The Lamar register., 1918-08-07

Very briefly they explained 10 me
that they had procured another pass
port for me-a genuine one-which
would prove far more effective In help
Ing 10 get me to the frontier than the
counterfeit one they had manufac-
tured for me.
| think l saw through their game
right at the start. but l listened pa
tiently to what they had to say
"Of 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" l
replied. ''if the new passport is all YOU
claim for 1t. VIII you let me see it?'
There was considerable hesitation on
the part of Huyliger's brother and the
other chap at this.
why. | don't think that's necessary
at ali, MIR. O'Brlen." said the former.
You give US the old passport and We
will be very glad to give you the new
one for 1t. Isn't that fair enoughf'
1T may he fair enough. my friends"
/ retorted. seeing that 1t was useless to
conceal further the fact that | was
fully aware of their whole plan and
why had been brought to this house.
'It may be fair enough, my friends" l
said. ''but you will get the passport
that have here" patting my side aud
indicating my inside breast pocket,
"only on my dead body"
l suppose the three of them could
have made short work OF me then und
there II 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 1 was determined to sell
my life as dearly as possible.
II have that passport here" l re-
Piled. .'and am going to keep 1t. II
you gentlemen think you can take 1t
from me you are welcome to tryr'
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 II 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.
1 believed had an excellent chance of
holding my own In the combat which
had invited.
had already picked out In my mind
what | was going to use. and got up.
stood with my back to the wall and
getting the passport. then would be
their best chance.
Apparently they realized that l
meant business and they Immediately
began to expostulate at the attitude
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 l
knew he did In my own tongue. he WAS
not only an accomplished linguist. but
d most versatile liar into the bargain.
MY dear fellow" said the linguist.
the passport. Good heavens II II Will
aid you in getting out OF the country,
l 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 us
long as you have It In your possession
you jeopardiZe our lives. too. Don't
you think II is fairer that you should
risk your own safety rather than place
the lives OF three Innocent men In
dangerT
"That may be as 1t is. my friends"
1 retorted. "and l am glad you realize
your danger. Keep 1t 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 II over before you do 50.
Remember always that If the Germans
get me, they get the passport, too, and
IL they get the passport your lives
won't be worth Il damnl When / 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 | rather
think my word Will be taken before