Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-10-25


assigned to go through his belongings,
check them over, destroy anything
that it might not be to his interest to
preserve, and send the whole busi-
ness to his banker or his home, as the
case may be. Every letter is read
through, but their contents is never
afterwards discussed or revealed in
any way. If the pilot is finally re-
ported dead, his effects are forwarded
to his next of kin, but while he is Of
ficially only missing" or is known to
be a prisoner of war, they are kept
either at the squadron headquarters
or sent to his bankers.
In my case as soon as it was learned
that 1 had fallen from the sky, 1t was
assumed that 1 had been killed and
my chum, Paul Raney, and another
officer detailed to check over my eff
fects. 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
adventure.
My trunk was sent to Cox & Co. in
due course, and now that 1 was in
London thought would go and claim
it.
When / arrived at the bank 1 ap-
piled to the proper window for my
mail and trunk.
"Who are you?" was asked rather
sharply.
"Well, guess no one has any
greater right to Pat O'Brien's effects
than 1 have" replied, 'and would
be obliged TO you If you would look
them up for me-"
''That may be all right, my friend"
replied the clerk, "but according to
our records Lieutenant O'Brien is a
prisoner of war in Germany, and we
can't very well turn over his effects
to anyone else unless either you pre-
sent proof that he is dead and that
you are his lawful representative, or
else deliver to US a properly authenti-
ticated order from him to give them
to you."
He was very positive about it all
but quite polite, and I thought
would kid him no more.
"Well," I said, II can't very wei
present proofs to you that Pat O'Brier
is dead, but will do the best can tt
prove to you that he is alive, and Il
you haven't quite forgotten his sig
; nature guess / can write you on
. an order that will answer all your re
quirements and enable you to give me
Pat O'Brien's belongings without run
ming any risks" and I scribbled m.
signature on scrap of, paper ant
; handed it to him.
/ He looked at me carefully through
the latticed window, then jumpe'
: down from the high chair and cam
! outside to clasp me by the hand.
"Good heavens, leftenantW he e1
j claimed, as he pumped my hand u
2 and down, ''how did you ever ge
r away?" and had to sit right dow
: and tell him and half dozen othe
people in the bank all about my e1
: periences.
t had been in England about fiv
r days when l received q telegrar
|
t as much concern as the unexpecte
o sight of German spiked helmet ha
/ caused me In Belgium. 1t read a
/ follows:
J. Lieut.. p. A. O'Brien, Royal F1yin
n Corps. Regents Palace Hotel, Lol
4 don:
e "The king is very glad to hear {
|
s are to be in London on Friday mex
IS December 7th, His majesty will r
IS ceive you at Buckingham palace {
X 10 80 a. m. Please acknowledge
l. "CROMER."
e, OF course, there was only or
y thing to do and that was to obey or,
e ers. / was an officer in the army an
If the king was my commander in chic
Ie l had to go, and so 1 sat down ar
k sent off the following answer:
d Earl Cromer, Buckingham Palac
IS London:
n, Il will attend Buckingham pala,
te as directed, Friday, December 7th,
I'd 10 80.
rg LIEUT.. PAT O'BRIEN." ;"
~ IN tne interval tnat elapsed, mu
rt confess, the ordeal Of calling on Il
Ve king of England lOomed up mo
as dreadfully every day, and 1 real
IS, believed would rather have spent a
b. other day in the empty house in t
m big city in Belgium or. say, two mo
days at COurtrai, than to go throu
b. what 1 believed to be in store for n
in Orders were orders, however, al
us there was no way of getting out of
MS AS 1t turned out. it wasn't half as b
ut as 1 had feared-on the contrary,
RI was one of the most agreeable exI
ne riences of my life.
ed
CHAPTER XIX.
It's