Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1918-08-31
right at the start, but / listened pa.

tiently to what they had to say.
"Of course, you will have to return
10 us the passport We gave you before
we can give you the real one" said
Huyliger's brother.
Il haven't the slightest objection"
replied, III the new passport is all you
claim for 1t. viii you let me see it2"
There was considerable hesitation on
the part of Huyllger's brother and the
other chap at this.
"Why. don't think that's necessary
at all, Mr.. 0'Brien," said the former.
You give us the old passport and we
viii be very glad to give you the new
one for 1t. Isn't that fair enough?'
ut may be fair enough, my friends"
retorted, seeing that Ii was useless to
conceal further the fact that | was
fully aware Of their whole plan and
why had been brought to this house.
1T may be fair enough, my friends"
said, but you will get the passport
that have here" batting my side and
indicating my inside breast pocket,
"only off my dead bodyl'
suppose the three of them could
have made short work Of me then and
there IL 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 50 mean to.
wards the whole world just at that
moment that was determined to sell
1 o.. IL
Il have that passport here" re-
piled. "and am going to keep 1t. Ii
you gentlemen think you can take II
from me you are welcome to try!"
To tell the truth, / was spelling for
q fight, and 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 We're lined with great pieces OF
earthenware which had every earmark
of possessing great value. They car
tainly possessed great weight. fig
ured that IL the worst came to the
worst that pottery would come In
mighty handy. A single blow with one
|
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
had invited.
had already picked out In my mini
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
meant business and they Immediately
began to expostulate at the attitude |
was taking.
Is One of the men spoke excellent
English. In fact, he told me that he
could SPEAK five languages, and II no
could lie In the others as well as /
knew he did In my own tongue. he was
not only an accomplished linguist. but
most versatile liar into the bargain.
my dear fellow" said the linguist,
ut Is not that we want to deprive you OF
the passport. Good heavens if 1t will
aid you In getting out Of the country,
/ wish you could have six just like Ii.
But for our own protection, you owe
It to us to proceed on your journey
as best you can without II because as
long as you have 1t in your possession
you jeopardize our lives, too. Don't
you think 1t is fairer that you should
risk your own safety rather than place
the lives Of three innocent men in
| danger?"
"That may be as 1t is, my friends"
| retorted. "and am glad you realize
yonr danger. Keep IL In mind, for in
case any Of you should happen to feel
inclined to notify the German authori.
ties that I am In this part Of the coun-
try, think 1t 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 / tell
the history Of that clever little piece
Of pasteboard, will impllcate all three
Of you, and whoever Is working with
you, and as am an officer / rather
think my word will be taken before
yours. Good nightr'
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.
l hope ] never shall, because / am
afraid might be tempted to do some
thing for which ! might otherwise ba
sorry.
do not mean to imply that all Bel
gians are like this. / had evidently
fallen into the hands Of a gang who
were endeay0ring 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 1t 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 a wealthy Belgian would dole
out morsel from his comparatively
well-stocked larder. Perhaps the poor
have less to lose than the rich IL their
generosity or charity Is discovered by
the Huns.
There have been many Belgians shot