The Raymer enterprise., 1918-09-12

| N~HSAS Wetc Ptchey VI tucu III tut Oiu
house). and sit down for the spider to
come down and get him. But always
pictured myself In the same predica.
ment and rescued the fly Just as the
spider was about to grab him. Several
times when things were dull I was
tempted to see the tragedy through
but perhaps the same Providence that
guided me safely through all perils
was guarding. too. the destiny Of those
flies. for l always weakened and the
flies never did suffer from my lust for
amusement. .--
The house was well supplied with
books-in fact. one of the choicest II.
braries think l ever saw-but they
we're all written either In Flemish or
French. could read no Flemish and
very little French. I might have made
little headway with the latter, but
the books all seemed too deep for me
and gave It up. There was one thing
though that l did read and reread
from beginning to end; that was a
New York Herald which must have ar
rived Just about the time war was de-
clared. Several things In this in-
terested me. and particularly the base
ball scores. which I studied with as
much care as real fan possibly could
an up-to-date score. ] couldn't refraln
from laughing when I came to an &C
count Of Zimmerman (of the Cubs)
being benched for some spat with the
umpire, and It afforded me Just as
much interest three years after II had
happened-perhaps more-than some
current item Of worldwide interest
had at that time.
l rummaged the house many times
from cellar to garret In my search for
something to eat, but the harvest Of
three years Of war had made any sue
cess along that Epe impossible. I was
like the man out In chs ,cean in boat
and thirsty with water everywhere but
not drop to erink.
l was tempted while in the city to
60 to church one Sunday. but my better
judgment told me 1t would BE- useless
risk. OF course. someone would surely
say something to me AMI l didn't
know how many O5r-nans would be
there or what might happen. so gave
up that idea.
During all the time was concealed !
In this house saw but one automobile /.
and that was German stan officers. |
That same afternoon I had one OF the
frights Of my young life.
l had been gazing out Of the keyhole
as usual when heard coming down |
the street the measured tread Of Ger.
man soldiers. II didn't sQHnd like very
many, but there was No fpubt In my
mind that German soidIsrs were
marching down the street. went up
stairs and peeked through the window
and sure enough a squad Of German In
fantry was coming down the street
accompanied by military motor
truck. l hadn't the slightest idea that
they were coming after me, but stiM
the possibilities of the situation gave
me more or less alarm, and consid-
cred how ! could make my escape II
by chance I was the msH they were
after. The idea Of hiding In the wine
cellar appealed to me as the most
practical; there must have been
plenty Of places among the wine kegs
and cases where a man could conceal
himself. but. as matter Of fact. l did
not believe that any such contingency
would arise.
The marching soldiers came nearer.
l could hear them at the next house.
In a moment l would see them pass
the keyhole through which was look.
Ing. .,... ~ ~ rs'rs-s.'1''
"Haltw 80"
At the word of command shouted BY
a junior officer the squad came to at.
tention right In front Of the housed
Iwalted no longer. Running down the
stairs flew into the wine cellar and
although II was almost pitch dark
the only light coming from q grating
which led to the backyard--I soon
found satisfactory hiding place in
the extreme rear Of the cellar. l had
had the presence Of mind to leave the
door Of the wine cellar ajar, figuring
that II the soldiers found closed door
they would be more apt to search for
fugitive behind 1t than II the door
were open.
My decision to get away from that
front door had been made and carried
out none too soon. for had only Just
located myself between two big wine
cases when heard the tramp Of SOL
diers' feet marching up the front stoop,
crash at the front door. few hasty
words Of command which did not un-
derstand. and then the noise Of sour
rying feet from room to room and such
banging and hammering and smash
ing and crashing that could not make
out what was going on.
II Huyliger had revealed my hiding
place to the Huns, as was now con-
fident he had. felt that there was lit
tie prospect Of their overlooking me.
They would search the house from top
to bottom and. II necessary. raze It to
the ground before they would give up
the search. To escape from tie house
through the backyard through the iron
grating, which ! had no doubt I could