Cleveland County herald., 1918-07-18
right at the start, but listened pa

right Ut the start, Out L HSteueu pur
tiently to what they had to say.
"0f course, you will have to return
to us the passport we gave you before
we can give you the real one," said
Huyliger's brother.
Il haven't the slightest objection" I
replied, 'if the new passport is all you
claim for it. Will you let me see it?
There was considerable hesitation on
the part of Huyligers brother and the
other chap at this.
"Why, don't think that's necessary
at all, Mr.. O'Brien," said the former.
You give us the old passport and we
will be very glad to give you the new
one for it. Isn't that fair enoughW
1T may be fair enough, my friends"
retorted, seeing that it was useless to
conceal further the fact that l was
fully aware of their whole plan and
why l had been brought to this house.
1T may be fair enough, my friends"
said, "but you will get the passport
that L have here" batting my side and
indicating my inside breast pocket.
"only off my dead bodyl"
L suppose the three of them could
have made short work of me then and
there If they had wanted to go the
limit, and no one would ever have
been the wiser, but had gone through
so much and was feeling so mean to-
wards the whole world just at that
moment that was determined to sell
my life as dearly as possible.
L have that passport here" 1 re-
'plied, land am going to keep 1t. II
you gentlemen think you can take it
from me you are welcome to try!"
To tell the truth, was spelling for
a fight, and l 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
tainly possessed great weight. 1 fig
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.
/ believed had an excellent chance Of
holding my own in the combat which I
had invited.
had already picked out in my mind
what l 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 I
meant business and they Immediately
began to expostulate at the attitude I
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 I
knew he did in my own tongue, he was
not only an accomplished linguist, but
a most versatile liar into the bargain.
my dear fellow" said the lnguist,
lit is not that we want to deprive you of
the passport. Good heavens! if it will
aid you in getting out of the country,
l wish you could have six just like it.
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
danger?'
THAT may be as it is, my friends"
l retorted, "and 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 damn! When l tell
the history of that clever little piece
of pasteboard, will implicate all three
of you, and whoever is working with
you, and as l am an officer I rather
think my word will be taken before
yours. Good night!''
The bluff evidently worked, because
/ was able to get out of the city with.
out molestation from the Germans.
have never seen these men since.
I hope I never shall, because am
afraid I 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. I 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 so
much as poor Belgium it is no wonder
if some of the survivors have lost their
sense of moral perspective.
/ know that the average poor peas
ant in Belgium would divide his scanty
rations with needy fugitive sooner
than wealthy Belgian would dole
out morsel from his comparatively