The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-09-26

tine. Travelling through the wood
would be comparatively safe. There
was . railroad going through the
wood. but I did not ngure that that
would make It any the less safe.
About three o'clock that afternoon.
therefore. emerged from my hiding
place and hurried into the wood.
After proceeding for half mile or
SO I came to the railroad. took q
sharp look In both directions and see-
ing no signs Of trains or soldiers,
walked boldly over the tracks and
continued on my way.
soon came upon q clearing and
knew that someone must be living In
the vicinity. As turned n group Of |
trees sew n smnll house and in the |
distance an old man working In a |
garden. decided to enter the house |
and ask for food. figuring the woman
would probably be old and would be
no match for me even II she proved
hostile. The old woman who came
| to the door in response to my knock
was older than expected. II she
wasn't close to hundred, I miss my
guess very much.
| She could not speak English and
could not speak Flemish. Of course,
but nevertheless l made her under
stand that wanted something to eat.
She came out OF the door and hol.
loed for her husband In shrill voice
that would have done credit TO girl
Of eighteen. The old man came In
from the garden and between the two
Of them they managed to get the idea
that was hungry and they gave me
piece Of bread--a very small piece
which was quite a treat.
The house they lived In consisted Of
Just two rooms-the kitchen and a
bedroom. The kitchen was perhaps
fourteen feet square, eight feet Of
one side being taken up by an enOr-
nous fireplace. What was In the bed
room I had no way OF telling. as l
did not dare to be too inquisltive.
made the old couple understand
that would like to stay in their house
all night. but the old man shook his
head. bade them good-by and dis
appeared into the woods. leaving them
to speculate as to the strange for
: eigner they had entertained.
From the great density Of the popu'
lation In this section through which ]
was now passing I realized that
: must be In the outskirts Of the BID
3 city which the Belgian had mentioned
. and where I was to procure . pass
:. port.
Village after village intercepted me
3 and although tried to skirt them
!. wherever possible ! realized that
would never make much progress u
0 continued that course. To gain 9
mile would sometimes have to make
J. detour of two or three. I decided
Q that I would try my luck in goini
!. straight through the next village
{ came to.
As I approached It. I passed mum
y bers Of peasants who were ambllni
along the road. was afraid to mingl,
with them because II was impossible
for one to talk to. them and It WA
dangerous to arouse suspicion ever
among the Belgians. For all knew
lt one Of them might be treacherOu
n enough to deliver me to the German
q In return for the reward he might b.
! sure Of receiving.
About O'Clock that evening
10 came to point where ahead Of me o.
n the right was a Belgian police statio
'r Il knew It from Its red lights-an
le on the other side Of the street wer
ID two German soldiers In unlf0rr
o. leaning against bicycle.
u Here wns a problem which Gale
! for instant. decision; II turned bac
~ the suspicion Of the soldiers woul
v be instantly aroused and II crosse
10 the road 30 as not to pass SO closel
as to them they might be equally SUI
~ picious. I decided to march bravel
y by the Huns. bluff my way throug
D. and trust to Providence. II anybod
III imagines. however. that was at o
se comfortable as / approached thes
o. soldiers. he must think am muc
re braver man than claim to be. II
heart beat so loud I was afraid the
r. would hear II. Every step. too
I brought me 80 much nearer to whi
! might prove to be the end Of all m
to hopes. II was q nerve-racking Ordea
et was now within q few feet {
OF them. Another step and
~ They didn't turn q hairl ! passe
ne right by them-heard what they wei
~ saying. although. of course. didn
understand It. and went right on.
ne can't say I didn't walk little fast'
Il as I left them behind. but tried
I'M maintain an even gait so as not
70 give them any idea Of the inward e
ie, ultstion was experiencing. No wore
no can explain. however. how relieved
ve really felt--to know that had su
ed cessfully passed through the first
l0t a series OF similar tests which res
ca ixed were IN store for me--althou,