Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-12
CHAPTER VII
In Which a Silver Star Acts as a Charm

SO engrossed had I BEEN indeed, In the
great enterprise on which / was embarked.
that my actions throughout the morning had
been mainly automatic Yet how uniformly
had they tended to protect me! ! had bought
my ticket in advance; | had given my over
coat and bag to porter that l knew
to have been my savior in disguise; l had
sailed forth from the station and thus given
him an opportunity for safe converse with
me.
first-class carriage. On the window was
plastered a nHice. in Dutch and German, TO
the effect that the carriage was reserved
suddenly | thought Of my bag and overcoat
They were nowhere to be seen. After a
little search | found them beneath the seat
In the overcoat pocket was black tie.
lost no time in taking the hint IL any
of you who read this tale should one day
notice a ganger on the railway between Rot
terdam and Dordrecht wearing the famous
colors of a famous regiment round his neck
you will understand how they get there Then
wearied out with the fatigues of my sleepless
night, fell into deep slumber my verdant
waterproof swathed round me, Semlin's over
coat about my knees.
l dreaming ftfully of a mad escape
from hordes of wildly clutching guides led
by Karl the waiter. when the screaming
brakes brought me to my senses. The train
was sensibly slackenlng speed. Outside the
autumn sun was shining over pleasant brown
stretches of moorland bright with heather
The next moment and before | was fully
awake we had gided to a standstil at a
very spick and span station and the familiar
cry of allies ausstegen :" rang in my ears
We were in Germany.
What was my firm? The Halewrlght
Manufacturing Company. What did we man
ufacture? had not the faintest idea Why
was ! coming TO Germany at all? Again /
was at a loss.
The clink of iron-shod heels in the corridor
and an officer, followed closely by two pri-
Yates, the white cross OF the Landwehr in
their helmets stood at the door.
Your papers, please" he said curtly but
| politely.
l handed over my American passport
This has not been viseed." said the officer
With a pang realized that again was at
| fault. OF course, the passport should have
| been stamped at the German Consulate at
Rotterdam.
'I had no time" said boldly. "I am trav-
| cling on. most important business to Berlin
. only reached Rotterdam last night,
| after the Consulate was closed"
| The lieutenant turned to- one of his guards
| Take the gentleman to the Customs Hall,
he said and went on to the next carriage.
| The soldier appropriated my overcoat and
bag and beckoned me TO follow him. Outside
| the platform was rallied of. Every one. no.
ticed, was shepherded into long narrow per
| made with iron hurdles leading TO locked
door over which was written: Zoll-Revision
| / was going to take my place In the queue
| when the soldier prodded me with his elbow
| lie led me TO a side door which opened In
| the gaunt. bare Customs Hall with its Ions
| row of trestles for the examination of the
| passengers luggage. In a corner behind q
| desk was a large group of officers anc
| subordinate officials, all In the gray-green
| uniform l knew we'll from the life In tn,
| trenches The principal seemed to be an i'm
/ inOrdinately and wi
| a bloated face and great gold spectacles III,
was roaring in loud. angry voice:
Hes not come There you are! Agalr
we shall have all the trouble for nothlngv'
| i thought he looked an extraordinarily bad
tempered individual and fervently prayed
that should not be brought before him.
The doors were flung open. With a rusi
the hall was invaded with q heterogeneou