The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1918-10-10

"Of course. you will have to return
to us the passport we gave you before
VIC can give you the real one" said
HuylIger's brother.
Il haven't the slightest objection" 1
replied. ''if the new passport Is all you
claim for II VIII you let me see it7'
There was considerable hesitation on
the part OF Huyliger's brother and the
other chap at this.
WHY, don't think that's necessary
at an, Mr.. O'Brien," said the former.
''Tou give US the old passport and we
will be very glad to give you the n-x
one for 1t. Isn't that fair enoughf
ut may be fair enough. my friends"
l retorted. seeing that il was useless to
conceal further the fact that 1 was
fully aware OF their whole plan end
why had been brought TO this house
"It may be fair enough. my friends
said, but you will get the passport
that have here" patting my side and
indicating my inside breast pocket,
"only on my dead body r.
l suppose the three of them could
have made short work of me then and
there II rhey had wanted to go the
limit, and no one would ever have
been the wiser, but had gone through
SO much and l was feeling so mean tn
wards the whole world just at that
moment that WAS determined to sell
my life as dearly as possible.
Il have that passport here" re-
piled. "and am going to keep 1t. II
you gentlemen think y0u can take it
from me YOU are welcome to try !"
To tell the truth, / was spelling for
. 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
wallis were lined with great pieces Of
earthenware which had every earmark
of possessing great value They car
taInly possessed great weight I 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 Aad as there
was lots OF pottery and only three men,
1 believed had an excellent chance OF
holding my own In the combat which /
had invited
had already picked out In my mind
what Was going to use. and got up.
stood with my back to the wall and
told them that II they ever figured on
getting the passport, then would be
their best chance.
Apparently they realized that I
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 II he
could lie In the others as well as
knew he did in my own tongue. he was
not only an accomplished linguist. but
q most versatile liar into the bargain
my dear fellow" said the lfnsuist.
-it is not that we want to deprive you OF
the passport. Good heavensi II 1t Will
aid you In getting ont of the country.
1 wish you could have SIX Just Ike 1t.
But for our own protection. You ows
it to us to procee; on your journey
as best y.su can without it because as
long as you have Ii in your possession
you ierpartiize our lives, too. Don't
yng think 1t Is fairer that you should
risk your own safety rather than place
the lives Of three innocent men In
dangerfr
THAT may be as 1t Is. my friends"
1 retorted, '.and am glad you realize
your danger. Keep 1t 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 IL the Germans
get me, they get the passport. too. and
IL they get the passport your. lives
won't be worth damn! When / tell
the history Of that Sacser little piece
of pasteboard. Will implicate all three
of you. and whoever Is working with
you, and as I am an officer I rather
think my word will be taken before
yours. Good nightf'
The bluf evidently worked. because
1 was able to get out of the city with
ont molestation from the Germans.
/ have never seen these men since
hope I never shall. because I am
afraid might he tempted to do some
thing for which I might otherwise bc
sorry.
do not mean TO imply that all Bel
CLANS are NE this. 1 had evidently
fallen into the hands of . gang who
were endeavoring to make capital out
of the misfortunes Of those who were
referred to them for help. In all couu-
tries there are bad as well as good.
and In country which has suffered so
much as poor Belgium it Is no wonder
II some of the survivors have lost their
sense of moral perspective.