever little piece
of pasteboard, I will implicate all three
of you, and whoever is working with
you, and as 1 am an officer l rather
think my word will be taken before
yours. Good night!"
The bluff evidently worked, because
I was able to get out of the city with.
out molestation from the Germans.
1 have never seen these men since,
I hope l never shall, because l am
afraid l might be tempted to do some
thing for which I might otherwise be
sorry.
do not mean to imply that all Bel.
gians are like this. l had evidently
fallen into the hands of a gang who
were endeavoring to make capital out
of the misfortunes of those who were
referred to them for help. In all coun-
tries there are bad as well as good,
and in country which has suffered Sc
much as poor Belgium it is no wonder
if some of the survivors have lost theiI
sense of moral perspective.
l know that the average poor. peas
ant in Belgium would divide his scanty
rations with q needy fugitive sooner
than a wealthy Belgian would dole
out a morsel from his comparatively
well-stocked larder. Perhaps the poor
have less to lose than the rich if their
generosity or charity is discovered by
the Huns.
There have been many Belgians shot
for helping escaped prisoners and other
fugitives, and it is not to be wondered
at that they are willing to take as few
chances as possible. A man with q
family especially, does not feel jus.
tilted in helping a stranger when he
knows that he and his whole family
may be shot or sent to prison for their
pains.
Although I suffered much from the
attitude of Huyliger and his associates,
I suppose I ought to hold no grudge
against them in view of the unenviable
predicament in which they are in
themselves.
CTO BE CONTINUED1